”James Gaffigan allows the wonderfully tempered orchestra to run, jump and hop and only puts the breaks on their high-spirit in the last possible second, thus providing the necessary emotional urgency to drive this frenzied drama forward in a sparkling and vital fashion.” [TRANSLATION]
Reinhardt J. Brembeck, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 17 March 2019
”Gaffigan succeeds from the beginning to create an unavoidable suction one is unable to escape. Gaffigan lets the reins loose at the right moment without losing his head. […] This is because he doesn’t get bogged down by the details, rather has the courage to let the music flow. In doing so Gaffigan allows the soloists an emotional framework to flourish vocally and dramatically, and we saw a clear example of this in the premier.” [TRANSLATION]
Marco Frei, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 17 March 2019
”James Gaffigan lead the Bayerische Staatsorchester in a strikingly cinematic way, accompanying every transition with luscious colors creating a, one must almost say, sound orgasm.” [TRANSLATION]
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Norman Schwarze, Bachtrack, 18 March 2019
”The young music director of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra has a good feel for a free but controlled tempo. Gaffigan works with the basis of hopelessness and the longing tones that result in „La fanciulla del West“ come off remarkably well without becoming tacky. He also skillfully draws on the tessellated character of the music, which in a moment’s notice transforms lyricism to brutality.” [TRANSLATION]
★ ★ ★ ★ Robert Braunmüller, Abendzeitung, 17 March 2019
”…Gaffigan’s opulent sound embodiment worked amazing well with Dresden’s dusty grey coal mine setting. Together they created a way to keep Puccinis’ seldom performed opera believable from start to finish and awakened a hope that we could be both hearing and seeing a return of La fanciulla del West more often at the Bayerischen Staatsoper.
The Bayerische Staatsorchester under the lead of James Gaffigan’s grand gestures performed unparalleled Puccini-sighing, with a great deal of refinement, rhythmical accuracy and courage. Puccini at his best.” [TRANSLATION]
Martina Kausch, Musik Heute, 16 March 2019
”James Gaffigan, originally from New York and the current Chief conductor of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra successfully succeeded as the musical leader in very convincing plea for Puccinis’ “Fancuilla”” [TRANSLATION]
Moniker Beer, inFranken.de, 19 March 2019
”James Gaffigan made his debut on the podium and conducted the composition, likely unknown to the musicians, with poise and made a great success out of Dresden’s bold new production.” [TRANSLATION]
Klaus Adam, Schwäbische, 22 March 2019