Arthur Fagen’s concert in Cagliari received praise from critics and audience

After a highly successful “Ballo in Maschera” several years ago, Arthur Fagen returned to the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari on August 6 and 7. Critics were very enthusiastic: “A totally Anglo-American program with a refined approach. It started with Appalachian Variations on an Ancient Slave Song by Frederick Delius. Fagen conducted this piece without any intrusive protagonist but almost placing himself with meticulous discretion at the service of the music… A Choral Fantasia op. 51 by Gustav Holst was rendered with an emphasis given to the various parts, in a wonderful chiaroscuro interpretation… The pyrotechnical final of the Cuban Ouverture by George Gershwin allowed Maestro Fagen to lead the Orchestra with dancing and engaging participation, emphasizing, as it’s right, the aspect of “entertainment”, but also the profound and not at all superficial Gershwin’s musical speech”, wrote Giulio Spadari at the Teatri dell’Est website, and the Ansa reviewer wrote: “Yesterday evening the “classicalparco” summer festival, featured Arthur Fagen, an important and appreciated New York conductor. He led with the verve and the class of a great master the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, who responded with equal concentration and quality. An elegant interpreter on the podium –  in a refined repertoire for a journey into Anglo-American culture among the great composers of the early twentieth century.”