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 […]
29th July 2024, Nick Barnard, Music Web International
“What we are given here across all three discs are thrillingly vital, powerfully dynamic and exciting performances by the truly excellent Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz under conductor Michael Francis…
Michael Francis’ conducting is energetic and exciting – I have to say this is how I like my Beethoven to […]
June 2024, Dirk Schauß, Online Merker
“The CD box “Beethoven: Symphonies No. 3, 5, 7, 9 (orchestrations by Gustav Mahler)” offers a fascinating journey through the musical universe of two titans of classical music: Ludwig van Beethoven and Gustav Mahler. Under the sensitive direction of Michael Francis, the German State Philharmonic of Rhineland-Palatinate presents an […]
13th May 2024, Josh Bradley, Creative Loafing
“It quickly became very clear that Sting knew what he was doing when he first hit up an orchestra all those years ago. The Florida Orchestra gave the songs a fuller, new life. And not in the manner of washed-up, B-list singers and bands re-recording the oldies for […]
11th May 2024, Gabrielle Calise, Tampa Bay Times
“Sting and members of his touring band sat onstage with the Florida Orchestra, playing special arrangements of his lush pop and rock tracks. Before just about every song, Englishman #1 (Sting) walked the crowd through his lyrics, offering behind-the-scenes commentary on his characters. Then Englishman #2 (musical […]
