"[2] Joshua Kosman of the San Francisco Chronicle later described Polaris as "an extravagantly beautiful and concise new orchestral score" and said it "left a listener enchanted by the work's eloquence and formal clarity, as well as its combination of historical echoes and utter novelty.
"[3] The work was also praised by Georgia Rowe of the San Francisco Classical Voice, who called it "a major triumph" for Adès and said, "Despite its compact running time, the score, subtitled 'Voyage for Orchestra,' conjures an unmistakable sense of vastness.
He added, "What came through in this hearing of the piece, played with vibrant colors and urgency, is the backdrop for the entwining melodic lines, which rustle along in churning, spiraling figures: a blur of busyness.
"[4] Reviewing the same ensemble, George Hall of The Guardian said, "It was another demonstration of Adès's masterly orchestral writing, shimmering in the air as it moved steadily along its vast harmonic trajectory.
"[6] Jeremy Eichler of The Boston Globe similarly remarked, "His piece builds up from a simple cycling pattern of notes in the piano that keeps evolving, suggesting not a loop but a massive spiral.