Conductor Jonathon Heyward receives high praise for his recent concert with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra earlier this month
Photo credit: Jeremy Ayres Fischer
Conductor Jonathon Heyward received outstanding compliments after conducting the Seattle Symphony Orchestra at Benaroya Hall in Seattle for three concerts earlier this month.
Jonathon, who recently was appointed as Chief Conductor Designate of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie from January 2021, presented a programme of Hannah Kendall’s US premiere of The Spark Catchers, Haydn’s Symphony No 98 and Gustav Holst’s famous work The Planets. Jonathon “delighted the audience” and produced “winning results”, despite this being his first engagement with the orchestra.
Heyward demonstrated a level of confidence and musical intelligence that belied his youth.
Memeteria
At the same time, Heyward tirelessly shaped the sound, encouraging subtle refinements and using expressive gestures to blend and adjust the mix. He understood that Holst’s dazzling score isn’t just about the brassy climaxes — wonderfully prepared for here — but also homed in on its varieties of mystery and awe.
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Read the full review here.
Watch an excerpt of Jonathon and Seattle Symphony perform “Mars” from The Planets by Gustav Holst: