In October, we welcomed a very special guest conductor: 83-year-old Sir John Eliot Gardiner, who joined us for a program featuring Haydn and Sibelius. Did you know that, having conducted all the world’s leading symphony orchestras, he also runs an organic farm in Dorset? A rich life, a rich musical experience – and here’s what our audience had to say about our concerts together.
„What I enjoyed most was the incredible energy and precision that Sir John Eliot Gardiner brought to the orchestra. I remember most fondly the opening of the concert, when the members of the orchestra performed Sibelius’s Sydämeni laulu as a choir without their instruments. It was a deeply moving, breathless moment that completely spellbound the audience. That unique connection, followed by the breathtaking performance of Sibelius's 2nd Symphony, made the afternoon truly unforgettable.”
“Fantastic musicians. They play with a smile on their faces. They sing. They work hard to bring out the very best in themselves.”
“The musicians performed with extraordinary passion. And they played really well. French horns fabulous, strings in the Sibelius great energy.”
“Beautiful music, a wonderful conductor – we witnessed a superb orchestra. An unforgettable experience!”
“The Second Symphony was brilliant!”
“The conductor was amazing, and the orchestra sounded beautiful!”
“I loved that the orchestra members sang and that the musicians played standing up. I had booked a seat in the organ loft, so I could see the conductor face-on, which made the experience truly exceptional.”
“A perfect, flawless performance, with a choral sound.”
“100% musical magic. The highlight of the concert was the way the orchestra was arranged to create such a rich sound! The collaboration! The conductor’s increasingly exciting musical direction. Experiencing the extraordinary magic of music being created in the here and now!”
