REVIEWS

GROUNDED - WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

“guided with a sure hand by the conductor Daniela Candillari”

THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Conductor Daniela Candillari expertly rendered Ms. Tesori’s colorful orchestration, which never covered the singers”

WALL STREET JOURNAL

“Daniela Candillari conducted. Rhythms were sharply defined […] she guided the music with a firm hand. She had […] admirable support from the orchestra, which played well for her.”

OPERA MAGAZINE

“Ms. Candillari sensitively conducted with respect towards the myriad moods and pacing of the opera.”

BROADWAY WORLD

“Daniela Candillari, principal conductor of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, led a rousing performance of a score that drives the story through sonic booms and psychic dives.”

MUSICAL AMERICA

“Conductor Daniela Candillari led a detailed and persuasive rendition of Tesori’s score from the Washington National Opera House Orchestra, the orchestra’s strings and winds sounding lush in the sweeping romantic passages, while the Washington National Opera Chorus members excelled in the soldier’s choruses.”

PARTERRE

“The Washington National Opera Orchestra was cleanly conducted throughout by Daniela Candillari”

THE GEORGETOWNER

“They are elevated by the orchestra, led by first-time WNO conductor, Daniela Candillari, which blends beautifully with the cast.”

MARYLAND THEATRE GUIDE

10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE - OPERA PHILADELPHIA

“For this is an opera that jerks between beauty and terror — seamlessly under the baton of Daniela Candillari, leading an ensemble of about a dozen instrumentalists.”

THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Under the baton of Daniela Candillari, the ensemble swerved from lush, harmonically rich embraces of memory into disconcerting panic attacks of sound effects — diving strings, nervous pianos, uneasy coils of clarinet and flute.”

WASHINGTON POST

“the nine-voice women’s chorus and the 12-member orchestra shone under the leadership of conductor Daniela Candillari.”

WALL STREET JOURNAL

“Orth’s engaging score, skillfully handled by conductor Daniela Candillari”

WASHINGTON CLASSICAL REVIEW

“Conductor Daniela Candillari masterfully handled the thorny stylistic shifts.”

BACHTRACK

“Conductor Daniela Candillari kept all elements in balance, conducting an orchestra positioned above the stage action.”

CLASSICAL VOICE NORTH AMERICA

“Orchestral playing led by conductor Daniela Candillari was top-notch.”

PARTERRE BOX

“the first-rate creative team of librettist Hannah Moscovitch, director Joanna Settle and conductor Daniela Candillari […] Maestro Candillari brought it across with a commanding hold on her musicians and support for the singers.”

BROADWAY WORLD

“Daniela Candillari’s superbly prepared orchestra of 11”

OPERA

“Technology enabled Daniela Candillari to coordinate singers, orchestra and electronics, but it was still an impressive accomplishment.”

SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

“The 12-piece orchestra sat on top, led by Daniela Candillari, who did a masterful job of coordinating the live and recorded elements of Orth’s score.”

MUSICAL AMERICA

“Composer Orth’s music was performed well as led by Conductor Daniela Candillari, and it must have been a challenging assignment, given the nature of the music and the lack of line of sight to the singers.”

OPERAGENE

“Conductor Daniela Candillari, beginning to enjoy the moment she deserves in the big time, commanded the music with a perfect sense of phrasing, entrancing beginnings and clipped conclusions. […] The story here is told by the orchestra and it is a spectacular story in the hands of Orth and Candillari.”

BERKSHIRE FINE ARTS

“The music, conducted by Daniela Candillari, seamlessly shifts between familiar, comforting melodies and unsettling dissonance.”

VIGOUR TIMES

TOSCA - OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS

“Conductor Daniella Candillari is the perfect accomplice for [stage director James Robinson]. Leading members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra through heightened crescendos and soft melodies that underpin the tension occurring above the pit, her virtuosity breathes new life into a classic score in an artistic triumph that dazzles the audience.”

REVIEW STL

“Under the direction of Daniela Candillari, the orchestra delivers a soundscape that is exuberant, energetic and rapturous.”

KDHX

“polished reading of the score by conductor Daniela Candillari.”

LADUE NEWS

“This show has real masters at the helm. Stage Director James Robinson is the company’s Artistic Director and he has a long history of splendid productions. The fine orchestra is led by OTSL’s Principal Director, Daniela Candillari. She’s younger, but equally gifted. Quite marvelous work is done by both.”

BROADWAY WORLD

SUOR ANGELICA / GIANNI SCHICCHI - JUILLIARD OPERA

“At Juilliard April 18, Daniela Candillari led impressive performances of Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi”

GAY CITY NEWS

AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA - CARNEGIE HALL

“The ACO sounded sharper and more focussed than usual under Candillari”

NEW YORK CLASSICAL REVIEW

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC DEBUT

“Daniela Candillari makes conducting debut to roars of approval. It's always exciting to hear or see a musician's performance debut. It's doubly exciting when a musician of Daniela Candillari's caliber makes her New York Philharmonic debut in the beautifully refreshed David Geffen Hall. Ms. Candillari displayed the confidence of the seasoned performer she is, and one would never know it was her first time conducting the New York Philharmonic on February 28. Her first challenge did not seem like a challenge at all. Missy Mazzoli's 2013 River Rouge Transfiguration was a ten minute "mish mash" (Mazzoli's words) of style, tempo, dynamics, instrumentation, and genre. Intricate changes in any and all of these were deftly handled by both conductor and orchestra… She and the orchestra provided just the right amount of support. The lyricism of [Yo-Yo Ma’s] playing was lush and singing, in perfect sync with Ms. Candallari… Ms. Candillari brought out all the inner voices, again… Her enthusiastic, energetic yet sensitive direction gave the orchestra all it needed to produce massive excitement. Ms. Candillari had perfect control over the orchestra who followed her every gesture.”

BROADWAY WORLD

LAKMÉ - DEUTSCHE OPER BERLIN

“Daniela Candillari conducts a fantastic performance of “Lakmé”… the Serbian conductor… knows exactly how to emphasize the qualities of the score”

TAGESSPIEGEL

“The conductor Daniela Candillari, together with the musicians, sometimes conscientiously, sometimes elegantly, masters the figures of this music, which at first glance hardly look like anything, but are mercilessly open and delicately shining.”

BERLINER MORGENPOST

“There is Daniela Candillari at the podium, who sensitively models the softly flowing melodies of the lyrically grounded music and conducts the Indian-colored choral scenes - the orchestra of the Deutsche Oper is once again a force - with taste.”

KLASSIK

EUGENE ONEGIN - MUSIC ACADEMY

“she ushered the ever-ready Academy Orchestra to bold, flexible, and sensitive ends.”

SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

“The entire opera … came together effectively thanks to Daniela Candillari”

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

CARMEN - OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS

“The show’s best element was the lively orchestra, under the incisive leadership of Daniela Candillari.”

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

“OTSL principal conductor Daniela Candillari drew a clear, confident performance from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, whose playing remained at a high level”

OPERA NEWS

“Daniela Candillari lifts her baton; she whisks the familiar overture into instant excitement… Candillari is only newly the Principal Conductor at OTSL, but [she] is definitely a “keeper”! Her orchestra is simply flawless. Dynamics beautifully support the emotions of the drama, yet the orchestra never dominates the voices. There is a gorgeous smoothness throughout.”

BROADWAY WORLD

“This energetic version of Carmen features Daniela Candillari, OTSL’s new Principal Conductor… Candillari is a vigorous conductor. Joined by members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, her turn at the most recognizable score in opera is bombastic, powerful, and breathtaking.”

REVIEW STL

“Down in the pit, OTSL’s new Principal Conductor Daniela Candillari leads members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in a flawless, perfectly paced reading of Bizet’s memorable score. I was particularly taken with the way she carefully built the “Danse bohème” to a rousing conclusion. Her conducting, as I have noted in the past, shows a fine combination of fire and attention to detail. It’s good to have her on board.”

KDXH

CENTER STAGE - OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS

“The orchestra, under the baton of Daniela Candillari, is full of some of the finest musicians in America. Their playing is rich, subtle and lovely indeed… Everyone seemed to be having a joyous time! Singers, musicians, and certainly Maestra Candillari, who frequently turned downstage at the end of a selection to cast a proud, beaming smile upon those marvelous young singers-her protégés-her colleagues.”

BROADWAY WORLD

FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES - LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO

“Conductor Daniela Candillari nicely shapes the dramatic flow and emotional contours of this opera and capably handles the changing moods and idiomatic flavor of the music.”

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

“Conductor Daniela Candillari led Blanchard’s heterogeneous score with verve and grace.”

OPERA NEWS

“Conductor Daniela Candillari, so effective leading Fellow Travelers a few years ago, really knows her way around today’s music. Her conducting seamlessly interweaves the varying musical styles of Blanchard’s complex score, and the Lyric Opera Orchestra responded with spirited and delicate playing.”

PARTERRE

“conductor Daniela Candillari, who comfortably handled the genre-melding score, took and, in particular, excelled in the robust and soaring brass passages”

DOWNBEAT

“the Lyric orchestra, seamlessly conducted by Daniela Candillari, was in top form as it finessed this complex, multi-faceted score.”

WTTW

SVADBA - BOSTON LYRIC OPERA, OPERA PHILADELPHIA

“seamlessly conducted by Daniela Candillari”

SLEEPLESS CRITIC

THE COPPER QUEEN - ARIZONA OPERA

“Conducting the Arizona Opera Orchestra, Daniela Candillari gives Borzoni’s score a detailed and kaleidoscopic performance, weaving seamlessly through genres and allusions to create a unified musical story.”

OPERA NEWS

BLUE - DETROIT OPERA

“Conductor Daniela Candillari, positioned with her 30-member orchestra behind the singers, did admirable work keeping everyone together and pacing the show.”

WALL STREET JOURNAL

NEW WORKS, BOLD VOICES LAB - OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS

“We were hearing them [the works] whole, as well, thanks to the tightly controlled work of conductor Daniela Candillari”

OPERA NEWS

“The small orchestra for the evening… does remarkably beautiful work under the baton of Maestra Daniella Candillari.”

BROADWAY WORLD

“Conductor Daniela Candillari does a masterful job”

LADUE NEWS

OPERATIC ENCORES - OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS

“Candillari’s opera house experience is extensive, and it showed in her ability to bring out all the drama here and elsewhere in the program... Candillari led the orchestra in a powerful reading... Credit Candillari’s impressive conducting… with its abundance of fire and attention to detail... Candillari’s informal and informative comments on the music also added to the easygoing charm of the evening.”

KDXH

THE MOTHER OF US ALL - METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

“The gifted Daniela Candillari conducted a half-dozen ace Philharmonic players and a chorus of ten capable professionals, expressively shaping Thomson’s quirky mix of homespun and hymn with Satie- and Nadia Boulanger-imparted texture.”

OPERA NEWS

“One might say that Candillari’s sensitivity was one of the most special ingredients that made this collaboration savory to the senses.”

OPERAWIRE

PROTOTYPE FESTIVAL

“confidence and apparently inexhaustible verve”

THE NEW YORK TIMES

FELLOW TRAVELERS - ARIZONA OPERA

“Conductor Daniela Candillari, in her Arizona Opera debut, brought rich color to Spears’ American minimalist style that also borrows from what he described as medieval troubadour singing. Candillari emphasized the pulsing rhythmic passages and repetitive riffs, including a soaring clarinet to create the tension and menace Tim and Hawk were experiencing as the McCarthy hysteria hit close to home.”

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

RIDERS TO THE SEA/EMPTY THE HOUSE - CURTIS OPERA THEATRE

“Conductor Daniela Candillari drew deserved cheers from the audience and her cast for making a well-prepared case for two such different and challenging works.”

OPERA NEWS

AN AMERICAN DREAM - LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO

“Some of the most wondrous music-making emerged from the orchestra, conductor Daniela Candillari bringing forth poetically turned phrases and shimmering instrumental color.”

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

FELLOW TRAVELERS - LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO

“The spare orchestration for 16 players, precisely attended to by a solid pit band under conductor Daniela Candillari, mirrors the behind-closed-doors reticence with which the lovers must conduct their forbidden affair.”

CHICAGO TRIBUNE