CD ARIE DI BRAVURA, with Diana Damrau
WWW.MUSICALCRITICISM.COM, February 2008 --- The graceful sense of ebb and flow (is) present in the brilliant playing by Le Cercle de l'Harmonie under Jérémie Rhorer. There is some thrilling articulation and dynamism from the orchestra who draw a wide palette of colours from their period instruments.
WWW.AUDAUD.COM, January 2008 --- The period band Le Cercle de l'Harmonie play great, sounding like they are not a period band, so complete is the mastery of their instruments. This terrific-sounding release is an album not to be missed, surely one of the best recital albums we will hear this year.
W.A.Mozart's MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, Beaune International Opera Festival 2007
LE FIGARO, September 2007 --- One did fear disappointment after the triumphant Idomeneo last summer - but we were in for a pleasant surprise. Before the music had died away, the hall had already exploded in frenetic applause. It was electrified by the feverish Tempi and the fluid naturalness that Rhorer - a born theatre man! - engraved into the ‘great day' of Mozart and Da Ponte. The whole thing had a sparkling and overflowing effect, while never uneasy. The Tempi were brisk but never rushed. One had the feeling of being in a theatre even without a set and costumes.
CLASSICA, September 2007 --- Fired on by Jérémie Rhorer, the Orchestra of the Opéra de Lyon produced tones previously unheard of from a score that has certainly almost been done to death. Already in the overture, the wind part was a delight - a rare treat to date, unless one listens to Erich Kleiber's recording with the Vienna Philharmonic. (...) Rhorers performance was a unique pleasure. He is really the most brilliant among today's young conductors. (...) He unites passion, commitment but also technical bravura. Rhorer, in contrast to some baroque conductors, doesn't just dab his way through: he really conducts.
DIAPASON, September 2007 --- First and foremost, we have here a genuine conductor. With the formidable success of his Idomeneo last year in Beaune up his sleeve as well as Nozze di Figaro in Lyon, which he shared with William Christie, Jérémie performs like a valiant knight. His flame is great but never outshines his workmanship. (With soloists, and all of this live on radio: what a master!). He is as feverish and joyful as the score, loquacious and focussed, and at the same time perfectly structured. Something about him reminds one of... Hans Rosbaud.
LE FIGARO, July 2007 --- What a conductor! What a Figaro! These were moments of pure happiness... His arm and his intellect draw an arc through this irresistibly "great" day. With his orchestra, Le Cercle de l'Harmonie, the electrifyingly passionate Jérémie Rhorer is more than just a mere hope. His Figaro unveils a craftsman who masters the score to the last detail. It is as though he had inherited the best of both his mentors - William Christie's naturalness and Marc Minkowski's energy - and on top of this he has a conducting technique that neither of them possess ... It is very simple: such a synthesis of Viennese classic and Neapolitan comedy has not been heard since Riccardo Muti's Figaro.
CONCERTO CLASSIC, July 2007 --- 180 years after the world premiere of Mozart's Nozze di Figaro, the marriage of text and music reached a climax under the baton of Jérémie Rhorer. With his 34 years he reminds one of a young Karajan recording Mozart's Figaro in 1948. The same passion, the same enthusiasm and the same obsession with Mozart's genius: what a master of the pit! From the Overture until the lieto fine and its whirlwind of bodies yielding to the frenzied farandole of the night, instrumentalists, singers and audience were granted no pause to catch their breath. There can be no doubt: Rhorer and his orchestra have transformed their great success of last summer with Idomeneo, into a triumph.
W.A.Mozart's IDOMENEO, Beaune International Opera Festival, July 8th 2006
CONCERTCLASSIC.COM, July 2006 --- Jérémie Rhorer, aged 33, revealed Mozart's first lyrical masterpiece with strength and outstanding conviction (...) From the beginning of the overture to the last note of the finale this was an incredible (though controlled) burst of passion and beauty of tones (...) No one even noticed the absence of action, almost a miracle. (...) Regretfully this performance was neither broadcast nor recorded by any radio station and thus a large audience was not allowed to participate in a conductor´s debut.
LA CROIX, July 2006 --- Jérémie Rhorer, 33 years old, proved his intelligence for the stage. He conveyed to the public the antique solemnity of a tragedy where passion and jealousy cause turmoil in hearts as well as on the sea. The way he led the orchestra was flamboyant, yet he showed attention to details and great mastery. (...) No doubt he is the best young conductor to whom Anne Blanchard, the artistic director, has given this chance."
ALTAMUSICA; July 2006 --- The energy that ran from music-stand to music-stand, as if the musicians´ lives were endangered, is doubtless the main component of this unity. The young conductor is full of grace; he treats the accompanying curves of the recitatives and the musical dialogue between the singers and the instruments in such way that the often unbearable dramatic tension remains under control. Undoubtedly, Idomeneo had never seemed so brief and so real.
DIAPASON, September 2006 --- The Idomeneo performed last weekend in Beaune impressed by its dantesque dimensions. The Sturm und Drang is definitely Le Cercle de l'Harmonie's natural element. Jérémie Rhorer led his forty players with great mastery- a great roar from the pit resounded as the monster appeared (such dissonant chord had rarely been heard here), sensual music accompanied Electra´s dance and a Rameau-like "Se il padre perdrei" twittered in the hall. In these moments, orchestra, conductor, singers, and the audience breathed together and this miracle shall haunt those who will never hear it again."
LE MONDE DE LA MUSIQUE, September 2006 --- Jérémie Rhorer summons supernatural elements and has the sensibility to understand the conflict between human love and divine interventions. We must definitely keep an eye on him.
CLASSICA, September 2006 --- The young Jérémie Rhorer created an event putting the stage on fire with Idomeneo. A very rare evening for concert-goers, where magic rules and makes the experience so special: the conductor galvanised his musicians without weakening his own concentration (...) Unforgettable.
WWW.MUSICALCRITICISM.COM, February 2008 --- The graceful sense of ebb and flow (is) present in the brilliant playing by Le Cercle de l'Harmonie under Jérémie Rhorer. There is some thrilling articulation and dynamism from the orchestra who draw a wide palette of colours from their period instruments.
WWW.AUDAUD.COM, January 2008 --- The period band Le Cercle de l'Harmonie play great, sounding like they are not a period band, so complete is the mastery of their instruments. This terrific-sounding release is an album not to be missed, surely one of the best recital albums we will hear this year.
W.A.Mozart's MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, Beaune International Opera Festival 2007
LE FIGARO, September 2007 --- One did fear disappointment after the triumphant Idomeneo last summer - but we were in for a pleasant surprise. Before the music had died away, the hall had already exploded in frenetic applause. It was electrified by the feverish Tempi and the fluid naturalness that Rhorer - a born theatre man! - engraved into the ‘great day' of Mozart and Da Ponte. The whole thing had a sparkling and overflowing effect, while never uneasy. The Tempi were brisk but never rushed. One had the feeling of being in a theatre even without a set and costumes.
CLASSICA, September 2007 --- Fired on by Jérémie Rhorer, the Orchestra of the Opéra de Lyon produced tones previously unheard of from a score that has certainly almost been done to death. Already in the overture, the wind part was a delight - a rare treat to date, unless one listens to Erich Kleiber's recording with the Vienna Philharmonic. (...) Rhorers performance was a unique pleasure. He is really the most brilliant among today's young conductors. (...) He unites passion, commitment but also technical bravura. Rhorer, in contrast to some baroque conductors, doesn't just dab his way through: he really conducts.
DIAPASON, September 2007 --- First and foremost, we have here a genuine conductor. With the formidable success of his Idomeneo last year in Beaune up his sleeve as well as Nozze di Figaro in Lyon, which he shared with William Christie, Jérémie performs like a valiant knight. His flame is great but never outshines his workmanship. (With soloists, and all of this live on radio: what a master!). He is as feverish and joyful as the score, loquacious and focussed, and at the same time perfectly structured. Something about him reminds one of... Hans Rosbaud.
LE FIGARO, July 2007 --- What a conductor! What a Figaro! These were moments of pure happiness... His arm and his intellect draw an arc through this irresistibly "great" day. With his orchestra, Le Cercle de l'Harmonie, the electrifyingly passionate Jérémie Rhorer is more than just a mere hope. His Figaro unveils a craftsman who masters the score to the last detail. It is as though he had inherited the best of both his mentors - William Christie's naturalness and Marc Minkowski's energy - and on top of this he has a conducting technique that neither of them possess ... It is very simple: such a synthesis of Viennese classic and Neapolitan comedy has not been heard since Riccardo Muti's Figaro.
CONCERTO CLASSIC, July 2007 --- 180 years after the world premiere of Mozart's Nozze di Figaro, the marriage of text and music reached a climax under the baton of Jérémie Rhorer. With his 34 years he reminds one of a young Karajan recording Mozart's Figaro in 1948. The same passion, the same enthusiasm and the same obsession with Mozart's genius: what a master of the pit! From the Overture until the lieto fine and its whirlwind of bodies yielding to the frenzied farandole of the night, instrumentalists, singers and audience were granted no pause to catch their breath. There can be no doubt: Rhorer and his orchestra have transformed their great success of last summer with Idomeneo, into a triumph.
W.A.Mozart's IDOMENEO, Beaune International Opera Festival, July 8th 2006
CONCERTCLASSIC.COM, July 2006 --- Jérémie Rhorer, aged 33, revealed Mozart's first lyrical masterpiece with strength and outstanding conviction (...) From the beginning of the overture to the last note of the finale this was an incredible (though controlled) burst of passion and beauty of tones (...) No one even noticed the absence of action, almost a miracle. (...) Regretfully this performance was neither broadcast nor recorded by any radio station and thus a large audience was not allowed to participate in a conductor´s debut.
LA CROIX, July 2006 --- Jérémie Rhorer, 33 years old, proved his intelligence for the stage. He conveyed to the public the antique solemnity of a tragedy where passion and jealousy cause turmoil in hearts as well as on the sea. The way he led the orchestra was flamboyant, yet he showed attention to details and great mastery. (...) No doubt he is the best young conductor to whom Anne Blanchard, the artistic director, has given this chance."
ALTAMUSICA; July 2006 --- The energy that ran from music-stand to music-stand, as if the musicians´ lives were endangered, is doubtless the main component of this unity. The young conductor is full of grace; he treats the accompanying curves of the recitatives and the musical dialogue between the singers and the instruments in such way that the often unbearable dramatic tension remains under control. Undoubtedly, Idomeneo had never seemed so brief and so real.
DIAPASON, September 2006 --- The Idomeneo performed last weekend in Beaune impressed by its dantesque dimensions. The Sturm und Drang is definitely Le Cercle de l'Harmonie's natural element. Jérémie Rhorer led his forty players with great mastery- a great roar from the pit resounded as the monster appeared (such dissonant chord had rarely been heard here), sensual music accompanied Electra´s dance and a Rameau-like "Se il padre perdrei" twittered in the hall. In these moments, orchestra, conductor, singers, and the audience breathed together and this miracle shall haunt those who will never hear it again."
LE MONDE DE LA MUSIQUE, September 2006 --- Jérémie Rhorer summons supernatural elements and has the sensibility to understand the conflict between human love and divine interventions. We must definitely keep an eye on him.
CLASSICA, September 2006 --- The young Jérémie Rhorer created an event putting the stage on fire with Idomeneo. A very rare evening for concert-goers, where magic rules and makes the experience so special: the conductor galvanised his musicians without weakening his own concentration (...) Unforgettable.
Photo: Alix Laveau
Photo: Alix Laveau