Rising star Dionysis Grammenos took to the podium at Nevill Holt Opera to conduct Rossini’s La Cenerentola, receiving high praise and critical acclaim. Leading the Royal Northern Sinfonia in five performances at Nevill Holt Opera’s home in the Leicestershire countryside, Grammenos also conducted a performance at The Glasshouse in Gateshead: the home of Britain’s only full-time chamber orchestra. Praised for its ‘scintillating fizz’ (Classical Music Daily) and ‘sparkling’ performance (The Article), Grammenos’ interpretation was recognised for its finely balanced voices, vigorous orchestral drive and beaming lower strings.
“Rossini uses the voices fabulously, so that all six – from tenor to lowest bass – were audibly offset and finely balanced, some emerging, others sidling alongside – something young Greek newcomer conductor Dionysis Grammenos prised out with notable expertise.”
“… But the overall orchestral sections attentiveness and wide-ranging pacings owed much to Grammenos. There were moments in the violins, and indeed the lower strings, that positively beamed.”
Roderic Dunnett, Classical Music Daily
“…There’s a very fine orchestral ensemble in the pit in the shape of the Royal Northern Sinfonia and conductor Dionysis Grammenos puts plenty of vigour into ensuring the score’s strong forward march.”
George Hall, The Stage
“… Producing an evening of featherweight, brilliantly achieved fun is as high an artistic challenge as anything in theatre, and thanks to an imaginative director, an engaging cast, and the Royal Northern Sinfonia under Dionysis Grammenos (spooling out solo after exquisitely turned woodwind solo), Nevill Holt brought it off.”
Richard Bratby, The Spectator
“Rossini’s music was given a sparkling performance by the Royal Northern Sinfonia under the baton of Dionysis Grammenos.”
Mark Ronan, The Article
“… With conductor Dionysis Grammenos at its helm in his first Nevill Holt venture, this versatile and very responsive Royal Northern Sinfonia coped admirably with some of the extraordinary happenings on stage – despite players having little chance to see the visual effects.”
Clive Peacock, Seen and Heard International
“… There is splendid playing from the Royal Northern Sinfonia, under the baton of Dionysis Grammenos on his NHO debut, while Trevor Eliot Bowes, with his beguiling bass, only has to enter to give the character of Alidoro an otherworldly feel.”
Sam Smith, Music OMH