Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, The New York Times

"[Cheung's] multifaceted “Lyra” is inspired by the Orpheus myth, which is often said to be at the heart of Beethoven’s fourth concerto. The 20-minute work features subtly warped tuning in the wind section and a harp part that sometimes takes on the guise of lyrelike instruments from around the world. Added to musical flashbacks of Orpheus settings by earlier composers, including Monteverdi and Gluck, these underline the archetypal nature of the myth. Though there are glimpses of specific sound painting — a rattlesnake motif in the percussion section brought to my mind the deadly viper that kills the hero’s betrothed, setting off his quest — Mr. Cheung’s shimmering score makes a persuasive case for the Orpheus myth as part of a global collective consciousness.”