Christoph von Dohnányi – Press

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Reviews

Christoph von Dohnányi conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Mozart’s last three symphonies, marvels anew at BSO

by Jeremy Eichler The Boston Globe

March 20, 2015

“Dohnanyi tends to prefer moments of pathos and expressive drama to be elegantly telegraphed rather than emphatically underlined. There were highlights big and small, including the wonderful balance in the finale of No. 39 between instrumental detail and pure onrushing exuberance; the graceful lilt of the woodwind playing in the trio section of the third movement of No. 40; and the quietly glowing strings in the Andante Cantabile of the ‘Jupiter.‘ Dohnanyi can make even the smallest details speak.”

Christoph von Dohnányi conducts the New York Philharmonic

Highlighting the Classical, Hitting the Mystical, Flirting With the Demonic

by Anthony Tommasini The New York Times

April 11, 2014

“Mr. Dohnanyi, still vigorous at 84, led a magisterial account of Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 in C. In the slow introduction, he uncannily blended breadth of phrasing with suspenseful intensity. The Philharmonic strings dispatched the rippling figures of the scurrying Scherzo effortlessly for Mr. Dohnanyi. A calmly authoritative account of the pensive slow movement led to a surging, exuberant finale. Mr. Dohnanyi is always a welcome presence on the Philharmonic’s podium.”

Christoph von Dohnányi conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra

Christoph von Dohnányi conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Inquirer

April 6, 2014

“Dohnányi, music director laureate of the Cleveland Orchestra, paced the opening of Brahms ‘Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn’ quickly, more like something you’d whistle on a brisk country walk than hear in a concert hall – unlike the way Sawallisch heard it – but it fit. He etched with menacing fine details the slithering, nocturnal eighth variation, and gave a rather patriotic glow to the broad-shouldered finale.”

Christoph von Dohnányi conducts the Cleveland Orchestra

Cleveland Orchestra shines in Schumann performances under former director Dohnanyi (review)

by Zachary Lewis The Plain Dealer

March 28, 2014

“Conductor Christoph von Dohnanyi remains a powerful and beneficial influence, fully worthy of his specially created position. His performance with his old ensemble Thursday was superb, a brilliant reminder of his glory days at Severance Hall and a clear demonstration of the fond esteem in which the orchestra still holds its former maestro.”

Christoph von Dohnányi conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood

Christoph von Dohnányi conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood

The Boston Globe

August 19, 2013

“Dohnanyi’s conducting continues to be a marvel in its precision of musical intention, and here he seemed to also be feeding off of the youthful energy and commitment radiating from every corner of this orchestra.”

Christoph von Dohnányi conducts the New York Philharmonic

Christoph von Dohnányi conducts the New York Philharmonic in Tchaikovsky

The New York Times

March 30, 2012

“The program ended with a stellar performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” Symphony, one of the few pieces the intensely self-critical composer felt satisfied with. Mr. Dohnanyi led a stirring, full-blooded interpretation that swept the listener along for its near-50-minute duration. He avoided sentimentality without shying away from the work’s heart-on-sleeve emotionalism.”