News and Views: Michael Francis

Pat O’Kelly, Irish Independent, 7th April 2014 "Following several weeks’ lull, the latest in the RTÉ NSO’s ‘Subscription Season’ finds the ensemble in top form under re-visiting English conductor Michael…

Derek Ho, ResMusica, 20th March 2014 "...From the opening timpani strikes it was immediately clear that this music is Francis’ passion. There were many highlights, from the clumsy woodwinds in…

Hannu-Ilari Lamila, Helsingin Sanomat, 16th March 2014 "Young, skilled and sympathetic British conductor Michael Francis ensured that the atmosphere was authentically English. It is often down to small detail whether,…

Geoffrey Newman, Seen and Heard International, 14th March 2014 "...Janacek’s six Lachian Dances (1890) are in many ways just a Moravian variant of Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances, balancing brisk, rustic rhythms…

Paul Driver, Sunday Times, 16th February 2014 "...[Michael Francis’] easily authoritative readings of Dvorak’s Violin Concerto…and New World Symphony provided a frame of familiarity for seldom-heard works by the somewhat neglected Polish…

Neil Fisher, The Times, 7th February 2014 ★★★★ "...Hearing two of his most skilfully constructed works, vividly performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Michael Francis, afresh…

Penny Homer, Bachtrack, 7th February 2014 ★★★ “...The pairing of Dvořák and Panufnik is perhaps explained by their nationalism, although both composers framed it in different ways. Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony…

Tim Ashley, The Guardian, 6th February 2014 ★★★★ “Sinfonia Sacra, with its ricocheting percussion, assertive brass and ritual string chants, seethed with tension... Among the most remarkable and original of…

Richard Fairman, Financial Times, 6th February 2014 ★★★★ “...The Sinfonia Sacra, probably his best-known work, is typically clear-headed and direct. Four solo trumpets at the corners of the stage announce…