Rafael Payare
News
- 07 September 2023
Rafael Payare debuts with Staatskapelle Berlin alongside Alisa Weilerstein
Read full article - 21 August 2023
ON TOUR: Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra in Residence at Edinburgh International Festival
Read full article - 06 March 2023
ON TOUR: Rafael Payare and OSM in the USA
Read full article - 02 February 2023
Rafael Payare makes Royal Opera House debut
Read full article - 01 December 2022
Rafael Payare debuts in New York
Read full article - 21 October 2022
Rafael Payare tours Europe with Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and Askonas Holt
Read full article - 17 February 2022
Rafael Payare tours Scandinavia with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Read full article - 11 November 2021
Rafael Payare debuts with Philadelphia Orchestra
Read full article - 24 July 2021
Rafael Payare debuts with Cleveland Orchestra
Read full article - 07 January 2021
Rafael Payare appointed Music Director in Montreal
Read full article - 30 October 2020
Rafael Payare extends MD contract with San Diego Symphony
Read full article
Press
San Diego Symphony Orchestra / East Coast tour 2023/24
Carnegie Hall, New YorkOct 2023 - Oct 2023The epicenter of symphonic activity in the Golden State seemed to shift southward Friday night, at least in Carnegie Hall, as the San Diego Symphony, led by its music director Rafael Payare, showed it could go toe-to-toe and note-for-note with those more storied ensembles up the coast... The Venezuelan conductor, another proud product of that country’s El Sistema program for young musicians, brought a youthful, dynamic presence to the podium that belied his 43 years.
- New York Classical Review
- 14 October 2023
San Diego Symphony / Season Opening 2023/24
The Rady Shell at Jacobs ParkOct 2023Overseeing all was Payare in a no-holds-barred interpretation. As we’ve come to expect, the symphony musicians responded with enthusiasm in a clean performance chock-full of emotion.
- The San Diego Union-Tribune
- 03 October 2023
Staatskapelle Berlin with Alisa Weilerstein, Berlin Musikfest
Philharmonie, BerlinSep 2023Unter der Leitung von Rafael Payare zeigte sich die Staatskapelle Berlin auch im Bereich der Avantgarde Weltklasse... Der aus Venezuela stammende Dirigent Rafael Payere dirigierte das komplizierte Werk mit höchster Präzision. Gustav Mahlers Fünfte nach der Pause zeichnete sich durch Entschlackung und tänzerische Leichtigkeit aus. Mahler aus dem Geist des Tangos statt des behäbigen alpenländischen Ländlers... Das Adagietto nahm Payere schnell und zeigte, dass Substanz keine Frage der Tempos ist. Man möchte diesen außergewöhnlichen Dirigenten gerne mal mit Wagner hören. Er hat die erfrischende Art eines Gustavo Dudamel, dessen Meisterschaft in der Klassik in aller Welt neue Maßstäbe gesetzt hat. Was für ein Glück, dass die Welt der Musik keine Grenzen kennt.
- Berliner Zeitung
- 10 September 2023
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los AngelesApr 2023 - Apr 2023[Rafael Payare] lit a fire under the orchestra with his weaving, swaying, extremely physical manner of conducting.
- San Francisco Classical Voice
- 18 April 2023
London Symphony Orchestra with Vilde Frang
Barbican Hall, LondonFeb 2023[Strainsky's Firebird Suite] is hardly an everyday piece – the orchestra is huge, the demands high. But Payare and the LSO’s players triumphed – Payare has a gift for orchestral colour (witness his performances of Latin American works), and it was absolutely in evidence here... Even in the loudest of passages, the result was never purely cacophonous: layers were always audible, the sound striated, while Payare, at the other end of the dynamic scale, had his strings play at what must have been pppp. From the suave excitement of ‘Katschei’s Dance’ to the fragrant charm of ‘Ronde des Princesses’, this was a simply remarkable performance. Rhythms were supremely well pointed throughout – a vital component of understanding Stravinsky. An exceptional concert from a remarkable conductor, virtuoso soloist and world-class orchestra. Payare’s return is already eagerly anticipated.
- Seen and Heard International
- 24 February 2023
Rossini's Barber of Seville, Covent Garden
Royal Opera House, LondonFeb 2023 - Feb 2023***** I don’t know whether or not Rafael Payare bakes. But either way, he served up the ultimate lemon meringue pie at Covent Garden last night, in the shape of the overture to Il barbiere di Siviglia: a buttery base of low strings below a tangy filling of woodwind, topped by the airiest, fluffiest meringue of violins. It was light, it was airy, it was enthusiastically accented, it was rhythmically on the nail and it elicited the biggest ovation for an opera overture I can remember – and deservedly so, because it set the scene for an evening of buffa entertainment that never faltered... with exemplary direction, vivacious playing under Payare’s baton and a singing cast of this quality, it’s a winner. Grab the remaining seats while you can.
- Bachtrack
- 03 February 2023
**** The fast-rising Venezuelan — a shining product of that country’s El Sistema music education project, and now music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra — injects so much energy and pace into the score that you feel the ensembles are swept along on a whirlwind. Yet never do the singers seem rushed, nor the rapport between pit and stage put under strain. It’s all perfectly judged.
- The Times
- 03 February 2023
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal / North American Tour 2022/23
Carnegie Hall, New YorkMar 2023Payare is in his first season as music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and the collaborative feeling between conductor and orchestra in the Mahler symphony was that of a seasoned relationship. Payare is a dynamic presence on the podium, physically active and attentive to detail... Beyond Payare’s in-the-moment direction, his preparation came through in the excellent pace, dynamics, and balances within and through the orchestra. There are so many opportunities to pick and choose details to highlight, and the playing shone a spotlight on the wonderful wind colors in this orchestra, especially the unusually nasal double-reeds and a dark trumpet sound. The articulation of details in the strings, things like quick 16th-note rests toward the end of phrases and moments of portamento, were superb.
- New York Classical Review
- 08 March 2023
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal / European Tour 2022/23
Royal Festival Hall, LondonOct 2022**** Payare made [Shostakovich’s tenth symphony] sound cogent, if scarily neurotic, from its tragic opening to the supposedly triumphant but ambiguous ending.
- The Times
- 31 October 2022
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal / Season Opening 2023/24
Maison symphonique de MontréalSep 2023Rafael Payare fait véritablement « jouer » l’OSM et quand l’OSM joue à ce point et ce niveau on ne revient quasiment pas de ce qu’on entend. L’expérience renoue avec les grandes émotions de concert que pouvait nous donner un Evgueni Svetlanov avec son Orchestre d’État de Russie ou, j’imagine, jadis, Charles Munch. On se demandait un jour si Rafael Payare allait pouvoir renouveler « l’effet Zubin Mehta » à Montréal. Il n’est là que depuis 1 an et on est déjà à l’égal ou au-dessus et dans les 2e et 3e de Mahler, le Sacre… même pour un fan du Zubin Mehta des années 70. Je ne suis pas un spécialiste de jeux de hasards et loteries : mais ce chef c’est le Jackpot, la boule d’or et « grande vie » réunis.
- Le Devoir
- 13 September 2023