Pikovaya Dama: review highlights

« Et c’est là que le travail, stupéfiant de clarté et de rigueur, de Nathalie Stutzmann exprime toute sa valeur. Parce qu’au-delà d’un ordonnancement (un peu difficile au départ) implacable de l’action, il explose littéralement dans l’émotion que dégage son orchestre, apportant un vécu irrépressible aux émois des protagonistes. Une fascination qui culmine somptueusement dans l’immense crescendo final. Parvenir à dire tant de choses en si peu de temps et après tant d’action dans les heures qui précèdent, tient du prodige. »

“The amazingly clear and rigorous work of Nathalie Stutzmann expresses here all its value. Because beyond the (initially somewhat difficult) implacable ordering of the action, it literally explodes in the emotion her orchestra gives off, bringing an irrepressible experience to the protagonists’ emotions. A fascination that culminates sumptuously in the huge final crescendo. To be able to say so much in so little time and after so much action in the preceding hours is a prodigy.”

Serge Matin, Le Soir

 

« La cheffe française Nathalie Stutzmann fait d’éblouissants débuts à la Monnaie de Bruxelles, dans cette “Dame de Pique” à la réalisation musicale soignée.
Nathalie Stutzmann conjugue légèreté et profondeur, théâtralise les solos instrumentaux, s’amuse du pastiche mozartien du deuxième acte, et tire de l’orchestre une grande variété de couleurs et de nuances. On tire son chapeau d’autant plus bas que le metteur en scène a compliqué sa tâche, en installant sur scène un pianiste qui joue parfois des arrangements non prévus par Tchaïkovski. »

“The French conductor Nathalie Stutzmann makes a dazzling debut at La Monnaie in Brussels in a musically meticulously crafted “Queen of Spades”.
Nathalie Stutzmann combines lightness and depth, dramatizes the instrumental solos, plays with the Mozartian pastiche of the second act, and draws a wide variety of colors and shades from the orchestra. We take our hats off all the more low that the director has complicated his task, by installing on stage a pianist who sometimes plays arrangements not planned by Tchaikovsky.”

Sophie Bourdais, Télérama

 

« Nathalie Stutzmann électrise La Dame de pique
Nathalie Stutzmann pétrit une pâte sonore d’une irrésistible puissance, soulève les tempêtes, fait passer sur les trois actes le grand vent des passions que la mise en scène s’emploie à éteindre. C’est là sans aucun doute la plus incontestable victoire de la soirée – et une nouvelle étape dans l’ascension d’une cheffe que rien ne semble pouvoir arrêter. »

“Nathalie Stutzmann electrifies The Queen of Spades
Nathalie Stutzmann shapes a sound of irresistible power, stirs up storms, blows over the three acts the great wind of passions that the staging strives to extinguish. This is undoubtedly the absolute victory of the evening – and a new step in the rise of a conductor that nothing seems to stop.”

Emmanuel Dupuy, Diapason

 

See the full press review of Pikovaya Dama at this link.

Nathalie Stutzmann sponsor of ‘Tous à l’Opéra’ May 6-8, 2022

Nathalie Stutzmann is the sponsor of the 15th edition of ‘Tous à l’Opéra’ which will be held from May 6 to 8, 2022.

This event has already reached more than one million people since 2007 and has become an unmissable event for the French audience. More than 30 opera houses and companies will participate in the event, destined for encouraging the widest possible audience to enter opera houses. On the programme, a wide range of free events open to all: open rehearsals, concerts, costume and make-up workshops, backstage tours, meetings with professionals…

More information on Tous à l’Opéra’s website.

Metropolitan Opera conducting debut in 2022/23 season

Nathalie Stutzmann was scheduled to make her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2021 (cancelled due to Covid-19) and will finally debut in 2023. She will conduct two new productions of Mozart’s Don Giovanni (performances from May 5 to June 2) and Die Zauberflöte (performances from May 19 to June 10). Both will have live worldwide movie theater transmissions. Click here for more details about the productions.

Nathalie Stutzmann next Music Director of Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Nathalie Stutzmann will become Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Fifth Music Director from the 2022-2023 season. She will be the first woman to serve as the ASO’s music director and only the second woman to lead a major American orchestra, following in the footsteps of Marin Alsop. As the fifth Music Director in the ASO’s history, Stutzmann follows Henry Sopkin, Robert Shaw, Yoel Levi and Robert Spano.

“It is a privilege to be named Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The devoted commitment to music of the ASO musicians touches my heart. They have beautiful open minds, and they love to work hard, to be challenged and to take the necessary risks to serve the music and bring the highest levels of emotion to their audience. There is a special chemistry between the orchestra and me that we all immediately recognized, and this is the perfect time for us to deepen our relationship. After doing such wonderful work with Robert Spano over the past 20 years, the orchestra is in top shape, and I look forward to working with this incredible ensemble to chart new artistic territory. As a singer, I am also thrilled about the prospect of working with the ASO Chorus, which is one of America’s finest choirs. We are planning several ambitious projects, including performances of Mozart’s Requiem in March 2022 and of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, a life-changing experience for any orchestra, during the 2022-23 season. It is also very important for us to connect with the Atlanta community, sharing our infectious love of music. Fulfilling the community’s hopes and expectations is a huge responsibility and a legacy that I am honored to continue.”

New album: Contralto – released on January 15, 2021

In her new album, Nathalie Stutzmann shines a light on the deep-voiced female singers of the Baroque era, often overshadowed by the extravagant talents and reputations of castrato singers like Farinelli and Caffarelli. Her programme of Handel, Vivaldi, Porpora, Bononcini, Caldara and Gasparini displays the variety of operatic roles – both female and male – assumed by contraltos like Vittoria Tesi and Anna Marchesini.

“We must remember that the opera composers of the early 18th century saw the female contralto and the male castrato as vocally interchangeable,” says Stutzmann, “and that the voice most closely resembling a castrato is not the countertenor – produced using a falsetto technique – but the contralto, which is a natural voice.”

Stutzmann both sings and conducts Orfeo 55.

Order the album here: https://w.lnk.to/nscFA

 

Nathalie Stutzmann Contralto

 

Nathalie Stutzmann extends her contract with Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra until 2023

Nathalie Stutzmann, Chief Conductor of the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra since 2018, has extended her contract to the end of the 2022-2023 season. The conductor and orchestra have decided to continue their successful partnership for another two years beyond the current contract.

“This is the best Christmas present possible both for our audience and the orchestra. Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra has taken big steps together with Nathalie in the first period, and the fact that she is now extending her engagement means that she sees the potential we have together. That is a huge thing for us”, says Geir Rebbestad, director of KSO.

Nathalie Stutzmann is also delighted about the extension. “This is my Norwegian family. The orchestra is young and very willing to learn, and I am looking forward to spending more time with the musicians. This gives us the possibility of long-term thinking, and that is a big advantage when you have ambitions with an orchestra”, she states.

Nathalie Stutzmann appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra announced today the appointment of Nathalie Stutzmann as its new Principal Guest Conductor. She takes up the new position in Philadelphia for three years commencing September 2021.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome Nathalie Stutzmann to the Philadelphia Orchestra family,” said Yannick Nezet-Seguin. “Nathalie is a kindred spirit whose background as a contralto and work as an opera conductor have influenced her dynamic and highly successful career. She brings a depth of artistry, charismatic musicianship, and creativity to her work, making her an ideal collaborator. I look forward to watching her connection with the musicians of the Orchestra grow even deeper in the coming years and to experiencing her contributions to our artistic vision.”

“We are delighted to expand our relationship with Nathalie Stutzmann through this important appointment,” said President and CEO Matias Tarnopolsky. “Anyone who has experienced her performances with the Orchestra knows that we have an exciting three years ahead. We look forward to an ever deeper exploration of her singular artistry and inspiring musicianship here at home, on the Digital Stage, in our communities, and beyond.”

“It is a privilege and an honor to become the principal guest conductor of the iconic Philadelphia Orchestra—outstanding music-making, heartfelt playing, and emotional moments inhabit my soul every time I think about those marvelous musicians,” said Stutzmann. “I have always felt close to Yannick Nézet-Séguin and I am thrilled that through this new role I have the opportunity to work under the same roof. The teamwork off stage is just as important to the success of a partnership with an orchestra as what happens on stage, and I am also very much looking forward to the teamwork with Matías Tarnopolsky, Vice President of Artistic Planning Jeremy Rothman, and the whole management team. In these deeply uncertain and stressful times of pandemic, the strength of our partnerships is more important than ever, and it is so exciting to embark on this next stage of our relationship as we navigate these tricky times together. I look forward to spending more time in Philadelphia with my new American family, and we cannot wait to share more wonderful music with you.”

Photo: Jeff Fusco

2019/20 Artist-in-Residence with the Rotterdam Philharmonic

The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes Nathalie Stutzmann as its 2019/20 Artist-in-Residence. The residency will showcase Nathalie’s multi-faced musicianship with projects as both conductor and contralto. She will perform a wide range of repertoire including Schumann, Strauss, Mozart and Bach.