Ken Herman, San Diego Story, 16th June 2016
“Although most conductors pay scant attention to Schubert’s first four symphonies, Francis made a compelling case for Schubert’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major. Based on Joseph Haydn’s sturdy classical four-movement design, Schubert’s First Symphony sails through those well-charted waters with buoyant optimism. From the orchestra, Francis […]
Ken Herman, San Diego Story, 6th June 2016
“[Regarding Mozart’s Gallimathias musicum] Francis’ violins sported a mellifluous shimmer, and the entire orchestra’s tight rhythmic ensemble maintained its fresh, buoyant air from start to finish…
Francis gave [Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne] score a spirited interpretation, full of youthful optimism…
In its opening night offering, the Mainly Mozart […]
Martina Schimitschek, The San Diego Union-Tribune, 29th May 2016
Say the word prodigy and, for many, one person immediately comes to mind: Mozart.
“Mozart is still the gold standard for prodigies. He’s our rule of thumb. People will say, he’s the Mozart of soccer, the Mozart of art or the Mozart of jazz,” said Michael Francis, […]
Julian Sykes, Le Temps, 25th May 2016
“Michael Francis had chosen two English composers of the 20th century to compliment the programme – a happy combination. Combining elegance and ardour , the British conductor gave the utmost expressiveness to the Fantasie on a Theme of Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams without lapsing into […]
26th April 2016
Hear Michael’s interview live with Jack Harris on WFLA 970 at 7:40am EST.
Michael Tumelty, Hearld Scotland, 24th April 2016
★★★★★
“NO holds barred here, ladies and gentlemen. Five stars all round. The BBC SSO on Thursday night, playing as though there was no tomorrow, and this was their only chance to do it, produced a scorcher of a concert with conductor Michael Francis, a new name to me, […]
BBC, 23rd April 2016
Students from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow University and Glasgow School of Art collaborate with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra on a programme of delights featuring music, dance, composition and British Sign Language.
The performance features four intertwining pieces inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including a special recording by David […]
Ken Walton, The Scotsman, 22nd April 2016
“The spatial dimensions of the Ives [The Unanswered Question] – the distant but increasingly insistent solo trumpet in the audience gallery, the increasingly discordant flute responses up in the choir stalls, against the sonic blank canvas of strings on stage – were a theatrical thrill.”
Tampa Bay Newspaper, 11th April, 2016
This spring new Music Director Michael Francis will lead The Florida Orchestra will present its first-ever “Sing Out! Tampa Bay” concert Tuesday, April 26, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg. Admission is “pay what you can.”
Led by Michael Francis, TFO’s […]
Andrew Meacham, Tampa Bay Times, 23rd January 2016
“With Mozart & More, which opened Friday at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, Francis and the orchestra sandwiched a piano concerto and a symphony by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart between Igor Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks concerto and a percussion composition by John Cage relying […]
