"Appropriate to the theme of this season’s concert, in only five years Lawrence Golan has become a hero to the growing number of music lovers in York County."

"Exuberant, charming, expressive — just by walking in, Lawrence Golan can set a room aglow.

He does it on a grand scale in The Capitol Theatre, where he’s conducted the Yakima Symphony Orchestra (YSO) for the past seven years, energizing audience members, which is no small feat considering he has his back to them most of the time."

“Friday night’s performance was truly quite exceptional. Lawrence Golan was very expressive, particularly in his facial expressions, and it was very clear that the musicians responded quite well to his direction. The balance was perfect. In the Mozart Symphony No. 21, the orchestra responded to Golan’s every effort beautifully. Early Mozart can be quite a remarkable experience under the hands of someone who truly loves it, and it is clear that Lawrence Golan is one of those individuals. It was also clear that the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra really appreciates his conducting. Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet gave the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra an opportunity to show that they can perform with incredible passion. The low strings, the harp, and the woodwinds were all quite remarkable.”

“The Moravian Philharmonic, led by Lawrence Golan, performs with passion and vigor, and Albany's sound quality is clean and spacious.”

"The 100-voice London Symphony Chorus and the Lamont Symphony Orchestra joined forces for a stirring presentation of this towering creation [the Verdi Requiem]. The chorus provided many standout moments, from its repeated ghostly enunciations of the opening word of the work, "requiem," to its thrillingly terrifying delivery of the famous beginning lines of the "Dies irae (Day of wrath)." On the podium, Lawrence Golan adroitly handled the diversity of musical forces gathered before him, drawing the best from each and sculpting a cohesive interpretation overall.”

First-rate Requiem
“Lawrence Golan and his orchestra lived up to the high standards of the visiting London Symphony Chorus and the challenges of the Verdi Requiem. With nearly 80 players (including a trumpet quartet in a side box) and 100 chorus members, the roof-rattling explosions of the Requiem made for a thrilling listening experience. And the presence of a first-rate quartet of vocal soloists brought heartfelt sentiment to the intimate expressions of this profound work. As one would expect from the Londoners - one of the world's great ensembles - the choral passages were sung impeccably. Their enunciation was ideal, whispered passages drew listeners in, ecstatic exclamations pinned them to the backs of their seats.”

"One of the hottest tickets during the year has been the series of concerts by Lawrence Golan's splendid Lamont Symphony Orchestra. Last fall, a standing-room, turn-away crowd gathered for a performance of Beethoven's Ninth. On Thursday, another full house was on hand for an intriguing mixture of familiar and less familiar works."

"The high quality of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre was evident at a recent performance of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro in Gates Hall last weekend. Even before the curtain went up, Lawrence Golan and his players sailed through the tricky overture like a bunch of old pros. Onstage, the singers acquitted themselves admirably, delivering this long and demanding opera with confidence and style."

"The Symphony No. 2 (Beethoven 7.1) by American composer William Hill can certainly hold its own very well...Conductor Lawrence Golan...and the Lamont Symphony Orchestra...provide this work with an exemplary world premiere performance, and play it with a confidence reserved only for old acquaintances."

"The Lamont Symphony Orchestra consistently presents outstanding programs which bear little resemblance to the concerts given by other university orchestras that I am familiar with. The concerts are so good that they encroach on performances given by professional orchestras. If any of you readers doubt that statement, start attending some of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra concerts."

“The performance was extremely passionate and under Golan’s conducting, it absolutely shimmered. Under Golan’s slightest urging, the orchestra played quite softly and had exquisite control of phrasing. The tempos were perfect, and the nuance with which Golan and the orchestra provided each phrase was remarkable.”

“The Lamont Symphony Orchestra gave a very exciting performance of one enormous and very difficult work: The Planets by Gustav Holst. It was an absolutely enthralling performance. What was so noticeable was conductor Lawrence Golan’s ability to inspire the orchestra.”

In this current recording, conducted by Golan, the emotion is ever present, as is his fidelity to what Tchaikovsky wrote. ...the second movement of this symphony is a waltz, but in 5/4 time, rather than the usual 3/4 meter. I have to point out that this movement is what makes Golan’s recording so remarkable. Many conductors perform this movement so that it has taken on the nickname “the limping waltz,” because of its unusual meter. In other words, it sounds as though it is a regular waltz with a missing beat. But in this recording, if one counts the beats, there are indeed five, but there is no way on this earth that this movement “limps.” It is fluid and mellifluous. In all of the movements, the tempos that Golan takes are absolutely perfect. Even in the slow introduction to the first movement, there is a sense of forward motion, which is missing in many other recordings. ... Thus, the architecture of the sonata form is apparent – and the sense of architecture is what is missing in other recordings. ...This is a world-class recording of this deservedly popular symphony. It is refreshing to hear a recording of a well-known work of concert repertoire done so honestly and so beautifully.”

“A Special Night at the Symphony” “Lawrence Golan led The Phoenix Symphony in one of its best performances in recent years. The audience was rewarded with a truly exciting reading of Brahms’ Fourth Symphony. Golan gave us the fury in the music in a headlong rush that never slighted the musical details. When it was over, the audience provided a standing ovation as well as genuine whoops and hoots of real appreciation. And the orchestra members themselves must have recognized they did something special.”

“The audience loved it. The Phoenix Symphony, under the baton of resident conductor Lawrence Golan, sounded smooth when it needed to and edgy when required. The symphony's strings have measurably improved in recent years and can sound as good as anyone when rehearsed and practiced sufficiently.”

“Golan's unfussy Pathetique is well-played by the Czech orchestra and well-thought-out by its conductor, and it stands up against many more-familiar recordings."

"Conducted by Lawrence Golan, the seven-piece instrumental ensemble [for Histoire du Soldat] was superb, invoking Stravinsky's compelling martial atmosphere, its colorful dissonance shining with a clear, rhythmic vibrancy."
(Atlantic Chamber Orchestra)

"Golan is a conscientious, precise conductor with expert, explicit podium style." (Atlantic Chamber Orchestra)

"The string orchestra under Lawrence Golan was virtually impeccable in some difficult selections. They not only avoided the pitfalls but brought out some nice details that tend to get lost in recordings. ...My Heart Will Go On, from Titanic, sounded better than it did in the film. ...The technical difficulties of Schoenberg's "Verklarte Nacht" are immense, but they disappeared in waves of emotion that could have sunk the Titanic" [Atlantic Chamber Orchestra]

"Once in a while comes a theater experience that makes you glad your eyes and ears are in good working order. Both in concept and execution, USM's current production of The Marriage of Figaro is a strong argument for continuing support of college-level performing arts. ...Lawrence Golan conducts the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, a wonderfully talented group of 42 musicians who set the festive mood with the first familiar strains of Mozart's overture. To all who combine to bring audiences this treat, a heartfelt 'Bravo!' To those who haven't seen it yet, get thee hence."

"Lawrence Golan conducted the Portland Ballet Orchestra in a flawless performance of the well-known Tchaikovsky score [The Nutcracker]."

"...an indefinable gift for lifting his players into exciting articulation, sweeping phrases, and perfectly executed solo passages."

"Conductor Lawrence Golan led his orchestra through a labyrinthine opera filled with moments of sweeping intensity and hushed beauty."

"The guest conductor's musical presence was felt most keenly in the Grieg piece, which contained the most impressive string playing of the evening. The musicians shaped elegant, buoyant phrases that seemed to originate from within. Dynamics were architecturally shaped and gracefully nuanced."