Here are links to the full text of a few reviews of Rolnick's work.
In his NY Times review of Cutting Edge Concerts, Steve Smith says: "One more piece not listed in the program deserves mention: Neil Rolnick's brief and witty 'Phones Off' preceeded the concert with a babble of cellphone tones, intended to prevent the same from happening during the concert. It worked." April 6, 2010.
Kraig Lamper says The Economic Engine "presents a wondrous atmosphere that leaves the listener in a liminal space between two cultures" in his review of the CD in the American Record Guide. March/April 2010.
Priscilla McLean calls Extended Family "one of Rolnick's best works" in her review of his concert at EMPAC. Albany Times Union, February 18, 2010.
The Economic Engine CD is on the NY Times' classical critics' list of "records of the year for 2009."
November 27, 2009
Startling Moniker cites "Rolnick's absolute ability to command my stereo for days at a time" on the site's selection of The Economic Engine CD on its top-12-best-happy-neat-o-list-of-2009.
Anne Midgette says "Rolnick's music is a vivid and vigorous hybrid of idioms ... [but] None of those labels quite encapsulates the solid vitality of the whole." Concert review in The Washington Post, October 6, 2009
Allan Kozinn's review of The Economic Engine CD cites
Rolnick as "a prolific and inventive composer of electronic
music ... revisiting the joys of acoustic instruments."
In the NY Times Sunday Arts & Leisure Section, May 15, 2009.
Molly Sheridan's review of The Economic Engine CD describes the title piece as "sonic tourism at its most insightful." NewMusicBox March 9, 2009
Harry Rolnick's (no relation) review of the US premiere of Economic Engine says the piece "actually turned the synthesis of Chinese and European instruments into a thing of wonderment and, above all, joy." www.concertonet.com September 14, 2008
Gerladine Freedman's review compared Rolnick's Love Songs to "the best of Leonard Bernstein ... a lot of color, snap, crackle and pop and not a little jazz inflection." Daily Gazette, Schenectady NY February 15, 2008.
Clarence Fanto also wrote a preview feature for the Valentines Day premiere of Love Songs with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. The Berkshire Eagle, February 14, 2008.
Joseph Dalton wrote a major feature for the Albany Times Union to preview Rolnick's 60th Birthday Concert in Troy on November 17, and his review of the concert.
Anthony Tommasini was "riveted" by Vicky Chow's performance of Digits. "... an exhilarating interactive piece." Read his review in the New York Times Weekend Arts Section, April 13, 2007.
In Steve Smith's review of the Digits CD in the Nov 9 issue of Time Out New York, he cites the title track as "one of the most effective items" in pianist Kathleen Supové's repertoire.
Allan Kozinn praises Rolnick's "manipulation of timbre and gesture" in his review of the Digits CD in the NY Times Sunday Arts & Leisure Section, Sept 17.
"[Rolnick's] acute intelligence and engaging personality appear to be the true unifying forces in his work, rather than any pet theories or kitschy trademarks ... and this keeps his music fresh, interesting, and vital, if not safe, predictable, or easy to pigeonhole." from Blair Sanderson's review of the Digits CD on the AllMusic website.
"You would never find these tuneful sonorities in a Boulez sonata. ... but this 11-minute tour de force won't leave you with a hangover." From Randy Nordschow's July review of Rolnick's Digits CD in the New Music Box.
Joseph Dalton calls Rolnick's Digits CD "... substantial and worthy of repeated listening," in his 2006 review in the Albany Times Union.
"The crowd-pleaser of the evening was Neil Rolnick's iFiddle Concerto, played by the amazing Todd Reynolds." from Jerry Bowles' review of the iFiddle Concerto's premiere. Go here for links to a radio interview by John Schaefer, an cyber inteview by Joel Chadabe, and an essay by Frank Oteri. As well as a brief excerpt from the premiere performance.
The Wire magazine's September 2005 issue calls Shadow Quartet "highly original and poignant" in their review of the CD.
"... extremely approachable yet at the same time, it makes you rethink what you're hearing, which is somehow the best of both worlds," from Frank J. Oteri's review of the Shadow Quartet CD in the August 2005 NewMusicBox.
Ken Smith's 2005 Gramophone review of the Shadow Quartet CD. "Visceral, sophisticated, electro-acoustic collection with a sense of humor"
Gail Wein's 2005 Washington Post review of a performance of Shadow Quartet by Ethel at the Kennedy Center
Blair Sanderson's 2005 review of the Shadow Quartet CD in the on-line zine All Music
Another 2005 review of the Shadow Quartet CD in the German on-line zine Phosphor
Greg Sandow's 2003 review of Fish Love That's initial CD and their performance at the CD release party in Brooklyn.
Allan Kozinn's 1998 New York Times Review of a performance by Fish Love That
Steve Barnes' 1997 [Albany] Times Union review of Rico Songs & Interludes, perfromed by the Albany Symphony's Dogs of Desire and the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Ensemble.
Kyle Gann's 1997 Village Voice review of the Requiem Songs CD.