4th April 2025, Karl Georg Berg, Die Rheinpfalz
“The recent concert program of the German State Philharmonic Orchestra of Rhineland-Palatinate under Chief Conductor Michael Francis was enchanting, and not only because of its focus on works based on “1001 Nights.” It was a dazzling, enchanting, and absolutely thrilling orchestral feast.
The Symphonic Suite “Shéhérazade” by Nikolai […]
1st April 2025, Mannheimer Morgen
“When, after the noise of war with drums and trumpets, the final plea for peace, “dona pace,” has faded away in the Musensaal, it is time to return to the present. For Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis,” which he himself described as his greatest work, seems not entirely of this […]
17th January 2025, Horst Reischenböck, Die Salzburger Kulturzeitung
“[Wagner’s Ring Without Words was] opulently cast, with about eight double basses and a quartet of horns and Wagner tubes each, excellently balanced in all positions, the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz traced the tonal finesse of the interwoven themes and leading motifs. Confidently led by the chief conductor Michael […]
17th September 2024, Karl Georg Berg, Die Rheinpfalz
“He always found the right tone for Copland’s music and had the State Philharmonic play magnificently and intensely in all registers. As always, the formal structure of the symphony was absolutely coherent and had a moving effect.”
29th September 2024, Karl Georg Berg, Die Rheinpfalz
“The German State Philharmonic Orchestra Rhineland-Palatinate under chief conductor Michael Francis played Anton Bruckner’s fourth symphony three times in a phenomenal way, just over three weeks after his 200th birthday…
The first evening was at the Euroclassic Festival in the Festhalle in Zweibrücken, the second at the sold-out […]
27th September 2024, Frank Pommer, Die Rheinpfalz
“Recordings of Ludwig van Beethoven’s symphonies fill entire CD shelves. But this one with Michael Francis at the podium of the German State Philharmonic Orchestra of Rhineland-Palatinate is different. The Ludwigshafen orchestra has recorded the versions of Beethoven’s works that Gustav Mahler arranged – with some astonishing results…
Of […]
15th September 2024, Frank Pommer, Die Rheinpfalz
“The State Philharmonic’s “Modern Times” festival is designed precisely for works that you can rarely, perhaps only experience once in your entire life, live in a concert hall. They are key works of modernism, some of which require an insane amount of effort. In Messiaen’s case, there is […]
9th September 2024, Gereon Hoffmann, Die Rheinpfalz
“The passion of the performance [of Igor Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale] and the intensity of the game and presentation were very impressive and also thrilled the audience. The choreography and the performance were dynamic and lively – and also aesthetically pleasing.”
7th September 2024, Susanne Kaulich, Mannheimer Morgen
“It is thanks to the dramaturgy of the evening, and even more to the soulful performance of the large orchestra, that the audience, which included many young people, first held its breath – and then euphorically celebrated the musicians and conductor.”
6th September 2024, Frank Pommer, Die Rheinpfalz
“What an evening! At the first large orchestral concert of their festival “Modern Times”, the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz played under the direction of its chief conductor Michael Francis on all registers of our emotional keyboard. It was an emotional rollercoaster ride that culminated in complete overwhelm – with […]
