Reviews

"In addition to Fabio Mechetti, OSESP's artistic directors Arthur Nestrovski and Neil Thomson of the Goiás Philharmonic have played a key role in stimulating contemporary musical creation by commissioning and debuting works by Brazilian composers." 
(João Guilherme Ripper in an interwiew with Jornal Estadão, Brazil)

https://cultura.estadao.com.br/blogs/estado-da-arte/falando-de-musica-entrevista-com-joao-guilherme-ripper/

"This musical marriage had on Osusp (USP Symphony Orchestra) a solid companion and, in Neil Thomson, an ideal officiant, not only attentive to the needs of the pair of soloists, as active participant in the musical elaboration - an extra element that, instead of interfering in the communication between Hilsdorf, Budu and orchestra, only added to the chemistry between them." The concert left a taste of want more.
(Irineu Franco, November 2017, Concert Magazine, Brazil)

http://www.concerto.com.br/textos.asp?id=749

Intense interpretation with beautiful sound quality... distinct dynamics, well-defined brass and high dramatic impact gave us a memorable performance. Neil Thomson conducts with wide, clear gestures, establishing good rapport with the players... verve and energy... an inspired performance. Neil Thomson was excellent in an excellent concert.
(Nelson Rubens Kunze writing in Concert Magazine, November 2015, Brazil)

http://concerto.com.br/textos.asp?id=580

"...British conductor Neil Thomson led the São Paulo State Symphony with a firm hand. Clear gestures, broad but free from exhibitionism."
(João Marcos writing in O Estado, November 2015, Brazil)

"...Meneses has absolute mastery of the score - touches with concentration and consciousness - and knows how to interpret it in phrases full of musicality. But if Meneses is no surprise - the musician is admittedly one of the greatest artists of our time - the Philharmonic of Goiás and Thomson offered correct and sensitive accompaniment, in great interaction with the soloist. Thomson conducted the orchestra with great propriety, with clear gestures and musical sensitivity, from the energetic chiaroscuro allegro and its sonorous attacks, through the placid climates of the allegro commodo and phlegmatic and of the malincolico, to the beautiful and rhythmic Allegro sanguineo of the last movement." 
(Nelson Rubens Kunze, July 2015, Concert Magazine, Brazil)

http://www.concerto.com.br/textos.asp?id=539

"...With the theater being fully crowded, the Goiás Philharmonic performed a beautiful concert. In addition to its precise and comprehensive gesture, Neil Thomson knows how to make room for the orchestra, creating moments inspired by concentrated integration with the musicians.Villa Lobo´s Bachiana showed balance between the suits, and Schumann's symphony - a challenge for the young orchestra - revealed the potential of the instrumentalists." 
(Nelson Rubens Kunze, April 2014, Concert Magazine, Brazil)

http://www.concerto.com.br/textos.asp?id=418

"...a dazzling performance, underpinned by an authoritative Royal Liverpool Philharmonic under Neil Thomson."
(Music Web International, September 2013)

Under its regular guest conductor Neil Thomson, the RTE Concert Orchestra collectively dispatched the accompaniments with versatile, stylish aplomb and ensured that their own four numbers were immeasurably more than programme-fillers.
(Irish Times, August 2012)

It fell to conductor Neil Thomson and the musicians of the Southbank Sinfonia to deliver the oriental exoticism and harmonic colour of the piece. Thomson faithfully reproduced the sound world conjured by Delius's instrumentation and also managed to create a sense of the atmospheric moods and whip up the tensions of the more gruesome elements.
(The Guardian, July 2012)

A rare opportunity to hear the full score conducted with considerable insight by Neil Thomson.
(Seen & Heard International, July 2012)

Deft conducting by Neil Thomson brought out this work's undoubted strengths.
(Seen & Heard, July 2010)

Thomson's reading could never be called dull; he encouraged playing that whirred, wheezed, crashed and banged with abandon through the piece's sequence of folk-inspired melodies... Thomson's masterly handling.
(Seen & Heard, June 2006)

"...Throughout the programme Thomson showed a tendency towards flamboyancy of gesture, to the point of bringing to mind Stokowski or Bernstein. On this of all occasions his enthusiasm could certainly be understood and it rubbed off onto the RCM Sinfonietta in no small measure. The close of the season sees some orchestras turn in faceless performances, but he RCM Sinfonietta produce playing of vitality to rival any professional orchestra..." 
(Evan Dickerson, Music Web, julho, 2006, RCM Concert Hall, London-UK)

http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2006/Jan-Jun06/rcm2906.htm

"Thomson's sovereign command over the work's pacing and rhetoric and the touching concentration of its youthful players came into their own. I have never been more moved by a performance of this symphony."
(The Independent, January 2004)