Rave reviews have been pouring in from media outlets praising James Gaffigan’s conducting of Tristan und Isolde with Les Arts, Valencia.
Ritmo.es: “The Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana exhibited its sublime quality, with an exquisite timbral palette, aided by the talent of the Music Director, James Gaffigan”
Scherzo: “By far, the best of this now Valencian Tristan lay in the pit. The New Yorker James Gaffigan, Music Director of the Palau de Les Arts, supported by a passionate command of the score… Infinite details and nuances were discerned in a raw image with no holding back.”
El Periódico de Aquí: “James Gaffigan, Music Director, also shined with his own light, conducting a brilliant version of this fundamental work in Wagner’s production, with an interpretation which highlighted the contrasting play of passions, in which hate, treachery, duty and conscience are blended in equal parts.”
Culturplaza: “Gaffigan knew how to showcase the melodic and harmonic chromaticism in the unresolved tonal ambiguity. Thus, he gives way to the permanent tension that only rests at the end of the work. And precisely from there comes the uniqueness and beauty of such a captivating musical creation that shined in Les Arts.”
Beckmesser: “A great success, with resounding Bravos. Wagnerian passion. If Gaffigan is conducting [Tristan] and the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana is playing it, even better.”
Ópera Actual: “Wagner fits with the orchestra’s natural repertoire. It appears that Gaffigan will be one of the Wagnerian interpreters to keep in mind in the coming years. He already triumphed with this title in Santa Fe last summer. His direction stood out through the clarity of textures and the flexibility that he gets through the orchestra in order to achieve an intense version that seems to pursue the embodiment of emotions in orchestral color.”
Docenotas.com: “Gaffigan directed ‘his’ splendid orchestra with spirit and his characteristic gestural energy. With … moments of brilliance in all of the orchestral sections, the OCV (Orchestra de la Comunitat Valenciana) once again highlighted the quality of its members, individually and collectively.”
Opera World: “The orchestra remained loyal to the baton and the elegant phrasings were heard on many occasions. The group’s sound attaining textural balance and allowing all of the soloist instruments to surface with ease.”
