"The ''refreshing lyrical innocence'' which EG complained was missing at the opening of the Bernstein CBS performance is certainly caught by Slatkin who secures excellent, responsive playing from the St Louis orchestra. The reading is direct, not without its volatile moments, but essentially more conventional, less imaginative than Bernstein's. As EG noted, Bernstein is marvellously persuasive in holding concentration, building tense climaxes. The climax of the slow movement on the RCA disc is aided by the wide dynamic range and sense of spectacle of the splendid recording, but Bernstein creates much greater tension in the playing itself, as is immediately noticeable in the sense of ecstasy in the upper things soon after the movement's opening and in the closing section where the affinity with Romeo and Juliet is strong. similarly in the lyrically flowing string theme of the middle part of the Scherzo the rhythmic feeling is quirkier with Bernstein to match the bluff humuor of his finale.

Comparisons with the Karajan and Previn versions are pointless in the present context as neither is scheduled for Cd issue at present. The plus point for the RCA issue is the unaffected commitment of the over-all conception, with the finale engagingly high spirited to draw a parallel with the Classical Symphony alongside the famous ballet. The RCA recording too is first rate, naturally balanced within a convincing concert hall ambience. I did not find the weighty bass on the CBS compact Disc so oppressive as EG and certainly the Israel quality does not lack body and sharpness of focus, but detail is less natural and there is a touch of microphone-coloured glossiness on the violins..."

-- Ivan March, Gramophone [4/1985]