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What the Critics are Saying about Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra ------------------------------------------------------------------------ After nearly 50 years, ASO returns to Carnegie for the 2010-11 Season. Read here <"/userfiles/file/ASO%20returns%20to%20Carnegie%20Nov%2009.pdf"> for more information. *ASO introduces new $25 pricing intiative. This season -- all seats, * *all performances are just $25. Read **here * <"/userfiles/ASO>for more information. Botstein's *commitment to the piece at hand was total *-- the amount of obscure music this conductor can digest and present with authority is apparently unlimited....From those of us who persevered to the end, and since this will probably be the only performance of the opera we will ever hear, *grateful thanks are due*. / /Peter G. Davis/, MusicalAmerica.com, /2009 Review of 'Fervaal' Once again the conductor Leon Botstein, a champion of neglected works, has *leapt into the breach*, presenting a production of ?Les Huguenots,? ...[he] deserves credit for an overdue rescue job. Anthony Tommasini, /The New York Times, 2009 Review of 'Les Huguenots'/ It?s apt that the American Symphony Orchestra, whose mission is to present rare and unknown works, would champion the music of this great American composer, William Grant Still. It was *gratifying* to hear his music in such *excellent performances*. Gail Wein, /ClassicalSource.com/, 2009 review of "Revisiting William Grant Still" The admirably curious concertgoers gave a* long ovation *to Mr. Botstein...the orchestra, which played with *lush sound and dramatic sweep*; the fine solo singers; and the excellent Concert Chorale of New York. Tony Tommasini, /New York Times/, 2009 review of "Persecution and Hope: Masterworks of Conscience" ...Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra have carried on the heritage of Leopold Stokowski literally, presenting works which would never find their way into the mainstream repertory. With Dallapiccola, they succeeded to an *everlasting success*. Harry Rolnick, ConcertoNet.com, 2009 review of "Persecution and Hope: Masterworks of Conscience" The rich imagination and compositional rigor of the music made it *riveting to hear*, especially with the superb playing of the ASO under Botstein: the precise articulation, careful balances, clear textures, and robust musicality this music music needs were all there. In fact I've never heard Avery Fisher Hall sounding *so good*... Michael Miller, /Berkshire Review for the Arts/, 2009 review of "Music of the Other Germany" Yesterday, Mr. Botstein?s choices tore apart the curtain of East Germany and revealed inspirations not strait-jacketed by either Western trends or Eastern commissars. For that alone, the conductor has *proved to be a visionary explorer indeed*. Harry Rolnick, /ConcertoNet/, 2009 review of /"/Music of the Other Germany" Leon Botstein once again *enriched* New York's concert-opera scene... David Shengold, /Opera News/, 2008 review of /Le roi d'Ys/ ...[T]he orchestra *brilliantly captured the radiant colors and vibrant rhythms *of this taut, appealing score. / /Steve Smith, /The New York Times/, October 7, 2008 review of /Le roi d'Ys/ And, yes, a full house came to hear this rarity, confirming Botstein's theory, articulated in that morning's /*[Wall Street] Journal* <"/userfiles/Wall>/, that if you play things that are *unusual and fresh*, "they will come." Howard Kissel, /The Daily News, /"Cultural Tourist", October 4, 2008 review of /Le roi d'Ys/ Leon Botstein goes *where other conductors fear to tread**. * /The New Yorker/ The days are long gone when we used to describe the ASO merely as important.* *Now it is just fabulous**.*** */* *The New York Sun/ Named of the *best-programmed music series in New York City *by /New York /magazine: Trust Botstein to tweek every American Symphony Orchestra concert program with some intriguing discoveries from the past, all thematically related. / /Peter G. Davis//New York/ Botstein, who loves nothing better than to resurrect interred masterpieces, conducted its U.S. premiere like a true believer, and *the **orchestra played its heart out.* Justin Davidson//New York, /February 4, 2008 review of last season's "Russian Futurists" ...Rarely has "Romeo and Juliet", played by the American Symphony Orchestra under Leon Bostein, seemed *so* *vibrant*... Claudia De Rocco/MusicalAmerica.com, July 14, 2008 review of "Romeo and Juliet" at the Richard B. Fisher Center Under the direction of Leon Botstein, the American Symphony Orchestra performed as though they have *played the work for years*, with the *surety *and *intensity* the work deserved. Charles Kondek/Indenews.com, August 1, 2008 review of "King Roger" & "Harnasie" at the Richard B. Fisher Center For Press Inquires: *Albert Imperato <"mailto:aimperato@21cmediagroup.com">** 21C Media Group 212.799.3638 *