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Reviews

Review: Rich, energetic concert marks start of new year for DSSO
"The variety, the versatility of the DSSO and conductor Meyer, a future that includes young musicians and new music — all herald the music yet to come
across the vastness of 2013."
Samuel Black, Duluth News Tribune - 1/21/13

Review: Soloists, chorus bring thrills to DSSO's 'Elijah'.
"The shear dynamism Meyer brought to the podium never slackened. The chorus remained fixed on his gestures and traveled with him through this emotional story, even as Elijah was swept up into the heavens in front of his followers. After a 70-year break since the last Duluth performance of Elijah, the experience was thrilling to the audience, who responded very enthusiastically at the final chord."
Samuel Black, Duluth News Tribune - 11/18/12

Concert review: DSSO goes 'Psycho,' and it's a creepy delight
"The blend was perfect - the movie is still as creepy as it was 52 years ago, and the DSSO under Meyer's leadership raised the tension to a level that was clearly "live." "
Samuel Black, Duluth News Tribune - 11/04/12

"DSSO Diversifies, Dazzles with Precision with “Psycho” Pops Concert. This pops concert–and the ones to come–is a strike in the right direction for the DSSO to generate new venues of interest for the community and a subtle, yet creatively effective way to bring more people into the sphere of appreciating the dynamism and immediacy of classical music in an illustration of how it touches more parts of our lives than we might think."
Oeuvre Online - 11/01/12

“Each performance by a local resident ensemble — in this case, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra — is truly unique.”
Duluth News Tribune - 1/19/09

“Variables — temperature, humidity, lighting, size and shape of the stage, size of the audience, mood of the players, mood of the conductor — matter. That, of course, is the incomparable joy of live music. The three pieces of music director Markand Thakar offered on Saturday night’s concert at the DECC actively vied with those variables.”
Duluth News Tribune - 1/19/09

“In the second movement, DSSO members began to shine. Salemink and his bluesy trumpet nearly stole the show, though White’s flute and Dayton’s oboe also floated rich and clear up and over the strings.”
Duluth News Tribune - 10/27/08

“The entire colorful DSSO added gong, chimes, bass drum, timpani, celeste and harp to the strings and winds and brass for the final triumphal march to the Great Gate of Kiev. The paintings of Victor Hartmann thrive in this collection of colors in sound. From the balcony, the woodwinds seem brighter, as they soar up and over the string section.”
Duluth News Tribune - 10/27/08

“Wherever you sit, gifted soloists abound on stage, and no mathematician is necessary to measure the applause of the very pleased audience.”
Duluth News Tribune - 10/27/08

“The DSSO under Thakar’s baton treats the music of recent and/or living composers with total credibility. The 76th season had a healthy representation of music of our time; Duluth should be very proud of its forward-looking musicians.”
Duluth News Tribune - 05/05/08

“Maestro Markand Thakar leapt into Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony with gusto. The sound was so full that the modest size of the orchestra could still be reduced and sound quite large.”
Duluth News Tribune - 11/19/07

“Then the full power of the focused orchestra reawakens everyone for a six-part thematic story, much like the finale of a large-scale opera. The 32-year-old Mozart never sounded better in Duluth.”
Duluth News Tribune - 11/19/07

“This very effective concert highlighted the instrumental strengths of the DSSO, clearly augmented by the resonance and focus of the newly purchased shell. Every concert has sounded better than the one before, and the season is not yet half over.”
Duluth News Tribune - 11/19/07

“The massive brass section sounded like an enormous organ, expanding to fill the auditorium, yet receding on cue to allow for two harps to be heard in order to set the scene for Bruennhilde’s final words in “The Twilight of the Gods.”
Duluth News Tribune - 10/29/07

“As the orchestra began the closing dramatic movement in Richard Wagner’s “Die Goetterdaemmerrung,” its sound was full, roundly focused and pouring out over the audience like the Rhine River itself.”
Duluth News Tribune - 10/29/07

“Perhaps the first Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra Pops concert was meant to awe the audience with the new wall of sound. If so, Saturday night’s concert was a success. Roughly 50 orchestra members were joined by nine men, collectively known as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and for about 80 minutes they definitely created a wall of sound.”
Duluth News Tribune - 10/15/07

“With a new acoustic shell as part of a $1 million renovation to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Auditorium, the audience heard a more cleanly focused sound from the orchestra and the lower musical tones were hugely amplified. So, too, was the applause, which rebounded into the house with exaggerated energy.”
Duluth News Tribune - 10/01/07

“The concert closed with “The Pines of Rome,” one of the glorious orchestral pieces by Ottorino Respighi. His ability to intermingle the wide-ranging sounds of orchestral instruments is exceptional, and the DSSO gave life to his vision in a clear manner. Soaring French horns opened the vista, then the dark tones of the bass instruments defined the catacombs. Next, clarinet, flute and piano illuminated a nightingale warbling in the moonlight, after which the orchestra exploded into the glory of ancient Rome, including four trombones and two trumpets in the balcony. The entire spectrum of Respighi’s orchestral color wheel was warmly heightened by the new acoustical decor.”
Duluth News Tribune - 10/01/07

“Through it all, the DSSO was clean and solid, even if muted by the nature of the program. Concertmaster Erin Aldridge added a moody and soulful violin on one piece, and the trumpet of Earl Salemink soared up and over the top of another. It was, by all means, first- class music, and the delights of the evening with the DSSO and its guests will shimmer for several more days.”
Duluth News Tribune - 02/26/07

“The ability of the DSSO to shift between generations of musical styles was a rare treat. Thanks are in order to all the players, and to Thakar for his creative programming.”
Duluth News Tribune -01/29/07

“The overlapping parts allowed my brain to disengage and settle in to the effect of music gently showering over me. In about six minutes it was finished, but the resulting focus lasted all evening.”
Duluth News Tribune - 11/20/2006

“The magic of this music never goes away. New music and traditional music deserve time together, and the DSSO seems to be the place where it happens with integrity.”
Duluth News Tribune - 11/20/06

“Listening to the DSSO was pleasant. Not all pops programs have such rich orchestral parts. The variety of brass, woodwind and string accompaniments was particularly pleasing.”
Duluth News Tribune - 10/30/06

“The audience went wild. Each section of the orchestra was recognized for its brilliance. When Aldridge was recognized, the house erupted in warm shouts of enthusiasm. The DSSO was, indeed, ready for this demanding performance, with well-showered praise due to the highly articulate and vibrant direction coming from Thakar.”
Duluth News Tribune - 10/16/06

“Each concert with its curious mix of theme and music will make this anniversary season vital and surprising.”
Duluth News Tribune - 09/25/06

“Maestro Markand Thakar briskly led the orchestra in its first ever performance of "John Henry: A Railroad Ballad for Orchestra,'' by the most American of composers, Aaron Copland. A hammer hit an iron bar, sandpaper imitated rotating wheels, train engines whistled, and the train gained speed in this exciting opener, for all of its four minutes.”
Duluth News Tribune - 09/25/06