«Last night’s performance by Steven Isserlis of Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor with the Hallé conducted by Daniele Rustioni was not only the best performance of this concerto that I have ever heard but one of the finest performances of any of the pieces of music that I have had the pleasure to hear in the concert hall. (…) Rustioni may come from a sunny, exuberant Italian tradition but thoroughly understands Sibelius’ unmistakeably Nordic soundworld. He has a physical conducting style, crouching down and leaping up to encourage his player and the results were superb. He is evidently a gifted musical storyteller (…). Action returned in Lemminkäinen in Tuonela including the hero's death. Rustioni told us that this was his favourite movement; his control of the varying dynamics was superb.»
Bachtrack, Peter Connors