Cristian Macelaru joined associate conductor and fellow Solti award-winner Francesco Lecce-Chong at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra last week. For Milwaukee’s music lovers, there was no dearth of options for great music, as legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman joined Lecce-Chong on stage Tuesday, April 28 to perform works by Felix Mendelssohn and Brahms, and Macelaru lead music from Paul Dukas, Frank Martin, Igor Stravinsky and Maurice Ravel on Friday May 1 and Saturday May 2.
Though the weekend concerts may not have been filled with the most popular classical composers, The Milwaukee Shepherd Express called the weekend performances sophisticated and versatile.
Rick Walters of the Shepherd called Macelaru, “convincing as an all-around master musician.” He said that the performances pushed the orchestra, “persuasively leading the MSO to play with slightly more free expression than is the normal, still excellent sound.”
The performance featured L’apprenti sorcier (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) by Paul Dukas, Frank Martin’s Concerto for Seven Winds, Timpani, Percussion, and String Orchestra, Igor Stravinsky’s Divertimento from Le Baiser de la fée (The Fairy’s Kiss) and La Valse by Maurice Ravel.
Macelaru is currently serving as the associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, a post he’s held since 2012.
