Conductor François López-Ferrer has received glowing critical acclaim following his recent appearance with Symphony San Jose at the California Theatre, in a program featuring works by Schubert, Sibelius, and Schumann alongside violinist Geneva Lewis.
Writing for San Francisco Classical Voice, Joseph Sarmenta described an evening “defined by an impressive clarity — of sound, intention, and interpretive vision,” highlighting López-Ferrer’s leadership throughout the program.
Sarmenta especially praised López-Ferrer’s partnership with the soloist, noting that the conductor “exercised tight and impressive control of dynamics and pacing to let the soloist’s brilliance shine without disrupting the orchestral strings.” The review also singled out Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 in D minor, where López-Ferrer “captured the piece’s flowing arc while attending to its dynamic details, which came out wonderfully in the strings, brass, and percussion.”
The performance was described as “a testament to López-Ferrer’s attentiveness as a conductor,” with the critic observing how he moved “briskly across the sections of the orchestra to ensure that practically every note from every musician played its role in the design.”
The concert formed part of Symphony San Jose’s program Hopelessly Romantic, and marks another critical success for López-Ferrer on the U.S. symphonic stage.
Read the whole review here.