| Gary Thor Wedow |
Introduction “The opera was delightfully played by a first-rate chamber orchestra under the direction of Gary Thor Wedow. Years in opera houses have taught him how to make this music theatrical – and how to accommodate singers while challenging them. His work was knowledgeable, vital and full of the smell of candlelight and greasepaint.” Boston Globe – Richard Dyer BiographyConductor Gary Thor Wedow has established an enviable reputation for dramatically exciting and historically informed performances with opera companies, orchestras, festivals, and choral organizations throughout North America. In December of 2012, he debuted with the New York Philharmonic conducting Messiah, an occasion noted in the New York Times for ‘a fleet, lithe orchestral performance, aptly complemented by the buoyant singing of the chorus’. Hailed by the Baltimore Sun for ‘hot music making’ and ‘convincingly elegant period style’ in Opera News, some of his most recent successes include Gluck’s Orphée and Die Zauberflöte for the Seattle Opera, Le donne curiose for Wolf Trap Opera and Agrippina for Boston Lyric Opera. Maestro Wedow has been closely associated with New York City Opera for many years; most recently he led their Don Giovanni in the Christopher Alden production and last May conducted the New York premiere of Telemann’s Orpheus. He was in Wisconsin for Madison Opera’s ‘Opera in the Park’ and recently conducted the Berkshire Choral Society in Salzburg and Mondsee. Highlights of his 2012-2013 season include La finta giardiniera for the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, Xerxes for Indiana University, Rinaldo for Portland Opera with the Portland Baroque Orchestra, Die Fledermaus for Virginia Opera, Messiah for the Alabama Symphony and a return to Seattle Opera for a double bill of La voix humaine and Suor Angelica.
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Engaged ByAustin Lyric Opera Reviews"Wedow's leadership was impressive and intelligent throughout the evening, allowing a deliberately small-scale performance to fill a vast hall comfortably." “Gary Thor Wedow conducted the Juilliard Orchestra in a polished and vibrant reading of the score.” "Conductor Gary Thor Wedow led the orchestra in a vibrant and incisive performance, and the continuo accompaniment was impeccable, providing a solid musical underpinning to the proceedings while amplifying the emotional content of each scene." "Conductor Gary Thor Wedow led a vibrant performance, skillfully balancing the voices and the orchestra." "The conductor Gary Thor Wedow meets the challenge of Mozart's jocular drama with orchestral colors that are sometimes dark, sometimes laughing and ultimately transcendent." “This was hot music-making, aided every step of the way by conductor Gary Thor Wedow, who maintained a telling pulse even as he allowed for exquisite, unhurried molding of the most lyrical passages.” “The opera was delightfully played by a first-rate chamber orchestra under the direction of Gary Thor Wedow. Years in opera houses have taught him how to make this music theatrical – and how to accommodate singers while challenging them. His work was knowledgeable, vital and full of the smell of candlelight and greasepaint.” “Wedow maintained a spirited pace and a unity of purpose among these divergent elements.” Berkshire Eagle – John Felton “Gary Thor Wedow, led this section sensitively, as he did the rest of the score and the City Opera Orchestra brought the music across with practical ease.” “Gary Thor Wedow led Sullivan’s score superbly.” “Conductor Gary Thor Wedow was the unifying force and led from the harpsichord with pace and dramatic acuity.” “Conductor Gary Thor Wedow presided deftly over a crackerjack ensemble…managed to create more textural variety than might have seemed possible.” “…with Gary Thor Wedow conducting with a fine sense of Baroque grandeur and zestiness.” “ Gary Wedow led his ensemble of seven players and eight singers in a performance of near seamless aural beauty.” (Giasone) “Conductor Gary Thor Wedow (also making his company debut) led the Berkshire Opera orchestra, situated on stage behind the singers. He paced the succession of recitatives and arias perfectly and indulged the dance-like inflection of the music’s phrasing to good effect.” “…beguilingly moulded instrumentally by a ten-player ensemble conducted by Gary Thor Wedow.” “Under Gary Thor Wedow’s expert direction…convincingly assimilated the proper style of baroque singing.” “Fine Conducting, Imaginative Realization…Gary Thor Wedow deserves tremendous credit both for his work with the singers and for his fine realization of the score, which includes an absorbing (intentionally anachronistic) array of percussion and some additional choral participation in places such as Calisto’s echo aria.” |