Recent Reviews

  • "The chorus played a central role in defining the performance’s character. Prepared by Lisa Wong, it functioned not as a massed sonority but as a supple presence within the score. Diction remained lucid even at the softest dynamics, allowing the opening pages to register with heightened clarity, while later full choral eruptions carried weight without blare. In the eight-part fugal writing of the Sanctus, the contrapuntal density came across as both defined and transparent."

    Edward Sava-Segal, Bachtrack

  • "The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus is made up of volunteers under the direction of Lisa Wong. They sounded wonderful in Carnegie Hall, whether thundering in the Dies Irae or, together with the soloist, made the musical lines weep in the Lacrimosa. In the Sanctus, they impressed with their vitality, lightness and clarity in its complex eight-part fugue. They were Grigorian’s partners in creating the emotionally wrought Libera me, in both its most sublime and horrifying moments."

    Rick Perdian, Seen and Heard International

  • “For the concert’s second half — Schubert’s Mass in E-flat, a wellspring of beauty that is bafflingly underperformed in the United States — the stage was drastically more populated with the addition of five vocal soloists and members of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, an all-volunteer ensemble that behaves like an entirely professional one."

    Joshua Barone, The New York Times

  • “Prepared by Lisa Wong, the chorus sang nearly without respite for the work’s hour long duration – easily the star of the show.”

    Sam Jacobson, Bachtrack

  • "The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, directed by Lisa Wong, proved again their status as the finest volunteer chorale in America; with singers placed on both sides of the balcony, as well as the stage, they filled every inch of the auditorium with glorious sound."

    Cameron Kelsall, Parterre Box

  • “As we have come to expect, Lisa Wong conducted The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus with authority.”

    Kevin McLaughlin, Clevelandclassical.com

  • “The chorus, directed by Lisa Wong, was far more nuanced than usual in this piece, even while wearing face masks; I heard harmonies in the opening scene that were new to me.”

    Zachary Wolffe, The New York Times

  • "Throughout the work, a notable showpiece for the chorus, the gathered forces did stellar work whenever called upon. They sang like they’d been waiting all their lives for this opportunity and they didn’t disappoint for a second. They were also breathtaking in the “Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus” section."

    Richard Sasanow, Broadwayworld.com