Reviews

"Regarding Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony, it is important to note that Maestro Arthur Fagen’s interpretation balanced intimacy, reverence, and grandeur. He never exaggerated his gestures; instead, he was very restrained in his expressiveness, yet this did not detract from the precision and dynamism of his conducting. In this extensive work, he maintained control over the sound volume of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia and handled...

El director musical Arthur Fagen, quien se ha convertido en el favorito de la concurrencia, estuvo al mando de la orquesta. Al salir al podio recibió una ovación tan grande que duró varios minutos. Su comando de la orquesta fue impecable, destacándose una excelente interpretación de la muy famosa “Cabalgata de las valquirias”, que podemos comparar en importancia a la marcha triunfal de Aida de Verdi.  Ximena Sepulveda, Pro...

L’Opéra-Théâtre de l’Eurométropole de Metz propose une création tous les deux ou trois ans en moyenne. Hasard du calendrier, alors que le projet a été initié il y a déjà quelques années, c’est un spectacle inscrit dans l’actualité brûlante du moment qu’on a pu découvrir, lors de deux uniques représentations, en création mondiale, en ce début de février [...] La direction précise et ciselée d’Arthur Fagen permet à l’Orchestre National de Metz en...

In a night overflowing with emotion, the Compañía Nacional de Ópera closed with a flourish the season last Thursday, December 14, with Donizetti’s work "L’Elisir d’Amore", at the Main Hall of the Teatro de Bellas Artes. The audience, enthusiastic, gave standing ovations to the cast, highlighting the artistic quality of this unforgettable staging. Under the masterful direction of Arthur Fagen, the orchestra of the Teatro de Bellas Artes...

Thrilling orchestra under Fagen. It's not just Wagner's own libretto and the look of the stage that are so stunning. It's the music, the large cast of acting singers, and the marvelous orchestra that will just bowl you over. Last, but hardly least, there is the Atlanta Opera's orchestra under Music Director Fagen. After all, what would Wagner's music be without the ensemble that could do it justice? They gave a grand performance at the...

Under the baton of renowned conductor Arthur Fagen, whose respect for Beethoven’s score was apparent in every bar of his reading of it, the musicians of the North Carolina Opera Orchestra played with precision of pitch, rhythm, and ensemble that would have been remarkable in any performance. In a rehearsal, musicianship of such an exalted caliber attested to North Carolina Opera’s tremendous achievements during the past decade....

Programma totalmente d’impronta anglo-americana e di raffinata impostazione. Si è cominciato con Appalachi. Variazioni su un antico canto di schiavi di Frederick Delius. Fagen ha diretto questo brano senza nessuna protagonistica invadenza ma quasi mettendosi con meticolosa discrezione al servizio di un discorso musicale che vuole essere impressionistico ritratto di uno stato d’animo scaturito dal ricordo, in bilico tra malinconia e,...

[…] Negro Symphony [Dawson’s] is a brilliantly orchestrated work that repays repeated listenings. This is its third recording after Stokowski and Neeme Järvi in Detroit. […] This newcomer is the most balanced of the three and a safe recommendation. These are excellent performances [Kay’s] recorded with sound that is full in texture and slightly close, and the Vienna Radio Symphony does a fine job, as it does in the Dawson. The sound is...

Four stars: A well-performed collection of fine music Arthur Fagen and the Vienna Radio Orchestra have the measure of these works; the conductor manages to convey the American and Latin dance idioms to the Austrian musicians, and they sound totally at home in the music. In the slower movements Fagen displays a supple sense of phrase-shaping. Gould asks of the performers a balance of kinetic energy and warm lyricism. Fagen and the Vienna RSO...

Conductor Arthur Fagen expertly coordinated the singers and players in what is likely the most difficult score the Atlanta Opera Orchestra has ever attempted. Operanews.com, April 2020 Conductor and music director Arthur Fagen manages the requirements of a complex score, keeping balance in check and holding the orchestra to a higher standard.[...] The Atlanta Opera orchestra also provides moments of loveliness as it does during the “Dance of...