Christian Hertzog, The San Diego Union-Tribune, 16th June 2023
“Francis has a knack for finding new insights into standard repertory. He brought this talent to his interpretation of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8. Beethoven’s 8th is typically treated as a fun, lightweight work, but Francis sees it as an architectural marvel like the 5th or 7th Symphonies — only on a smaller scale. Francis led the orchestra in a gritty performance that brought out Beethoven’s serious musical thought lurking beneath the pleasant surfaces.”
