Daniel Meyer – Press

“During Daniel Meyer’s short tenure as artistic director and conductor of BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, the ensemble has risen to a new level of quality.”

“Meyer beautifully shaped the entire span of the work, arriving at the miraculous, spine-tingling ending that showed off the Orchestra at its best.”

“Meyer and the orchestra gave the piece the weight and gravity such an interpretation demands, but without overstating it, and certainly without downplaying the orchestral virtuosity it demands. As in the Tchaikovsky, Meyer shaped passages carefully, kept Rachmaninoff’s bursts of punctuating brass and wind writing sharp and precise, and drew remarkable warmth and flexibility from the strings and woodwinds. It was, overall, a thrilling account of a big, challenging work, and a perfect ending to an impressive job audition.”

“Meyer ably led the orchestra in a few instrumental pieces. A spirited medley from “Oklahoma!” competed with a selection of tunes from “Flower Drum Song” for melodic richness. Music from Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man” highlighted – what else? – the trombones, while Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” hit all the melancholy marks.”

“Meyer’s conducting made this chestnut sound fresh-scrubbed. His attention to detail showed the brusque undercurrent of modernism nobly. The slashing rhythms and jarring dissonances that quickly cut to expressive melody helped propel the performance.

The orchestra’s rhythm was keen while Meyer drew distinct textures and burbling colorings from the players. In all, a skillful balance of lyricism and fire.”

“Meyer conducted smoothly, gently, and flexibly. He coordinated the quartet and orchestra with certainty. The sound was always lucid, the dense network of different musical characters was well-delineated.”

“Meyer was a powerhouse on the podium. If I had just one word to describe his conducting, it would be muscular. In the Beethoven piece, his gestures were big and sweeping. His arms reminded me of a dancer in top shape extending a movement just farther than you thought possible. And in the piece’s more quiet and tender moments, he brought the orchestra along with a dramatic flair – but never (well, almost never) straying into melodramatic territory. He is a compelling figure on the stage, his hair whipping about, accenting every movement, and comes across as a commanding presence. The audience ate it up.”

“Meyer led one glorious tune after another with a sure hand, inspiring fine playing from the orchestra.”

“Not only is Meyer a skilled conductor who inspires the musicians, he also assembles terrific programs, such as the recent concert featuring works by Beethoven and Aaron Copland.”