Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Litton proved himself to be a formidable Gershwin pianist with the high-octane performance of Rhapsody in Blue he directed from the keyboard. (Chicago Symphony / Ravinia)
— John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune
Andrew Litton, the program's hugely engaging conductor...served as both pianist and conductor in Gershwin's concerto, Rhapsody in Blue.... puckish, powerful, rhythmically teasing piano playing..." (Chicago Symphony / Ravinia)
— Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
The excitement surrounding the performance — staged with Brechtian force and directness by Lonny Price and conducted with fury and precision by Andrew Litton — was palpable in the audience for this one-night-only event even before the the first ghoulishly melodramatic organ chords and piercing guillotine-likescreech of metal signaled the start of the tale of the "demon barber of Fleet Street".
— Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times