"Recording of the month: It takes an extraordinary degree of skill (and breath control!) to play such technically demanding solo parts while simultaneously leading the players ... As to his role as soloist, I can only say that Collins's first entry made me smile - and kept it there for the entire length of the disc ... His faultless clarity and articulation, especially at some of the speeds he adopts, are things to marvel at"

"Alla Crusells tre bidrag i genren är faktisk de främsta solokonserter som komponerats i Sverige under 1800-talet ... Den britiske klarinettmästaren Michale Collins är definitivt ett färskt och fullgott alternativ i Svenska Kammarorkesterns sällskap. Han har en öppnare, distinktare ton än den silkeslene Fröst och Svenska Kammarorkestern klingar med fler färger"

"Crusell's orchestration is similar to that of his close contemporary Beethoven, but the three Clarinet Concertos differ in mood; Michael Collins successfully adapts his style to the requirements of each ... As in all three works the ten-minute first movement of Opus 1 is approximately equal in length to the sum of the other two and in this work the Adagio lasts a mere three-and-a-half minutes, it is however eloquent and extremely beautiful, phrased sensitively by Collins whereas the Finale is full of bouncing jollity - with hints of Weber"

"Is there any real need for another set? When the soloist and conductor is the wonderful Michael Collins and the band is the Swedish Chamber Orchestra the answer is a resounding 'Yes'. Especially when the rarely heard Introduction et air suédois, Op. 12 is thrown in as well ... As for Collins' own playing, all of my earlier complimentary remarks apply. He makes it sound so easy - it isn't ... A wonderful issue which is probably the best Crusell disc out there"