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Breathtaking performances amongTop 10 concerts 
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By Steve Siegel and Philip A. Metzger, Special to The Morning Call
December 30 2010, 12:45 AM EST

The end of each year gives us an opportunity to look back at the last 12 months of classical music in the Lehigh Valley, and to spotlight concerts that struck us as as the best of the year. It's a very personal list, and leaves out much of equally high quality.

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 “The Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra, led by Donald Spieth, played energetically, precisely, and often sweetly.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES, NEW YORK, NY

“Spieth led ProMusica to flashes of brilliance in their performance of Beethoven’s wonderful Symphony No. 2 in D Major.”
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, COLUMBUS, OHIO

“Spieth had ProMusica sounding polished and sophisticated.”
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, COLUMBUS, OHIO

“The Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra and its music director, Donald Spieth, have made a substantial addition to the recorded repertoire with the world premiere CD of the soulful, boisterous cello concerto ‘Scaramouche,’ by Larry Lipkis…The disk is aptly filled out with a good performance of Copland’s unduly neglected ‘Dance Panels’.”
Washington Post, Washington, DC

“Spieth’s conducting has brought the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra to a very high standard of excellence.  Spieth is not a conductor who wastes energy; his minimal gestures enable Orchestra members to do their professional best, but when lively
tempi and crescendos require it,
he opens up with vigorous, controlled conducting.  He fully warrants the acclaim his concerts, here and in New York, have received.
THE EXPRESS TIMES, EASTON, PA

“And holding the key to the concert’s success, as always, was Maestro Donald Spieth, principal conductor of the orchestra.  Spieth has the uncanny ability to pull quality performances from the talented orchestra members.  They read his every nuance.”
Easton Express, Easton, PA

 “In a decade, Spieth has molded a string section which can now meet a composer’s challenge of tone, intonation, and phrasing.  As the years have progressed, this modest man has commanded attention and now has released himself and the musicians to transform the composer’s works he approaches.”
THE MORNING CALL, ALLENTOWN, PA

“Spieth had his guns blazing for Mozart.”
The Globe Times, BETHLEHEM, PA

“Spieth conducted like one inspired, and the strings played more beautifully than I have ever heard them play.”
The Globe Times, BETHLEHEM, PA

“The very good orchestra was the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Donald Spieth.” (Carnegie Hall concert)
MUSICAL AMERICA

“(…Aaron Copland’s ‘Appalachian Spring’) was directed (by Spieth) with
a marvelous understanding of the music, and the orchestral playing was meticulously accurate, finely polished, and flawlessly sensitive.  What a bunch of virtuosi these players have become.”
THE GLOBE TIMES, BETHLEHEM, PA

 

 

“Following intermission Spieth programmed ‘Carmen Suite’… (and) brought the heat of Seville into the hall.  The strings and the battery of percussion gave new meaning to Bizet’s masterpiece.”
The Morning Call, Allentown, PA