On the podium, guest conductor Pinchas Steinberg returned for the second time this season, and wowed the good-sized audience in Music Hall with his interpretation of Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique” after intermission.
Steinberg, who gripped the audience in November with Prokofiev, had them cheering with Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique”. Born in Israel, he is a deeply musical leader who is dynamic without being flamboyant. Clearly, he knows how to get results.
Berlioz’s symphony on a drug-induced fantasy world is entertaining, both for its brilliant orchestration and its vivid story-telling. Steinberg, who conducted from memory, led a reading was detailed, crisp and expertly paced. The musicians responded with a polished, exciting performance, and there were many stunning contributions from orchestral soloists.
Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati Enquirer, March 2012