In Thursday’s (11/17) Duluth News Tribune (Minnesota), Christa Lawler writes, “Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra audiences will see a conductor finalist who has been lauded for his ‘compelling performances’ by the New York Times when Mariusz Smolij leads the ‘Divine Inspirations’ program at 8 p.m. Saturday at Symphony Hall. Smolij likens the program he designed—which includes music by Tchaikovsky, Kilar, Brahms and Respighi — to a gourmet dinner. He is the fourth music director candidate to lead the DSSO during the ‘Five Batons’ season, in which the five finalists conduct a classical concert and a pops concert, an on-the-job tryout to determine who will replace current music director Markand Thakar when he leaves after the 2012-13 season.” Says Smolij, “The program includes two Slavic composers, Polish and Russian, and one German (I am Polish with some German family connections). Also, we have an Italian master and Italy is my favorite country to visit. In short, I will be performing music that I feel a real affinity with and music I am passionate about. … Among the conductors who inspired me in terms of their physical approach to conducting and have what I see as the desired balance between the spontaneous body, clear technique and big heart are Carlos Kleiber, and from the contemporaries, Simon Rattle.”
Posted November 18, 2011
