Martina Schimitschek, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27th May 2017
When Laura Morefield, daughter of San Diego poet and theater critic Charlene Baldridge, was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer, she wrote poetry reflecting on the tumultuous journey of her battle with the disease. After her death in 2011, composer and family friend Jake Heggie set one of […]
Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27th May 2017
“Edward Elgar’s “The Dream of Gerontius” is regarded as a monument in the United Kingdom, but rarely heard in the United States. On Friday, the Cincinnati May Festival revisited Elgar’s spiritual masterpiece for the first time since 1981. The result was revelatory…
Friday’s performance in the Taft Theatre was […]
Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, 17th May 2017
“The 75-minute program, played without intermission, ended with Ms. Lee, who brought a winning mix of stylish grace and incisive virtuosity to Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” with Mr. Francis drawing supple and radiant playing from the orchestra.”
Peter Korfmacher, Leipziger Volkszeitung, 10th April 2017
“Under the helm of Francis, by contrast, beauty and truthfulness shine from these movements which show Haydn at the peak of his proficiency. He doesn’t polish, doesn’t impose anything on the MDR sound bodies but lets the meditations unfold their serene perfection all by themselves…
With stylistic confidence […]
William E Ford, Bachtrack, 25th February 2017
★★★★
“The ASO performed beautifully, with the strings sounding especially full and warm. Vaughan Williams’ music was turned out beautifully under Maestro Francis’ baton. It was truly a fine performance.”
Mark Gresham, Arts ATL 24th February 2017
“Under Francis’ baton, the ASO gave the sublimely lyrical work an impressive, finely honed performance, bringing closure to a creditable, satisfying evening of surprisingly compatible repertoire.”
Mannheimer Morgen, 10th December 2016
“Conductor Michael Francis led the orchestra with thoughtfully flowing gestures. After the 52 timpani strokes, the orchestra threw itself with determination into the dramatic developments.
Oboes and clarinets produced soft lyricisms during the second movement. Horns and flutes gave the pathos of the fourth movement a festive glance, and the […]
Saarbruecker Zeitung, 5th December 2016
“Michael Francis acted graciously on the podium. A guest conductor who is not only elegant with his baton but also inspires a sound sensuality with his gestures. In “Lullaby,” by the Polish composer Andrzej Panufnik, he creates an impeccable pianissimo work for strings. The simple folksong was brought to life […]
Andrew Meacham, Tampa Bay Times, 12th November 2016
“Between such no-brainers in the Masterworks series, the orchestra sometimes works in a “concept concert,” performances built around a theme. This weekend’s Songs of the Sea: Britten, Elgar and Debussy is a prime example. Friday’s opening at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts […]
Andrew Meacham, Tampa Bay Times, 5th November 2016
“The main attraction, Symphony No. 41, by Mozart, was thrilling in a different way…the music changes just at the moment you think you know where it is going.
It opens in a C-major key, a grand declaration, then seems to retract that promise in the next few bars […]
