JamesGaffigan

Press

• Mozart, Wagner

  Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

  Oct 2023

  • Gaffigan’s clear view and pacing gave excellent shape to the overall work. The audience rose instantly with bravos and the orchestra allowed him to take his own bow.

    • Cincinnati Business Courier
    • 28 October 2023

• Gershwin, Bernstein

  Chicago Symphony Orchestra

  Oct 2023

  • But as a podium technician, the guy’s a beacon. Gaffigan uses his whole body to conduct, and when it’s a program like this, that means hip-swinging, two-stepping and Bernstein-bouncing. His body language projected the evening’s many rhythms — often layered simultaneously — with clarion lucidity.

    • Chicago Tribune
    • 20 October 2023

• Tchaikovsky The Queen of Spades

  Palau de Les Arts, Valencia

  Oct 2023

  • American maestro James Gaffigan has once again proved that the Palau de Les Arts was absolutely right to hire him as music director. His conducting had both emotion and intensity, and the orchestra was excellent.

    • Seen and Heard International
    • 12 October 2023

  • Gaffigan brought out a string sound of deep pile luxury, while also bringing out the haunted silkiness of the muted strings in the Countess’ boudoir as she reflected in her days in Paris... Musically, this Pikovaya Dama was in a league of its own. Orchestral playing of this quality is rare indeed and Gaffigan conducted a reading that was so full of vigour, soaring melodies, and irresistible rhythmic impetus that the evening just flew by.

    • Opera Traveller
    • 02 October 2023

• Wagner Tristan Und Isolde

  Santa Fe Opera

  Jul 2022 - Aug 2022

  • James Gaffigan, typically lively on the podium for what is his first run of a full Wagner opera, sparked up a feisty intensity that supplied the energy the staging tended to resist, pushing the drama hard but not harshly. His was a take on the score both muscular and swift, blessedly so for a show that ended well after midnight.

    • New York Times
    • 29 July 2022

  • The orchestra, under the impassioned leadership of James Gaffigan, rose handsomely to the occasion.

    • Wall Street Journal
    • 09 August 2022

  • James Gaffigan led a dramatic and fast-moving performance in an exciting, visceral approach. Gaffigan is one of the most promising conductors of his generation.

    • Musical America
    • 11 August 2022

• Saint-Saëns, Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky

  Chicago Symphony Orchestra

  Jun 2022

  • Gaffigan (who moves like a dancer) fully captured the high theatricality of the work...

    • WTTW
    • 17 June 2022

• Ravel, Mozart

  Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

  Jun 2020

  • Les Indes galantes, Rameau’s suite from his opera set in exotic places was a lively opener, a double manual bright harpsichord, rhythmic strings and distinctive woodwind all carefully balanced by a batonless Gafffigan... Gaffigan, baton back in hand, brought balance, allowing individuals to shine through the texture, an extended cor anglais solo in the second movement a moving highlight with the piano rippling softly underneath... Players thinned out for Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony in a measured but nuanced performance, Gaffigan taking a steady pace bringing out delicate phrasing and accents in the mellow strings with crisp development following and delightful duet for the two oboes. A deliciously warm Andante was light as a summer breeze, slow and lyrical, a truly ensemble approach richly underpinned from cellos and basses. Natural trumpets and hardstick timpani brought a period edge to the Menuetto, Gaffigan smiling broadly and swinging both arms, making it dance. The finale was rousing, full of energy with dynamic contrasts, Gaffigan not afraid to hold the players back before unleashing them into a brightly dancing finish, a joyful upbeat end to the lockdown concerts.

    • Bachtrack
    • 26 June 2020

• Mozart Don Giovanni

  Chicago Lyric Opera

  Nov 2019 - Dec 2019

  • Top Ten Performances of 2019. James Gaffigan delivered a seminar in Mozart opera conducting, just as he did with Lyric’s Così fan tutte in 2018.

    • Chicago Classical Review
    • 23 December 2019

• Lili & Nadia Boulanger

  BBC Symphony Orchestra

  Apr 2019

  • ★★★★★ Here the intertwined duetting of mezzo-soprano Katarina Dalayman and tenor James Way and the blazing tone of the BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra under James Gaffigan combined to create something overwhelmingly rich and grand.

    • The Telegraph
    • 29 April 2019

  • ★★★★ Throughout the night Gaffigan’s energy helped to keep the temperature high.

    • The Times
    • 08 April 2019

  • ★★★★ Gaffigan conducted passionately, teasing out all sorts of telling details...

    • Bachtrack
    • 07 April 2019

• New York Times Feature

  Jun 2018

  • Mr. Gaffigan is one of the rising starts of his generation.

    • New York Times
    • 08 June 2018