In Fidelio, strong conducting is a must, and Portland Opera was fortunate to have Arthur Fagen….. his tempos were quick, especially in the canon quartet; this is often a time-stops moment, but Fagen’s fast, flowing tempo linked it to the singspiel world of the Marzelline–Jaquino numbers before and Rocco’s gold aria after it…. an inspired, frenzied wave in the opera’s final presto, his lighter, dancing touch was the next best thing and just as joyous.
Mark Mandel, Opera News Online, January 2009
“Fidelio” requires an authoritative orchestra to handle Beethoven’s symphonic score, and under conductor Arthur Fagen, the players brought out the score’s shadowy power and radiant exuberance.
David Stabler, The Oregonian, 11.10.2008
The careful articulation of the inner voices of this great score, given their full due by conductor Arthur Fagen…
Pat McElroy, www.allclassical.org , 08.11.2008
Conductor Arthur Fagen worked the orchestra energetically and kept the pace of the opera brisk.
James Bash, www.Northwestreverb.com, 11.11.2008
UI Chamber Orchestra, Bloomington, Indiana: Haydn, Bizet, Penderecki
….an orchestra sounding extremely good in terms of intonation, resonance, and response, thanks to conductor Arthur Fagen, who is swiftly proving his worth as the newest member of the Jacobs School’s conducting faculty. His program held works of three centuries …. : a fairly early Haydn Symphony, the No. 30 in C Major …. Bizet Symphony in C … and, between them, Krzysztof Penderecki’s Concerto for Viola and Orchestra….The Haydn proved genial, bright, bubbly, an obvious light-hearted entertainment for audiences of its time….. And the listening was delightful what with an orchestra enunciating the music so clearly and with such buoyancy. So, too, there was much pleasure in hearing the Bizet: its lively imitation of Beethoven and Mozart in the first movement, its suggestion later on of the composer’s own voice as it would flower in “Carmen.” The violins sounded particularly lush. One was taken by the brio and charm of the orchestra’s reading. And though the orchestra also took care of its obligations in the Penderecki very well, the spotlight rightfully shone upon the viola soloist…
Peter Jacobi, www.heraldtimesonline.com, February 2009
Mr. Fagen in Bolzano
In Suedtirol Magazine, September 2008
Read the article ( in German)
Download PDF