Esa-Pekka Salonen has just finished the second part of his European tour with the Philharmonia Orchestra where he is now Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor. He will now conduct the Philharmonia Orchestra at several European music festivals, including Athens Festival, BBC Proms, Edinburgh Festival, Helsinki Festival, Grafenegg Music Festival and Lucerne Festival.
Please find some press quotes regarding the tour with the Philharmonia Orchestra here:
“Für Esa-Pekka Salonen, seit kurzem Chef-Dirigent des Los Angeles Philharmonic, stellte sich diese Frage noch nicht mal rhetorisch. Der legte einfach los. So brillant, dass die virtuos dosierte Wucht, passgenau an den Grenzen des im Großen Saal der Laeiszhalle akustisch Möglichen, einen buchstäblich in den Konzertsaal-Sitz drücken konnte.“ (Joachim Mischke, Hamburger Abendblatt, June 2, 2009)
“Salonen’s control was equally tight. Climaxes emerged staggered, each with its different dynamic level. At the same time he gloried in the symphony’s loose ends and disunity; the slow movement’s pastoral musings really did sound like music from another world.” (Geoff Brown, The Times, June 2, 2009)
“The Philharmonia are undergoing a renaissance, and their almost frightening precision added immeasurably to the nightmarish thrill. [...] the Berg, with Christian Tetzlaff as soloist, was well nigh faultless. It was done with intense restraint [...] the end, with Tetzlaff’s final phrases soaring into infinity while Salonen brought the orchestra to a standstill in a mood of deep serenity, was heart-stopping.” (Tim Ashley, The Guardian, May 31, 2009)