Reviews

“The listener finds Webern’s music deeply satisfying: the mind relaxes and turns inward. The ‘Juilliard Ensemble’ played the Concerto Op. 24 with prevision and understanding under the direction of Robert Casteels.”
New York Times

“I am delighted to state, without any reservation, that the work accomplished by Robert Casteels was magnificent. I also had occasion to speak with him at length several times, and I can certify that he is a truly distinguished and skilled musician, who shows great class and professionalism.”
Charles Dutoit

“Robert Casteels’ compositions are eclectic, multi-cultural and ambitious. In pieces like The Irremediable, there are moments of inspired, wondrous sound-combinations”.
The Straits Times, Singapore

“A fusion of Indian classical and Chinese music and the sounds from the gamelan emerge. It is definitely not for the faint hearted or for those classical conservatives”.
Malaysian Business Magazine, Kuala Lumpur

“Robert Casteels has studied at Juilliard with Bernstein, but it is patently obvious that he did not learn the most precious attribute of his conducting, and that is a through-and-through musicianship, which seems to colour his whole personality. His gestures were expressive and compelling, and he reacts to what is coming with just the right degree of anticipation so that the orchestra is in no doubt at all. He and the orchestra gave a very fine performance of Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony.”
Evening Post Melbourne

“The orchestra played outstandingly under the precise baton of Robert Casteels. The success of ‘Jakob Lenz’ is of a professional level that many official opera houses would envy.”
Le Soir, Bruxelles

“Conductor Robert Casteels leads the Belgian Radio and Television Orchestra with firm hand and good taste through Varese, Ligeti, Fontyn and Grisey. With rarely played and not immediately accessible works, he managed to hold the audience’s attention.”
De Standaard, Brussel  

“His born talent is efficient in the grand repertoire as well as in contemporary music. The musicians of the orchestra appreciate his uprightness and refinement.”
Sylvain Cambreling, Bruxelles

“The one who will have sublimated ‘Mireille’ by Gounod is Robert Casteels conducting without baton. His sharp natural instinct for opera conducting propelled both soloists and the ‘Orchestra des Pays de la Loire’ on the same wavelength.”
L’ Eclair, Nantes 

“Belgian-born Robert Casteels conducted magnificently Goldenthal’s Vietnam oratorio, blending the vocal and instrumental forces into a compelling unity that captured the tragic episode with dramatic intensity, shaped not by baton but with hands that cajoled and gouged out the darkness of the texts.”
The Australian, Brisbane

“Casteels clearly had the measure of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, which crowned Saturday’s evening concert. He impressively coaxed responses from Western Australia Symphony Orchestra that were invariably within the line and contour of the 18th century style.” 
The Western Australian, Perth

“Much credit for this committed performance of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony can be directed toward conductor Casteels…”
The Courier Mail, Brisbane