TOSCA AT BOSTON LYRIC OPERA, OCTOBER 2017

« The 58-member orchestra sat on a sturdy platform ten feet above the action, behind a scrim, which, in the last act, becomes a vista of St. Peter’s and the Vatican. All one could see, at this level, was the conductor, David Stern, who was seriously splendid. The orchestra sounded absolutely wonderful.. Stern took the music a hair faster than I was accustomed to, and I liked the results. I was very impressed with his conducting. »
Susan Miron
The Musical Intelligencer

« The 58-member orchestra sat on a sturdy platform ten feet above the action, behind a scrim, which, in the last act, becomes a vista of St. Peter’s and the Vatican. All one could see, at this level, was the conductor, David Stern, who was seriously splendid. The orchestra sounded absolutely wonderful.. Stern took the music a hair faster than I was accustomed to, and I liked the results. I was veryimpressed with his conducting. »
Susan Miron
The Musical Intelligencer

« This “Tosca” very much hit its mark. It was in fact one of the most robust BLO opening nights I can recall. »
Jeremy Eichler
Boston Globe

« For this run, the orchestra is being led by the talented David Stern; and his conducting was quite impressive. Lyrical moments such as Cavaradossi’s first act aria were appropriately expansive, while the tense passages of the second act really bristled. The orchestra played wonderfully under his baton. Rarely has the prelude to Act Three sounded better. The choir of celli at the opening of “E luvevan …” was ethereal, and the clarinet solo that followed most evocative.
Ed Tapper
EDGE Media Network