
Reviews
A Greek miracle at the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec
“From Debussy's ‘Prelude, L’Apres-Midi d’un Faun, the conductor stood out with a slow but precise, economical gesture, allowing the various strands of the orchestra to unfold quietly... Grammenos was impeccable here, as he was later, in the orchestral main course, Stravinsky's 1919 Firebird Suite. Again in this latter work, Grammenos brings out absolutely incredible colours, from the first bars of the score through to the Berceuse. The interpretation, of great flexibility, could perhaps seem a little too romantic to some ears, but it demonstrates how much the work has a strong foothold in the 19th Century. This boy is destined for great things in all probability. We hope to see him again soon on the same stage.”
Orchestre Symphonique de Québec
“The young guest conductor of Greek origin, Dionysis Grammenos, took charge of the OSQ with great mastery. His sobriety, precision and efficiency provided a beautiful shape to the orchestra. He really committed to the music!”
English Touring Opera
“This is one of the best Bohèmes I have heard in recent years... Anyone who has heard Beecham or Karajan’s recordings of Bohème will know that, like all great opera, the starting point is an exceptional conductor. Here we get one with Dionysis Grammenos, whose command of Puccini’s idiom is impressive.”
English Touring Opera
“Puccini’s way of sweeping the listener straight up with youthful high spirits, wistfulness and the bustle of Bohemian Paris can render much else redundant. Dionysis Grammenos’ firm and flexible conducting establishes that clear enough.”
English Touring Opera
“... the sparer forces found a more concentrated wiry intensity in the music, spurred on by remarkably crisp conducting from Dionysis Grammenos, who excelled in focusing the rhythmic energies of the score. Seldom in London has that treacherous opening downbeat, with its wafer-thin semiquaver rest, burst forth with such control and promise. Grammenos has thrown a gauntlet down to the other major pit orchestras in London who frequently revive this bread-and-butter work.”
English Touring Opera
“In the pit, conductor Dionysis Grammenos draws animated, richly coloured playing from the 27- strong orchestra, providing plenty of Puccinian perfume and punch, but a welcome clarity and freshness too.”
English Touring Opera
“Under conductor Dionysis Grammenos the orchestra achieves a pleasing transparency while not skimping on the occasional blatancy that Puccini demands.”
English Touring Opera
“Really gorgeously conducted by Dionysis Grammenos with acute sensitivity to the emotional flow”
English Touring Opera
“The orchestra is expertly handled by conductor Dionysis Grammenos. The music is truly moving, underscoring the emotion played out on the stage.”
English Touring Opera
“In the pit Dionysis Grammenos gave us a lithe and engaging account of the score. Grammenos zipped along, and the dialogue flowed beautifully. This was very much Puccini as heightened dialogue, rather than a series of set pieces arias, and it worked very well indeed.”
“A child prodigy!”