JoAnn and the BPO Inspire a Classical Spin on Sports Loyola basketball coach, Jimmy Patsos, gave his team a winning edge, according to the Baltimore Sun, after being inspired by JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic. The Baltimore Sun quotes Coach Patsos as saying: “Last night, I went to the Buffalo symphony, where they have a great conductor, Joann Falletta, and that is what we talked about before the game," coach Jimmy Patsos said after the win. "I told them that it is the whole orchestra that matters, not just one instrument.” More Info 2012 JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition Applications for the 2012 JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition are being accepted through April 1. For the first time in its history, the semi-finals will be broadcast from the WNED studios in downtown Buffalo on More Info Washington Post picks Pärt CD as Best of 2011 Anne Midgette, classical music critic for the Washington Post, named JoAnn’s Part CD of piano music, with soloist Ralph van Raat and the Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic on the Naxos label, as one of her top 5 classical discs of 2011. Anne Midgette’s Best Classical Music of 2011 JoAnn Guest Hosts on Sirius XM Thanksgiving Week Listen in to Symphony Hall on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio Channel 76 on Thursday night, November 24 at 8pm (EST) and Saturday afternoon, November 26 at 1pm (EST) to hear JoAnn taking the mike as DJ. JoAnn previously hosted the show on Sirrius this past July, and enjoys the opportunity to play some of her favorite works and connect with the world-wide audiences that are fans of Symphony Hall. Ulster Orchestra Enters into New Naxos Recording Relationship JoAnn Falletta and the Ulster Orchestra entered into an exciting new multi-year recording relationship with Naxos. The first disc, recorded in October at the orchestra’s historic Ulster Hall, includes five lesser known, but important Holst works, including his beautiful Cotswolds Symphony, the Japanese Suite, the Walt Whitman Overture and the first uncut recordings of A Winter Idyll and Indra. More Info JoAnn Falletta Takes the LSO into Studio to Record Music by Kenneth Fuchs for Naxos American Classics JoAnn Falletta returned to the historic Abbey Road Studios this past August with the London Symphony Orchestra and Grammy Award winning producer Tim Handley to record her third disc of works by Kenneth Fuchs for Naxos American Classics. Two of the five works feature instrumental soloists, Paul Silverthorne performing viola concerto, Divinum Mysterium, and Michael Ludwig performing American Rhapsody, a romance for violin. The disc also includes Fuch’s Concerto Grosso for String Quartet and String Orchestra, Atlantic Riband, and Discover the Wild. JoAnn’s first disc of music by Kenneth Fuchs received two Grammy Award nominations. More Info League President Jesse Rosen Commends BPO Leadership In his blog, League of American Orchestras President, Jesse Rosen, recently highlighted the BPO as an orchestra that is not just surviving but thriving in these tough times. Watch Video JoAnn Falletta Guest DJs on Sirius-XM JoAnn will be a guest DJ on Sirius-XM Symphony Hall Friday, July 8 at 9pm and Saturday, July 9 at 4pm. Tune in to hear JoAnn playing some of her own recordings and tell some of her favorite stories from the podium. More Info JoAnn Falletta Named Artistic Advisor to the New Hawaii Symphony Drawing on her expertise as a conductor, audience builder and community leader, JoAnn is becoming one of the top conductors being called upon to help orchestras that are in financial crisis. Last year, the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians passed a resolution thanking JoAnn for her support of theHonolulu Symphony musicians, when that orchestra declared bankruptcy. Having served on an exploratory committee with other business and arts leaders looking for ways to reinstate an orchestra in Hawaii, JoAnn has agreed to serve as artistic advisor to a new Hawaiian orchestra that plans to start performing this fall. Under the new name Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, the former musicians of the Honolulu Symphony intend to play the first concert of a new season in October. More Info BPO wins ASCAP Award The Buffalo Philharmonic received a More Info JoAnn Falletta Named Norfolk’s “Downtowner of the Year” The Downtown Norfolk Council named JoAnn Falletta “Downtowner of the Year” for 2011. The award was made at the organization’s annual luncheon on June 1. “It is particularly fitting that we honor Ms. Falletta this year as she is celebrating her 20th anniversary serving as Conductor of the VSO”, said Donna Phaneuf, Chairman of the Board, Downtown Norfolk Council. “With her commitment to excellence, she has helped solidify downtown Norfolk’s role as the region’s cultural center.” More Info Watch the Video JoAnn Falletta appointed Principal Conductor of the Ulster Orchestra The Ulster Orchestra of Belfast, Ireland has appointed JoAnn Falletta as Principal Conductor, making her the first American and first woman to lead the orchestra. The announcement was made on May 9 as Ms Falletta took to the Ulster Hall stage in Belfast, Northern Ireland to conduct the orchestra at the launch of its new concert program for the More Info JoAnn Signs New VSO Contract JoAnn has renewed her contract as Music Director of the Virginia Symphony for another three years with an option to serve for two more years after that. JoAnn is delighted to continue her leadership of the orchestra, saying Virginia “was my first big orchestra. The musicians, the orchestra and I nurtured each other, and the community nourished us so we flourished, becoming the mature orchestra we are today.“ More Info JoAnn Falletta Receives University of Buffalo’s Highest Award JoAnn Falletta received the Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal, University of Buffalo’s highest award, during the University’s 165th general commencement on May 15. The Norton medal is presented annually in public recognition of a person who has, in Norton’s words, “performed some great thing which is identified with More Info JoAnn Appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Brevard Music Center JoAnn has been appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Brevard Music Center through the 2013 season. As Principal Guest Conductor she will conduct at least two programs each season. “JoAnn Falletta is a major American musician. She is also a superb mentor to our students and a great friend to the Music Center,” said Keith Lockhart, BMC Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. “With JoAnn onboard in a formal capacity, our program will only grow stronger.” Read the Article Virginia Symphony Celebrates 20 Years Under JoAnn’s Leadership On March 19, 2011 the VSO celebrated JoAnn Falletta’s 20th anniversary with the orchestra with a “Roaring 20”s party at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel. As David Nicholson of the Daily Press noted: “The theme of the party recalls the era when the More Info from the Daily Press More Info from The Virginian-Pilot BPO signs Falletta for 5 more years, Orchestra Invited to Perform at Carnegie Hall The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra announced that Music Director JoAnn Falletta has agreed to a new contract that will guarantee her leadership through the Abbott Letro also announced that the orchestra will be returning, by invitation, to Carnegie Hall. The performance, scheduled for May 8, 2013, is part of the Spring for Music Festival. More Info Four Recordings by JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic Receive Grammy Nominations for Classical Producer of the Year JoAnn Falletta congratulates producers Blanton Alspaugh and Tim Handley, both of whom received multiple Producer of the Year, Classical, Grammy Awards for 2011, including two each for their Naxos recordings with Ms. Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Alspaugh received six nominations, including Corigliano: Violin Concerto ‘The Red Violin’ (Michael Ludwig, JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) and Tyberg: Symphony No. 3; Piano Trio (JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra). Mr. Handley’s twelve Grammy nominations include Dohnányi: Variations On A Nursery Song (JoAnn Falletta, Eldar Nebolsin & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) and Richard Strauss, Josephs-Legende; Rosenkavalier; Die Frau Ohne Schatten (Orchestral Suites) (JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra). Says JoAnn Falletta: “The BPO has truly enjoyed working with producers Blanton Alspagh and Tim Handley. Both men are superb artists who have helped create a legacy for the Buffalo Philharmonic through the CDs they have recorded for us for NAXOS.The musicians and I congratulate both Tim and Blanton on their much-deserved nominations.” The recording partnership between Naxos and JoAnn and the Buffalo Philharmonic has been extremely successful artistically, with nine Grammy nominations in the past 5 years. Last year, Blanton Alspaugh was also nominated for Producer of the Year, Classical for his work on the BPO’s recording of Schubert , Death and the Maiden. In 2009, JoAnn’s recording of John Corigliano’s Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan (Hila Plitmann, soprano, JoAnn Falletta; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) (2008, Naxos 8.559331) received two Grammy Awards in the categories of Best Classical Vocal Performance and Best Classical Contemporary Composition. In 2008, Falletta’s recording with the Buffalo Philharmonic of Respighi: Church Windows, Brazilian Impressions, Rossiniana (2007, Naxos 8.557711) received a nomination for Best Engineered Album, Classical for work by recording engineer John Newton. In 2006, Thomas Stacy, English Horn soloist on Ms. Falletta’s recording of Eventide, Concerto for English Horn, by Kenneth Fuchs, (2005, Naxos 8.559224) received a Grammy nomination in the category of Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra. The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 13, 2011 and will be broadcast live on CBS. More Info Virginia Pays Tribute to JoAnn Falletta on 20th Anniversary as VSO Music Director Montague Gammon III and Rob Cross, Executive Director of the Virginia Arts Festival, write a tribute to JoAnn Falletta in Veer Magazine to celebrate her 20th anniversary as Music Director of the Virginia Symphony. Rob Cross writes: “Over the past 20 years JoAnn Falletta has become an icon in our community. To look back and see what our orchestra has accomplished under her leadership is astounding.” Read Article JoAnn Falletta elected to Buffalo Music Hall of Fame JoAnn has been elected to the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. The public is invited to attend the gala celebration in Bufalo’s Tralf Music Hall on October 7. More Info International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians thank JoAnn for her Support of the Honolulu Symphony Musicians At its annual conference in Houston this August, the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) adopted a resolution thanking JoAnn for her efforts on behalf of the Honolulu Symphony, where she served as Artistic Advisor, and in December 2009, donated her services leading the orchestra in a benefit performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony following the Honolulu Symphony Society’s bankruptcy filing. Says JoAnn: “I have enormous respect and deep affection for the extraordinary musicians of the Honolulu Symphony and the work of ICSOM and am honored by this resolution. I was very happy to be able to help the musicians in that difficult time and will continue to do all I can to support them.” The ICSOM Resolution reads: Whereas, JoAnn Falletta is a great friend to ICSOM and its member orchestras; and Whereas, As Music Director of both the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Virginia Symphony, JoAnn Falletta is a recognized leader in the conducting field; and Whereas, When the Honolulu Symphony musicians needed the services of a noted conductor, JoAnn Falletta agreed to lead the orchestra in their benefit performance of Beethoven Symphony #9 in December 2009; and Whereas, This performance came just after the Honolulu Symphony Society filed for bankruptcy protection, jeopardizing the future of one of America’s oldest and most resilient orchestras; and Whereas, JoAnn Falletta donated her services in the interest of assisting the musicians of the Honolulu Symphony; therefore, be it Resolved, That the delegates to the 2010 ICSOM Conference thank JoAnn Falletta for her leadership, dedication and generosity in assisting the Honolulu Symphony musicians in their special and emotional evening during which they said thank you to their community for their support over the years. Submitted by the ICSOM Governing Board and adopted by unanimous consent at the 2010 ICSOM conference. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Celebrates 75 Years 2010-2011 Season Also Commemorates the 70th Anniversary of Kleinhans Music Hall and
10th Year of Naxos Recordings with Star-Studded Programs, Four New Recordings and Special Collaborations The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 75th Anniversary with the 2010-2011 Concert Season. At the season opening gala concert Maestro JoAnn Falletta and the BPO will pay tribute to the great history of the orchestra, performing the same music led by Lajos Shuk, for the opening concert of its very first season, in the Elmwood Music Hall in 1935: Beethoven’s “Egmont” Overture. “I’m proud to celebrate the BPO’s 75th Anniversary and to be a part of the incredible history of this remarkable orchestra,” said Music Director JoAnn Falletta. The season’s opening concert will feature a return engagement of violinist Midori. Other soloists for the season include pianist Lang Lang, who will make his first appearance with the BPO, pianist Christopher O’Riley, cellist Lynn Harrell, soprano Laura Aikin and violinist Michael Ludwig. The Orchestra kicked off the diamond anniversary season with the artistically and financially successful five city “Florida Friends Tour” in March 2010. Four new Naxos releases are planned, including the BPO’s much anticipated first disc in a multi-year recording project of the music of holocaust victim Marcel Tyberg, as well as recordings of works of Josef Suk, George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. In special recognition of the 75th anniversary, the orchestra will release a five-disc set of music from the BPO vaults that will showcase the sound of the orchestra with eight of its music directors, including Ms. Falletta, Willaim Steinberg, Josef Krips, Lukas Foss, Michael Tilson Thomas, Julius Rudel, Semyon Bychkov, and Maximiano Valdes. Other special projects to commemorate the anniversary include publishing a 75th Anniversary Book, titled “The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra: Prelude, Theme and Variations”, the production of a commemorative calendar and 75th Anniversary library display featuring the orchestra’s history. More Info JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition at Buffalo’s Kleinhans Music Hall Artyom Dervoed, a 28-year-old guitarist from Russia, was awarded first prize in the 2010 JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition. Second place was awarded to Nemanja Ostojic, 26, of Serbia, with the third place prize going to Thomas Viloteau, 26, of France. Ten top international guitarists representing six nations have been chosen to participate in the third biennial JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition, held June More Info JoAnn Falletta Talks About How She Selects Music for Recordings and More in This May 2010 Interview with Daniel Gilliam of WUOL, Louisville Public Media Classical 90.5 | JoAnn Falletta By R. Johnson JoAnn Falletta is a Grammy-award winning conductor, and serves as the Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic. During her tenure with Buffalo she has recorded the music of Richard Strauss, Franz Schubert, Daron Hagen, John Corigliano ... Listen JoAnn Falletta Recording Nominated for Producer of the Year, Classical Grammy JoAnn Falletta, Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony, congratulates Blanton Alspaugh who is nominated as Producer of the Year, Classical for his body of work that includes Ms. Falletta’s recording with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Schubert: Death and the Maiden ( 2008, Naxos 8.572051). Death and the Maiden is the fourth Naxos recording by JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic that has been nominated for a Grammy. In 2009, her recording of John Corigliano’s Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan (Hila Plitmann, soprano, JoAnn Falletta; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) (2008, Naxos 8.559331) received two Grammy Awards in the categories of Best Classical Vocal Performance and Best Classical Contemporary Composition. In 2008, Falletta’s recording with the Buffalo Philharmonic of Respighi: Church Windows, Brazilian Impressions, Rossiniana (2007, Naxos 8.557711) received a nomination for Best Engineered Album, Classical for work by recording engineer John Newton. In 2006, Thomas Stacy, English Horn soloist on Ms. Falletta’s recording of Eventide, Concerto for English Horn, by Kenneth Fuchs, (2005, Naxos 8.559224) received a Grammy nomination in the category of Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra. Says JoAnn, who has been hailed by the ASCAP foundation as a “leading force for the music of our time” and was recently appointed to serve on the National Council of the Arts, “It is such an honor for me and the Buffalo Philharmonic to have the opportunity to collaborate with Blanton Alspaugh and all the wonderful producers and engineers at Naxos.” The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 31 and will be broadcast live on CBS. JoAnn Falletta Receives Leadership Award from the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies for Tyberg Project On October 15, 2009, JoAnn Falletta was honored by the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies for her leadership and dedication to the Marcel Tyberg Musical Legacy Project. Falletta, who has established a reputation for conducting artistically important, but seldom-heard works, is embarking on a multi-year recording project of the lost works of Marcel Tyberg, the brilliant Austrian composer and Holocaust victim. The first release in this series will be Tyberg’s Symphony JoAnn Falletta In Conversation with John Clare of KPAC, Texas Public Radio JoAnn Falletta sat down and spoke with John Clare of KPAC of Texas Public Radio about education, music, the Grammy Awards, and new music. Filmed on location in Round Top, Texas on June 20th, 2009. Find out more at classicallyhip.blogspot.com JoAnn Falletta featured on CBC Radio’s flagship national arts and culture show Q, with JoAnn Falltta speaks with Jian Ghomeshi of CBC’s national arts and culture show Q about the glass ceiling for women in the world of conducting. Kennedy Center Spring Gala: A Celebration of Women in The Arts -
More Info JoAnn Falletta Recording Receives Two Grammy Awards February 9, 2009: Acclaimed conductor JoAnn Falletta’s recording of John Corigliano’s Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan (Hila Plitmann, soprano; JoAnn Falletta; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) (2008, Naxos 8.559331) received two Grammy Awards for 2009 in the categories of Best Classical Vocal Performance and Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Says Falletta: “We are all thrilled with these awards. It is such an honor for me and the Buffalo Philharmonic to have the opportunity to collaborate with John Corigliano and Hila Plitmann. John’s music is incredibly innovative and moving and the performances on this recording by Hila and the Buffalo Philharmonic are stunning.” JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic are in the midst of working on a multi-CD project with John Corigliano for Naxos, with the next release to include Phantasmagoria and the Red Violin Concerto with the BPO’s concertmaster, Michael Ludwig. Falletta’s recording with the Buffalo Philharmonic of Respighi: Church Windows, Brazilian Impressions, Rossiniana (2007, Naxos 8.557711) was also nominated this year for Best Engineered Album, Classical for work by recording engineer John Newton. She received her first Grammy nomination in 2006 in the category of Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra for her recording of Eventide, Concerto for English Horn, by Kenneth Fuchs (2005, Naxos 8.559224). Next month, Naxos will release two world premier recordings by Falletta and the BPO, including Daron Hagen’s opera Shining Brow, based on the early years of Frank Lloyd Wright and a disc of two ‘new’ works by Franz Schubert, featuring the completion of Schubert’s beloved “Unfinished Symphony” and a newly orchestrated transcription of Death and the Maiden. Maestro Falletta has introduced over 400 works by American composers, including more than 80 world premieres. Hailing her as a “leading force for the music of our time”, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers honored Falletta with her 10th ASCAP award in 2008. This fall, she was appointed as a member of the National Council on the Arts, the advisory body of the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to serving as Music Director of both the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Virginia Symphony, she is frequently invited to guest conduct many of the world’s great symphony orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony. More Info JoAnn Falletta Appointed to the JoAnn Falletta has been appointed to be a Member of the National Council on the Arts, the advisory body of the National Endowment for the Arts. The United States Senate confirmed President George W. Bush’s nomination of JoAnn Falletta to serve on the NCA on October 3, 2008 for a term extending through September 3, 2012. The National Council on the Arts advises the NEA Chairman on programs and policies. Council members review and make recommendations to the Chairman on grant applications, funding program guidelines, and national initiatives. Members are chosen for their widely recognized knowledge of the arts, their expertise or profound interest in the arts, and their established record of distinguished service or achievement in the arts. “I am very excited to have been appointed to serve on the NCA, and look forward to having the opportunity to promote the importance of the arts in America”, says JoAnn. More Info Press Quotes One of the finest conductors of her generation. The New York Times One of the brightest stars of symphonic music in America. Los Angeles Times Falletta conducted with a controlled frenzy worthy of Bernstein. Falletta has won conducting awards named for Toscanini, Walter and Stokowski. That seems appropriate as her podium work draws on the legacy of all three—Toscanini’s tight control over ensemble, Walter’s affectionate balancing of inner voices, and Stokowski’s gutsy showmanship. The Washington Post “Here the trio of soloists and orchestra under JoAnn Falletta takes a more intimate, chamber-music approach [compared to the Hall of Fame Järvi recording], one that pays special dividends in the Largo, which falls on the ear with the blissful serenity of an all-forgiving benediction. No cellist has ever played the opening strains more rapturously than László Fenyő. This is a performance of the “Triple” Concerto to cherish, not to the exclusion of Järvi, but as a different and equally rewarding way of hearing the work .... The performance [of the Beethoven Choral Fantasy] by Rubackytė, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, and the Kaunas State Choir under Falletta’s direction, is as good as it gets.” Fanfare Magazine Review of BEETHOVEN Concerto in C for Violin, Cello, and Piano “Triple” Concerto, Choral Fantasy, Doran January 2012 The disc’s centerpiece is Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2, with Concertmaster Michael Ludwig as soloist. Ludwig ... threw himself into this music, and BPO Music Director JoAnn Falletta and the orchestra followed suit, and the result is as good a performance of this beautiful and virtuosic masterpiece as I think you will find anywhere. Szymanowski’s “Concert Overture” jumps out at you in brilliant sound. ... The BPO, with its feel for late Romanticism, gives the music a full and passionate sound. Lutoslawski’s “Concerto for Orchestra” is thrilling, with its assertive, percussive opening theme and the exotic concluding toccata, which starts deep in the basses and builds from there. Karlowicz’s “A Sad Tale,” recorded this past November with the Wieniawski, brings us back into lush Richard Strauss Romanticism. Four stars. Mary Kunz Goldman, Buffalo News, January 2012) This may have been the best we have heard the CSO play, and much of the credit goes to Maestro Falletta for her understated precision, her inspired leadership, and her willingness to let the musicians shine ... how incredibly fortunate our entire arts community is to host such a highly acclaimed conductor who is also an extremely kind, generous, and loving person. CharlestonToday.net, January 2012 A gripping, lovingly detailed performance of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. Falletta brought a wonderfully organic feeling for both structure and Dallas Morning News JoAnn Falletta made an impressive, dynamic, and well-paced debut with the [Royal Scottish National Orchestra]. Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, though big-boned in the gigantic space, demonstrated Falletta’s fine control of tension and breadth. The Herald (Glasgow, Scotland) I spent a day with [the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra] in mid-March, and was thrilled with what I both saw and Henry Fogel, On the Record, Exploring America’s Orchestras Falletta marshaled the Philharmonic to play at the very top of its game in this difficult score [the Corigliano Red Violin]. The orchestra sounded warm-toned and tightly disciplined in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as well. Falletta balanced fleet tempos and weighty utterance in the first two movements, eased the metronomic gallop evocatively to let melodies and expression breathe in the final two movements, drew uncommonly elegant and nuanced work from the Philharmonic Chorale, and finished off with a thrilling treatment of the coda. The Washington Post Falletta’s splendid outing with the [Utah Symphony] in Abravanel Hall Friday certainly merits serious The Salt Lake Tribune JoAnn Falletta has a gift for programming. The Symphony Nova Scotia players ignite under a fiery conductor like Falletta (and) played brilliantly for her. Chronicle Herald (Nova Scotia) Falletta’s passion for the night’s music was evident throughout the performance, her enthusiasm spilling over into the orchestra and to the audience, which treated the performers to a number of well-deserved standing ovations. Deseret Morning News (Utah) Falletta really gets the big picture of the Bruckner Ninth. The huge blocks of sound were always traversed with a compensating smoothness of line and an unerring balance between the dominant string and brass incantations. Falletta’s sure control made the [third movement’s] many tenuous, wandering sections seem like one long, mystical musical thought process. Buffalo News Falletta displayed ample evidence of her precise command and engaging personality as she flawlessly sailed through a folk-infused program.... The Star Ledger Falletta conducted a thrilling reading, with all the big climaxes so expertly prepared that when they arrived, the terror associated with death was viscerally felt. The Virginian Pilot Guest conductor JoAnn Falletta led the performance, joined by two guest soloists: violinist Michael Ludwig and pianist Benjamin Loeb. The results were memorable and excellent in every way. Journalnow.com Petite, slender and attractive, Ms. Falletta is a musical giant, leading the Symphony with bold and fiery vigor. Classical Voice of North Carolina The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia gave one of its best concerts under JoAnn The Philadelphia Inquirer The five compositions received exactly what they needed from Falletta and the orchestra. Finesse and charm in the [Mendelssohn Overture], expressiveness in the [Zwilich Concerto Grosso] and power next to concentration in the [Chen Yi Duo]. Telegraaf (Rotterdam) What a triumphant return it was. Working without score, Falletta drove the [Denver Chamber] Orchestra through every grand sweep of Viennese opulence, handling those time-stretching rubatos with taste and immaculate timing, and drawing out some of the most sumptuous playing heard this season. Rocky Mountain News JoAnn Falletta is such a delight, both on cd and in performance. The energy levels and joy she exudes is infectious for all involved. ClassicallyHip.com JoAnn Falletta, the vivacious director of the Buffalo Philharmonic, was an inspired choice to conduct [the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic], maintaining the hypnotic momentum without letting [the Talbot Trumpet Concerto premiere] feel rhythmically unyielding. The Guardian (Liverpool, England) JoAnn Falletta led a striking performance of Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. Liverpool Daily Post Brilliance from Buffalo in Respighi’s rich orchestration. The Buffalo Philharmonic under music director JoAnn Falletta is treated to warm and spectacular recording, apt for such exotica. Respighi, Church Windows CD, Gramophone Editor’s Choice, February, 2008 An absolute smoker of a performance. Conductor JoAnn Falletta captures the music’s volatile emotions and youthful energy in frill measure. In short, we’ve struck 64 minutes’ worth of Brahmsian gold from an unlikely and often provocative source. Gramophone, Brahms Piano Concertos, Norman Krieger, Pianist, Virginia Symphony Orchestra One of today’s most talked about conductors, JoAnn Falletta, obtains highly coloured backdrops from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the sound is superb. Yorkshire Post, Dohnanyi: Violin Concertos, Michael Ludwig, Violin, RSNO All I can say is I am glad I heard this disc, for in its intelligent planning, its superb recording, and its dedicated playing it puts forward one of the best cases for Respighi’s music I have heard in years. It is perhaps the sensitivity that Falletta garners from her Buffalo forces that impresses most of all. She can take her orchestra down to the merest whisper (perfectly captured in Producer Tom Shepard’s recording; try “The Matins of Saint Clare”), and sustain a restrained tension for uncannily long passages. Fanfare Magazine, Respighi, Church Windows, BPO [Violinist Michael Ludwig, pianist Muza Rubackyte and cellist Laszlo Fenyo] strike a fine balance with the Lithuanian orchestra under Falletta’s guiding hand to produce the kind of warm, bracing lyricism that makes Beethoven’s music Beethoven: Triple Concerto;Choral Fantasy CD, Naxos, American Record Guide Nov/Dec 2011 A recording I would readily choose over Fanfare Magazine: Bruch, Scottish Fantasy, Michael Ludwig, violin, VSO A sort of Gershwin Concerto in F for the new millennium [that] keeps an irrepressible spirit connected with both the Roaring 20s and today’s Generation X. Audiophile Audition, Schoenfield’s Four Parables (Black Box) Everything came together thrillingly in the final movement of Rachmaninoff’s 1940 “Symphonic Dances”, Op. 45, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of JoAnn Falletta ended Saturday’s concert in a blaze of Buffalo News Detroit News Falletta led off with a vivacious performance of Kodaly’s “Dances of Galanta” and closed with Zemlinsky’s “Die Seejungfrau” (“The Mermaid”), in which she and the orchestra transmuted an exceptional level of musical detail into vivid and touching storytelling. The response of the audience was rapturous. A list of the dozen best American conductors today would contain several names that would also have appeared 25 years ago. But it would also now include Falletta. Boston Globe I happened to attend the Buffalo Symphony’s concert at Carnegie Hall last Sunday, in which conductor JoAnn Falletta stirred a hard-boiled Big Apple crowd to many standing ovations and an encore. Falletta has inspired this orchestra to an impressive level, blurring the category of the Big Five. Falletta and Curtis-trained Atlanta Symphony conductor Robert Spano are shining lights on the American-born conducting scene. Philadelphia Daily News One of the world’s leading female conductors. Under Falletta the ensemble moved briskly along with a kind of athletic élan. The New York Times Falletta immediately won listener’s Mannheimer Morgen (Germany) The beautiful surprise of the afternoon came from with an absolutely coherent fourth Symphony of Brahms under the baton of JoAnn Falletta. The movements were perfectly sculpted with a very beautiful equilibrium and melodies that were filled with emotional but never artificial. Without a doubt influenced by the interpretations of Kleiber and Berglund in the same material, JoAnn Falletta clarified the sonority by opting for tempos that were quite brilliant. Le Devoir—Montreal, Canada A delightful performance [with] the unusual musicianship of Ms. Falletta who has both the calmness to create long melodic bows as well as the temperament to turn passion almost into an ecstasy of sound. Ruhr Nachrichten (Dortmund, Germany) Ms. Falletta is on most critics’ short lists of exciting young conductors, and it’s easy to see why. Her musicianship is flawless. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Griffes—Orchestral Works—Editor’s Choice CD. Conductor JoAnn Falletta is completely sympathetic throughout and there are neatly delivered solos from many of the Buffalo players. This is a revelatory Griffes Gramophone Magazine JoAnn Falletta showed such authority, such caring for detail, such tenderness, such intelligence that [Copland’s Appalachian spring] seemed to open itself to reveal all of its virtues. A “10” for Falletta. LaPresse Buffalo has preposterously harsh winters, but it is worth braving blizzards to hear its fine orchestra. Falletta and the Buffalonians pour an ample portion of polished gorgeousness over Griffes’s scores. International Record Review I don’t know how she does it, but any new CD by conductor JoAnn Falletta—like her latest of music by Charles Tomlinson Griffes on Naxos—is a revelation. Philadelphia Daily News With any justice, Falletta would be a household name by now—she has done splendid work for more than two decades and brings out the best in any ensemble she takes on. Washington Post Widely known for her concerts with the same orchestra at Lanaudiere, JoAnn Falletta returned to us in great form (for her official Montreal debut) for a Brahms Fourth Symphony that proved yet again that this American maestra is one of the phenomena of the music world. One should take advantage of the experience of seeing her in concert at any price to witness it: such force, such authority, such virility (notwithstanding what a delicate woman she is), a network of sound that is at the same time carefully sculpted and free, and a rare degree of organic communication with the orchestra that makes us hope that she might be on the list to succeed Charles Dutoit. Concertonet.com (Montreal) She was best when precipitating an ecstatic moment, inspiring an emotional candidness from the USA Today First, it proved that it could play such thick, intricate music lucidly. I wouldn’t be surprised if this were the thorniest and lushest score of its size and reach that Long Beach has ever attempted. It proved, secondly, that conductor JoAnn Falletta can command Schoenberg’s epic Los Angeles Times Ms. Falletta is a demonstrative, kinetic conductor, and her The New York Times The orchestra The New York Times The program presented here American Record Guide Although JoAnn Falletta undoubtedly had only a few hours to rehearse the London Symphony Orchestra before proceeding to the studio, the performances are impressive, with fine rhythmic precision and passionate sweep. The New York Times [Falletta’s CDs] represent only the tip of an iceberg that Maestro Falletta is revealing to us, both on record and in the concert halls across our land. For her dedication on behalf of contemporary American music, we express our sincere gratitude and encouragement, and we acknowledge her artistic excellence with deep appreciation. Fanfare Magazine Falletta leads her orchestras “with clarity and precision, often producing performances that are remarkable for their combination of raw power and rare sense of proportion”. The Washington Post Falletta was superb, bringing out the best and most clarified music from the orchestra, exuding passion for this romantic work with impeccable control. China Daily (Beijing) One of the most impressive, musically intelligent and professional conductors. San Francisco Examiner Falletta kept the orchestra beautifully in check. It was a stunning and satisfying performance, to please even the most hardened Mahlerite. Equally impressive was the Philharmonic’s rugged performance of Sibelius’ First Symphony—a reading full of verve and passion. Newsday Let your friends listen to these works [on the BPO’s Griffes CD]. They will be enchanted and surprised to learn of this American music. A success that testifies once again to the excellence of the Naxos American Classics series. ClassicsToday.com, France No more than five seconds into her traversal of the Symphonic San Antonio Express-News I am not going to beat around the bush: the revelation of the evening was the guest conductor, New Yorker, JoAnn Falletta, a young woman who did not cease to astonish me by her energy, her precision, her conducting which was both supple and convincing, and which made the orchestra play in a manner that was exceptionally transparent and detailed. Once again, JoAnn Falletta captivated the audience with her confidence, and intelligent range of her conducting. Le Soliel JoAnn Falletta revealed herself as a genuine orchestral conductor. Her gestures were always energetic, expressive and effective, impeccably combining a rigorous beat with ample and generous gestures. With Falletta, one could feel an obvious love of the music, and the style she employed communicated every moment with the orchestra and, at the same time, with the audience. La Presse It must be said that the direction by JoAnn Falletta and the playing of her Buffalo Philharmonic [on the new Griffes CD] are beyond praise. This orchestra has played an important part in recording much of what is good in American Amazon.com Balancing nuts-and-bolt conducting with inspired leadership is tricky. Falletta provided the right combination, giving the orchestra plenty of guidance while encouraging spirited, touching musicality. Houston Chronicle The concert marked the Philadelphia Orchestra debut of JoAnn Falletta, music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic and Virginia Symphony. Her baton technique is extremely clean and her elbow rhythmically eloquent. The Philadelphia Inquirer Falletta did a spectacular job bringing together all the different musical forces into one powerful performance. The Daily Press Falletta is surely destined for classical music superstardom. Rocky Mountain News Apparently born to conduct, she sends all the right messages from the podium. Most important, she seems to create superior playing and clarified performances from the orchestra. Los Angeles Times A large, attentive, enthusiastic crowd packed Alice Tully Hall, perhaps as much to see conductor JoAnn Falletta as to hear the music itself. Musical America JoAnn Falletta proved that she ranks as one of the top young conductors in the country today. Falletta’s every gesture and nuance seemed to perfectly express the symphony’s canvas of emotions. No detail was too much for Falletta to ask of the orchestra and the result was an object lesson in artistry. In the Turina Falletta proved she is a dramatist as well as a poet, with engagingly artful shifts of mood and a firm command of the work’s rhythmic complexities. If, as rumor has it, Falletta is auditioning for the Honolulu Symphony’s top job, she won scads of votes with Sunday’s performance. Honolulu Advertiser JoAnn Falletta may be diminutive in stature, but she’s a commanding presence on the podium. The most impressive part of Saturday’s program was her dramatic and expansive reading of the Symphony No.5 by Prokofiev. Her deliberate tempo in the first movement gave the music an extra-weighty flow, culminating spectacularly in a broad, muscular and percussive climax. This overall measured pace was ever-flexible on a local level, however pointing up details in the massive architectural design. The orchestra played brilliantly throughout, with responsive energy, clear textures and alert give-and-take. Los Angeles Times [The Verdi Requiem] was a powerfully dramatic and well-paced account, sharply detailed and with all the forces integrated. Falletta achieved a rare and paradoxical state of impassioned resignation—a telling performance of a major monument. Los Angeles Times “Maestra walks softly, carries powerful Sacramento Union Throughout the program, she [JoAnn Falletta] showed a fabulous baton technique. The absolutely clear and amazingly clean way she used that stick (to say nothing of her intensely expressive left hand) left no doubt as to what she wanted. New York Daily News If there is justice, JoAnn Falletta should become a household name in the near future. Byron Belt, Newhouse News Service Falletta’s floating, transparent textures were The Tampa Tribune Performances of such devotion and intensity are rare today, even in the musical capitols of the world. But when they occur, they are no accident. The gifted Falletta reminded me of the work of the late Italian conductor Guido Cantelli. She has the concentration, musical honesty, culture, clear beat, lyrical grace and force to inspire musicians to play better than they thought they could. Sarasota Herald-Tribune [Falleta’s debut] was an auspicious artistic event that placed Falletta among the most promising conductors of her generation. The maestro’s presentation of Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra was impressive by any standard. Falletta, who conducted that technically intricate and emotionally embracing music without a score, knew the music cold, inside and out. Time and again, she demonstrated her thorough grasp of Bartok’s idiom, his point of view, his often-elusive purpose. Milwaukee Sentinel [JoAnn Falletta] is obviously a young conductor of unusual technical and communicative resources. If Schönberg performances could always reach such a high level of excellence, this music might yet sneak its way into the standard repertory. New York Magazine When JoAnn Falletta finished conducting the rousing Dances of Galanta, the Aspen audience gave her the full treatment—standing ovation, stamping, whistling, and whoops of joy. I myself was tempted to shout, “Holy cow!” Falletta virtually danced through the piece, inspiring the Aspen Symphony to a roaring performance that nearly tore the seams out of the music tent. Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph Judging from the results she [JoAnn Falletta] achieved with the Tucson Symphony, it’s clear that she is poised on the edge of a major, major career as a leader of orchestras. Arizona Daily Star [JoAnn Falletta] is, quite simply, the kind of conductor who can inspire almost any group of musicians. Her baton technique is graceful and utterly communicative, her gestures sweeping and poetic but lacking the slightest sign of exaggeration. Watching her is like watching Leonard Bernstein. Newsday Falletta and the Denver Chamber Orchestra were incandescent. This was Mozart of grand power and brilliant ideas realized with dramatic flair. Denver Post As guest conductor of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra last night, Falletta made the orchestra sound as never before. There was a sense of passion and togetherness. Most of all, there was an articulation of nuance and overall scope that added up to thorough excitement. Tucson Citizen Falletta strikes the ideal balance between energy and expressivity. She is heartfelt without being sentimental, passionate without being overbearing. She has highly developed musical instincts, intelligence, and a clear beat. She exudes confidence and she is committed to her art. Orange County Register JoAnn Falletta’s leadership of the orchestra elevated the art of accompaniment to new heights. Especially in the slow movement, her grasp of the unfolding emotions, and the orchestra’s unerring response to her direction made the soloists sound that much better. Milwaukee Journal [JoAnn Falleta’s debut with the Denver Symphony] was a rare and extraordinary event—the emergence of a new superstar! Colorado Springs Gazette [JoAnn Falletta] presided over her charges like the most compassionate of generals, conducting with a crystalline beat, a canny eye for entrances and releases, and an overall sense of daring. San Francisco Examiner
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