JOSÉ-LUIS NOVO

“(Novo’s) sense of timing is impeccable, especially in transitions between movements and tempo changes…Novo has a deep understanding of the music, and he has the technique and skills to enable an orchestra to express that understanding…His conducting is clear and precise but not in the least pedantic, and he successfully invoked the passion, lyricism, excitement and meaning of the works presented Friday evening.” – Jan. 2007 Medesto Bee

“…the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra unleashed a nasty, unremittingly exciting Shostakovich 10th that showed off the strengths of the ensemble that already has been reconfigured during Novo's brief tenure …From desolation to terror, the emotional states rolled by as the power of the playing communicated the magnificence of Shostakovich's symphonic vision.” – Sep. 2006 Baltimore Sun

“Last Saturday, Novo came across as an inspiring communicator who bonded with his musicians in a short amount of time. Limber, emphatic and unafraid to let his body do the talking, Novo is an animated presence on the podium. However, he is anything but a show-off, as his body language is in harmony with the ebbs and flows of the music, not with the assertion of his ego. The orchestra seemed to adore playing for him, digging deep to create the swirling atmospheric effects he was after in such off-the-beaten-path fare as de Falla's flamenco-inspired ballet score, El Amor Brujo, Ravel's Tzigane - a single-movement gypsy rhapsody for solo violin and orchestra - and Kodaly's Hungarian-to-the-core Peacock Variations.” – Sep. 2004 Baltimore Sun