Yair Samet - Press Quotes

Press Quotes

“In the sold out Congresshalle, the audience experienced an authentic delivery of Bernstein’s Jeremiah symphony by the Israeli conductor YAIR SAMET. Samet exposed the dramatic power, the energetic sounds and rhythms of this symphony, to its fullest. Brilliantly phrased and shaped as a whole, with aggressive outcries portraying the dismayed context, one could feel the pain and fury. The music nearly hurt physically, getting under the skin; And Samet did not smooth out. Solemnly, he let the walls of Jerusalem tumble down. In the highly concentrated and collaborative orchestra, he found a partner to reflect his musical notion with outstanding precision.” Ron – Rheinpfalz – 4/18/02, Karlheinz Dettweiler

“In all these works, YAIR SAMET convinced the audience of his instincts: his feeling for the right tempi, his ability to maintain a bright and enchanting Mozart sound and - particularly with the Prague Symphony - his towering sound in counterpoint with such clear relief to the poetic whisper that also emerged.” Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung – 10/23/01

“......Sinfonia Varsovia was in extremely good shape this evening under the baton of YAIR SAMET…Toward the end of the program, the Prague Symphony was played with great intensity and invention. The following applause was self-explanatory.” Frankfurter Neuer Presse – 10/25/01

"...Assistant Conductor YAIR SAMET proved able and engaging at the podium in the maestro’s head….. In Bruch’s emotionally turbulent concerto, Samet maintained close rapport between the orchestra and Pinchas Zuckerman, holding tight to his soloist’s elastic phrase shaping without getting wrapped up in it. Samet’s clear communication of the score elicited clean ensemble work from his players, making the utmost of the contrasts between the violin’s rhapsodizing and the orchestra’s primly stated episodes.” Metro – 9/11/97, Philip Collins

“The San Jose Symphony Youth Orchestra is among the most accomplished youth orchestras I have heard. The players have an immediate rapport with their conductor, Israeli-born YAIR SAMET, and he has the knack of placing a disciplined yet free rein on their youthful vigour. The playing had a rhythmic focus and subtlety of balance which was a credit to all concerned.” The Irish Times – 7/3/97, Martin Adams

“Despite considerable challenges, the ensemble worked industriously under the baton of YAIR SAMET, mustering commendable performances throughout. There were a goodly number of transcendent moments to boot….. In Appalachian Spring, Samet resisted the obvious: bombast. Instead he drew out melody and inner strength, in keeping with the work’s unique chemistry of introspection and grandeur.” Metro – 11/30/95, Philip Collins