Reviewing the world premiere, Bernard Holland of The New York Times wrote, "What Ms. Zwilich does she does with great skill and sincerity.
"[2] Reviewing a later performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Judith White of The Saratogian wrote, "The music makes the audience sit up and listen, as the instruments from various sections achieve difficult unisons and staggered harmonies.
"[3] Lawrence A. Johnson of the Sun-Sentinel opined, "It's outrageous that music of the Miami-born Ellen Taaffe Zwilich continues to be so neglected, not least in her home state.
The Pulitzer Prize winner's Third Symphony is among her finest works, concise and deeply felt, with a powerful Largo finale.
Michael Oliver of Gramophone wrote, "The Third Symphony contains plenty of good ideas: a sombre and long-spanned viola melody that acts as 'first subject' in the opening movement; the malign march that propels the central scherzo.