Holding it all together was the company’s music director, Arthur Fagen. A former chief conductor in Dortmund, he is an old-school Wagnerian in the best way, breathing with his singers, cradling them with the warmth of the orchestra.
Pierre Ruhe, Opera Magazine, April 2018
Conductor Arthur Fagen and his orchestra were superb. […] the orchestra began the Holländer overture with unerring precision: the main theme of open fifths demonic sounding, woodwind entrances clean and limpid, and the dynamic variations unified throughout the pit. No opera company can excel without a proficient orchestra and if last night’s performance is an indication of things to come, Atlanta may have an opera company that is in the midst of its own redemption.
Stephanie Adrian, Opera News, November 4, 2017
Although the DUTCHMAN is not quite at the center of “opera’s greatest hits”, Zvulun’s new production, in an updated setting, for Atlanta […] makes a good case for its moving up the list. He was aided immeasurably by the stirring performance of the Atlanta Opera orchestra under Music Director/Conductor Arthur Fagen, who showed meticulous control as he was thrusting the score forward.
Richard Sasanow, www.broadwayworld.com, November 7, 2017
Conductor Arthur Fagen gives forceful drama to the music’s juxtaposed moments of full, lush orchestration and dramatic quiet.
Andrew Alexander, www.myajc.com, November 6, 2017
From the opening note of the overture, Fagen’s orchestra is especially impressive in this performance, giving strong emotional and underpinning to the drama.
Mark Gresham, www.artsatl.com, November 6, 2017