"Under the baton of the Portuguese guest conductor Cesário Costa, the ensemble offered a convincing version of Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony. An interpretation with steady hand, striking sound of the brass: trombones, trumpets and tuba. Costa showed a sensitive but efficient stroke in his conduction."
"Cesário Costa continues to assert himself as our best (and most versatile) orchestra conductor"
"On the other hand, there was nothing negative about the sound production of the Stabat Mater by Carrapatoso: the musicians of the OrchestrUtopica were at their best. The cohesion of the ensemble along with the excellent perception of the details of the texture and the orchestration are due to the care invested in the work by the conductor Cesário Costa."
"As for the music, the applause goes to the maestro Cesário Costa, for his agile reading of the score. (What a pity they didn’t give him La Clemenza di Tito...)"
"A difficult piece, well executed by the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted with great know-how by Cesário Costa"
"There is solid music and electronic contributions. As for the rest, there are twenty musicians of the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra (directed by the sure and reliable hand of Cesário Costa)"
"Cesário Costa conducted the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra with verve"
"Twelve excellent singers, the conductor Cesário Costa and the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra contributed decisively to the musical and theatrical success of Evil Machines"
"Cesário Costa’s conducting was rigorous and engaging"
"The Metropolitan Orchestra had a good notion of sonority, colour and contrasts, revealing the elegance of the work of Cesário Costa, who conducted the singers well."
"It opened with Elgar’s famous Pomp and Circumstance March, op. 39 n.º 1, in D major, which the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra can play with their eyes closed but to which Cesário Costa managed to add some details of phrasing and distinction."
"The musical direction of Cesário Costa was both energetic and clear – he was able to get the best out of the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra and the Lisbon Cantat Choir"
"Conductor Cesário Costa went to great pains to present a sure and empathetic reading of the score (whose text helped) that was aided by the excellent performance of the orchestra, choir and soloists."
"I cannot finish without referring to the enormous efforts and rhythmic-expressive effectiveness of the conductor Cesário Costa who led the Portuguese Symphonic and the Choir of the São Carlos Theatre."
"And it was a pleasure to see the engagement of the musicians, so well conducted by Cesário Costa"
"Unter der präzisen Leitung seines ambitionierten Mitbegründers und künstlerischen Leiters, des Dirigenten Cesário Costa"
"A remarkable concert…"
"Cesário Costa’s conducting is worthy of great praise."
"The performance of OrchestrUtopica was indeed excellent, under the direction of its Chief Conductor, Cesário Costa."
"Under the conductor’s baton of Cesário Costa, the OrchestrUtopica has once again proven its quality."
"A direcção de Cesário Costa é o garante da coesão"
"… with the orchestra at its best, under an expressive and emotional conducting of Cesário Costa"
"Conductor Cesário Costa teered the orchestra easily through a firestorm of a performance…"
"It is fortunate to have a conductor like Cesário Costa to conduct these pieces with such conviction, verve and involvement"
"An equally shared success among the music of Frederico de Freitas, the musicians from the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra and conductor Cesário Costa"
"The Portuguese Symphony Orchestra has performed under the impeccable baton of Cesário Costa, who studied the pieces by Frederico de Freitas with the same seriousness and the same rigour which characterise him when he conducts more contemporary repertoires"
"Under the musical direction of Cesário Costa, the OrchestrUtopica has offered model versions of all the works in the programme"
"Conductor Cesário Costa’s best quality is the security with which he embraces a very extensive repertoire"
"… Under the sober and secure direction of young conductor Cesário Costa"
"All in all, conductor Cesário Costa had a preponderant role. His committed and precise conducting managed to mobilise and coordinate a numerous group of interpreters, creating a climate of evident empathy with all those young singers"
"Young conductor Cesário Costa, paying permanent attention to small details, was as discreet as he was efficient. It is fair to say that a great part of the good impression left by this concert, is due to his attitude"
"At only 29 years of age, Cesário Costa was an authentic revelation for the great public."
"Young conductor Cesário Costa, as involved as he is discreet, kept throughout the entire concert that safe dose of good taste and good sense, which Helena Sá e Costa recommends for the piano interpretation of Cravo Bem Temperado"
"Cesário Costa’s conducting was very adequate to the rhythmic level and dynamics and he always managed to “hang on” to the feverish execution that Geringas imposed to its reading"
"Cesário Costa has shown a precise gesture and a remarkable rhythmic control of the orchestra"
"A great part of what is heard in this orchestra (Musicare) is due to the rigour and respect towards the score, emphasised by conductor Cesário Costa. That understanding of construction, character and musicality was expressed by a fair choice of the tempi and by the concentrated and precise direction"
"Nach zäher Einleitung brachte Cesário Costa, Dirigent von Peter Tschaikowskys "Romeo und Julia", die oft trägen Musikstudenten auf Kurs reinster romantik, setze mit etwas verkrampfter, aber beschwörender Zeichengebung und fantastischen Tempi effktvoll hämmernden Hass auf süss aufschwellende Liebe"