“The Knights always sound alive, and tonight was no exception. Their togetherness and verve complemented Wu Man’s enthusiasm as she seemed to invite them into her solo role, making it sound like a big chamber ensemble playing off one another rather than an orchestra providing accompaniment to a star virtuoso.”
— Ben Gambuzza, writing for EarRelevant (2025)
Read More“MetLive Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s performing arts series, will kick off its 2025-2026 season tomorrow night with a program featuring pipa virtuoso Wu Man…Colin Jacobsen, concertmaster and co-artistic director of the Knights, called the Harrison work ‘a piece of modern music that just attains this joyful, visceral, evocative sense. (And) you just love working with Wu Man.’“
— Jane Levere, writing for Forbes (2025)
Read More“One thing about The Knights is that they’re very young and passionate about music. The younger generation challenges themselves to embrace many different styles of music in their programming—not only Western classical, but also contemporary, pop, and world music. In the twenty-first century, every kid listens to all kinds of music—not like when I grew up in closed-door China, where we only knew ourselves. I think that’s an example for future generations of orchestral musicians.”
— Wu Man, speaking to Emery Kerekes for The Metropolitan Museum (2025)
Read More“Herrera had as her collaborators members of The Knights, the extraordinary chamber orchestra put together by Colin and Eric Jacobson, whose luscious string sound created a counterpoint and firm undergirding for her music.”
— Scott Gutterman, writing for The Brooklyn Rail (2025)
Read More“In Gabriel Kahane's words, “Heirloom is an aural family scrapbook, exploring, in its three movements, a series of inheritances.” The album also features “Where are the Arms,” the title track from Kahane’s sophomore LP, heard here in a new orchestral arrangement performed by Gabriel Kahane (vocals, guitar, electronics) with The Knights.”
— Nonesuch (2025)
Read More“The Knights are clearly ascendant at Carnegie Hall.”
— Seth Colter Walls, writing in The New York Times (2025)
Read More“I’ve never worked with an orchestra that actually felt like a band until I first performed with The Knights.
Sometimes you play with these large orchestras and it can feel a bit intimidating, but The Knights have always been so warm and welcoming. And they’re also really adventurous—they want to try anything and everything. It’s such a rare treat for a singer”
—Cécile McLorin Salvant, speaking to Carnegie Hall (2025)
Read MoreChris Thile joins the New York City–based orchestra The Knights and conductor Eric Jacobsen to perform his piece ATTENTION! A narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra and Thile's transcription of Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043, in the Venetian Theater on Sunday, July 20, at 4pm. Also on the program are Caroline Shaw's "And So" (which can be heard on the aforementioned Rectangles and Circumstance) and selections from Philip Glass's Symphony No. 3.
—Nonesuch (2025)
Read More“Clyne’s music seems to delight in leading listeners along a particular route before changing course with sharp and unexpected twists and gear-shifts.”
—Pwyll ap Siôn, writing for Gramophone (2024)
Read More“The Knights deliver the music with impeccable ensemble, and are perfect advocates of this music.”
—Jo Talbot, writing for BBC Music Magazine (2024)
Read More"WQXR is once again partnering with the New York Philharmonic to showcase music written by fourteen extraordinary composers between the ages of 9 - 17 and all participants in the NYPhil's Very Young Composers program. The compositions are performed by musicians from The Knights."
—WQXR, New York Classical Radio (2024)
Read More"The Knights, led by Eric Jacobsen, is one of my favorite orchestras to work with. The musicianship is at the highest level and the care and attention that they bring to my music is evident throughout these recordings."
—Anna Clyne, writing for The Strad (2024)
Read More"I have focused on the greatness of these concertos largely because the performances did them such splendid justice."
—The Berkshire Edge (2024)
Read More"It’s a summer-ending musical tradition that plays out every Labor Day weekend at the Clark Art Institute."
—The Berkshire Eagle (2024)
Read More"There is simply no substitute for the joy of recording music by friends and with friends."
—Yo-Yo Ma, in an interview with Anna Clyne for Classical Music
Read More“There’s this real warmth within the orchestra: they bring such playfulness and care to the music.”
—Anna Clyne, in an interview with PrestoMusic
Read More“The group’s beautiful performance, oozing with musicality, precision and effective dynamic contrast proved their facility with core repertoire as well as newly minted gems.”
—Sequenza 21/
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