Alessandro Crudele
The South China Morning Post wrote:
"The Hong Kong Sinfonietta, under the baton of guest conductor Alessandro Crudele from Italy, played with sensitivity. [...] The sectional balance and clarity in Stravinsky's Suite No 1 for Chamber Orchestra brought out the genius imbued in the music. Even more vibrant was Prokofiev's Classical Symphony. Vivacious woodwinds and lyrical strings, all interwoven into a convincing whole, conveyed pleasure on stage and on the floor."
In July Alessandro Crudele, at the helm of the Jena Philharmonic, will open the European Festival of Church Music in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany.
A short documentary about Alessandro Crudele's critically acclaimed visit to South Africa:
Over the past month, Alessandro Crudele has been leading orchestras in South Africa, building upon his already excellent reputation in a new territory. He has conducted the Johannesburg Philharmonic and the KZN Philharmonic in thirteen concerts across Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban.
Paul Boekkooi wrote on Artslink: "The fourth and final season of 2010 will be remembered by the quite amazing debut of the young Italian conductor Alessandro Crudele"
In Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite we heard an enlightened level of music making which had an infectious spirit and shapely sensitivity that was very appealing. In the JPO’s playing we found tonal lustre as well as a well-coordinated equilibrium in sound production. ... This was virtuoso playing of the most refined sort, not simply a kind of mechanical virtuosity of some crack orchestra who view whatever is put before them in the same light. Here the prerequisites, like playing with commitment and a true feeling for style, were handsomely met. At times it sounded exacting, but there was also buoyancy, delicacy, fluency and lightness.
"The Brahms Variations on a Theme by Haydn reflected the twin ingredients of classical severity and romantic warmth, but were happily blended and cleverly balanced. Tempi were for the most part traditional; the handling of subtle effects was often masterly."
"Crudele maintained a Czech pastoral freshness and a seamless flow throughout the theme, the following 27 variations and the finale.
In such a warm and strongly characterised reading, it was the expressive, moulded style which brought out the composer’s sheer delight in just letting his invention blossom.
Crudele’s ingrained exploration of the music’s inner textures made the reading even more stimulating. It was enhanced by an impeccable orchestral balance amidst subtle spotlighting of certain sections and avoiding brass domination.
Alessandro will make his South African debut conducting the Johannesburg Philharmonic and the Kwazulu Natal Philharmonic in October and November. He will give a long series of concerts, giving performances in Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
"the sections are homogeneous, the sound of the violins is brilliant; balance and spontaneity do credit to the orchestra and to its conductor, Alessandro Crudele, who inspires a joyful freshness, with a sober and flowing gesture. In the Poulenc, the orchestra finds the right cheerful note of a vibrancy that is never sharp, and fluid, nocturnal sweetness in the cold glimmer of the Adagio."
Crudele makes his debut with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra in the Philharmonie on Sunday 27th September. He will conduct the Europe Premiere of Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Piano Concerto No.2 in a programme also featuring Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.5
Alessandro Crudele traveled to Israel last month to conduct the Israel Symphony Orchestra in what was its final concert of the season. Held in Herzilya's Center of Performing Arts. Crudele received rapturous applause for his performance of Mussorsky, Chopin and Mussorsky/Ravel.