Reviews

[......]  And surely, the production’s music director, Arthur Fagen, was a major factor in that achievement. One heard the results of his leadership also in work of the pit musicians, the concert orchestra, which handled the score’s bustle and lyricism with an impressive level of assurance and grace.Peter Jacobi, www.heraldtimesonline.com, September 28, 2009

Grandioser Ritt durchs Grenzgebiet … Gemeinsam mit der NDR Radiophilharmonie und der NDR Bigband waren sie [ Sabine und Wolfgang Meyer ]angetreten, um Kompositionen zu präsentieren, die irgendwo zwischen Broadway und Opernhaus ihren Ursprung haben. Gershwins "An American in Paris" kam zum Auftakt fast einer Kampfansage für den Abend gleich, der als "Hommage an Bennie Goodman" überschrieben war. Der Spaß an dieser Art von Musikalischem Grenzgang...

In Atlanta Opera’s 29-year history, only one Wagner opera has ever been performed: “The Flying Dutchman.” The first time around, in 2002 at the Fox Theatre [….]  Now the company has returned to the same opera and has rented the same production to close its 2008-09 season. The dramatic improvement in talent -onstage and in the pit- is a measure of how many leagues they’ve traveled in just a few years.[Baritone and Soprano] in their long Act...

“ It was the hottest ticket of the season, with sold out performances and great acclaim at evening’s end.....And Atlanta Opera gave it the same level of preparation and care it gives its usual fare: mostly well sung; smart and literal stage direction (by Richard Kagey); an orchestra, conducted by Arthur Fagen, that caught the sweep of the music ....”Pierre Ruhe, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 26, 2009

Mentre l’energica bacchetta di Fagen avviava l’Ouverture da ‘Die Fliedermaus’ di Johann Strauss, riproponendo […..] una gestualità frizzante e ritmica generosa già notata […..]Annely Zeni, Alto Adige, 03.01.2009 Musik so jung und frisch […..]Es war ein traumhafter Jahreseinstieg in wundervollem Rahmen und mit besonderer Musik. Der New Yorker Fagen ueberraschte mit einigen amerikanischen Klassikern-Broadway und Wien wurden erfrischend bunt...

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...