Clarence Fanto
The Berkshire Eagle
(…) In many respects, the 40-year-old French conductor Stéphane Denève’s lithe, sinuous interpretation of Stravinsky’s 1919 suite from his ballet “The Firebird” was the high flyer of the evening. A brawny presence on the podium, prone to sweeping and swooping gestures, he brought out the sometimes glossed-over inner lines of the soothing lullaby and the gentle Princesses’ round dance. (…)
Denève is a rapidly rising leader worth close attention — he presides over a major BSO program Saturday evening with the world premiere of Andre Previn’s “Music for Boston,” commissioned by the orchestra, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 and Elgar’s Cello Concerto performed by Yo-Yo Ma.
