PRESS

Review: Palm Beach Opera finishes a strong season with a rousing 'Merry Widow'

Palm Beach Daily News 03-29-2022

Stare has a talent for encouraging subtlety and passion from an orchestra, particularly in the string sections. His direction created some of the biggest flourishes and most beautiful orchestral moments that we have heard this season.

Palm Beach Opera wraps season with a richly sung and resplendent “Merry Widow”

South Florida Classical Review 03-26-2022

"The orchestra conducted by Ward Stare gave a light, warm and technically immaculate performance. Part of the credit for the clarity of the singing goes to Stare and the orchestra for providing firm support to the singers without covering them up."

Peyton Anderson Foundation Awards Grant to Mcduffie Center For Strings to Fund Local Symphony Orchestra

Mercer News 02-18-2021

"The Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Mercer Distinguished Artist Ward Stare, with two fall performances and two spring performances each year beginning this fall at The Grand Opera House. Repertoire will include standard pieces by essential classical composers, as well as work by a wide range of contemporary composers from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the true breadth and depth of symphonic music today."

R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, the Rolling Stones’ Chuck Leavell Team for Tour Honoring Georgia Musicians

Rolling Stone

"The shows will feature Mills on electric bass, guitar and piano; Leavell on piano and McDuffie on violin. Their band will also include guitarists John Neff and William Tonks, drummer Patrick Ferguson, conductor Ward Stare and the MCS Ensemble from the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University."

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra part of Grammy win for Contemporary Classical Composition

Democrat and Chronicle 01-27-2020

"The locally produced "Harp Concerto" by composer Jennifer Higdon won for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. It was part of American Rapture, a recording of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of music director Ward Stare with guest harpist Yolanda Kondonassis..."

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8549059/2020-grammys-winners-lis

Here Are All the Winners From the 2020 Grammys

Billboard 01-26-2020

"Best Contemporary Classical Composition WINNER: Higdon: Harp Concerto, Jennifer Higdon, composer (Yolanda Kondonassis, Ward Stare & The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra)..."

2020 Classical Music Grammy Nominees Breathe New Life Into The Genre

Capital Public Radio 01-07-2020

"Higdon is no doubt the one to beat in the category of Best Contemporary Classical Composition, with five nominations and two wins in the last 11 years."

RPO and Ward Stare's recording up for two Grammys

Rochester City Newspaper 11-20-2019

"The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Ward Stare's recording of composer Jennifer Higdon's "Harp Concerto,” featuring the classical harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, has been nominated for two Grammys."

Classical review: ‘Bach to Bartók’ an RPO journey worth taking

Rochester City Newspaper 11-08-2019

"...violinist Tessa Lark...Ward Stare, and this concerto all seem made for each other."

Classical IPR in conversation with Yolanda Kondonassis and Ward Stare

Interlochen Public Radio 06-06-2019

"Kondonassis and Stare recently collaborated on the world premiere performance and recording of a new harp concerto by Pulitzer Prize- and Grammy Award-winning composer Jennifer Higdon."

Concert review: Fine music, good humor and surprises from Ward Stare and the SLSO

St. Louis Post Dispatch 01-01-2019

"There were plenty of colors and sparkles onstage. Stare opened with an energetic reading of the “Roman Carnival” Overture by Hector Berlioz. Bright and engaging, it benefited from principal English horn Cally Banham’s beautifully played opening..."

Album review: 'American Rapture'

Rochester City Newspaper 05-14-2019

"The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra's new album "American Rapture" highlights the most intriguing components of the RPO's musical identity in the Ward Stare era..."

RPO performs 'Carmen'

Rochester City Newspaper 05-25-2018
“RPO Music Director Ward Stare is an ideal conductor for Bizet's lyrical, dance-like sensibilities, rousing choruses, and intuition for musical momentum…”
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RPO performs Brahms and a Higdon world premiere

Rochester City Newspaper 05-11-2018
“The RPO's performance, capably led by Music Director Ward Stare, more than fulfilled the promise of the program…”
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Guest violinist, Rochester conductor make glorious music with the BPO

Buffalo News 04-06-2018
“Young and slim, he cut a captivating figure, conducting with infectious enjoyment…”
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An emotionally gripping Britten 'Serenade' from the Fort Worth Symphony and soloists

The Dallas Morning News 03-16-2018
“Everything was shapely and elegantly detailed… this evening moved me, literally, to tears…I was blown away..."
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Classical review: RPO's 'Bernstein Celebration'

Rochester City Newspaper 03-02-2018
“…(a) tight, knowing performance, which finely balanced comedy and tragedy…”
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Opera Review: ‘The Merry Widow’ Susan Graham shines at the Metropolitan Opera

The Epoch Times 12-31-2017
“In his Met debut, conductor Ward Stare made the melodic score as delectable as a Viennese pastry..."
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The Merry Widow: Susan Graham & Andriana Chuchman Shine In Léhar Operetta

Opera Wire 12-18-2017
“Maestro Ward Stare had a good night in the pit…particularly strong at creating a flexible sound world for the singers, always ready to get the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra to its most jubilant…the tempi stretched and swooned with the artists, giving this love affair a sense of freedom..."
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Classical review: RPO performs Mozart's 'Requiem'

Rochester City Newspaper 02-03-2017
“Music Director Ward Stare continues to lead the RPO with a steady hand and a nuanced approach…”
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Review: Ward Stare leads RPO in impassioned work, world premiere

Democrat & Chronicle 01-27-2017
“Music Director Ward Stare directed the orchestra in one of his most impassioned performances yet…”
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Classical review: RPO with James Ehnes

Rochester City Newspaper 01-13-2017
“Stare has an obvious affinity for this lusciously orchestrated music. The orchestra dug into every horn whoop and string portamento, and the many waltz melodies were irresistible…”
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An All-Russian program at the St. Louis Symphony features David Halen's virtuoso violin

KDHX 12-05-2016
“Adding to the sense of occasion was the fact that the guest conductor was Ward Stare, the former SLSO Resident Conductor and a popular figure with local audiences..."
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Review: Balletic St. Louis Symphony doesn't miss a beat after props go awry

St. Louis Post-Dispatch 12-03-2016
"It was therefore left to the fluid and balletic style of guest conductor Ward Stare, the audience’s own memories of the dancing “Fantasia” mushrooms and the mu

sic to compensate for the absence of visual props…"
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Review: Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra shines with Shostakovich

Calgary Herald 03-29-2015
"Richer in musical content than the 5th Symphony, this is a truly great modern work and it was given a highly energized, gripping performance by the CPO led by the young American conductor Ward Stare in his debut with the orchestra…"
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Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Song and Dance review: The SSO does the waltz

The Sydney Morning Herald 03-17-2015
“In between, the dances are by turns sinewy, delicate, languorous and energised. Conductor Ward Stare romped through the piece genially…”
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Porgy and Bess’ retains its musical theater intimacy at Lyric Opera

Chicago Sun Times 11-18-2014
"Gershwin’s colorful score sparkled and surge under conductor Ward Stare’s directed, and Lyric’s supplemental chorus was a beautifully blended ensemble, quietly hopeful when singing the blues and bursting with buoyant energy on happier days…"
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Review: Ward Stare has bold start to career at RPO

Democrat & Chronicle 09-19-2014
“A new era of orchestral music locally began on Thursday as Ward Stare took the podium for the first time as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra's 12th music director…”
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Saint Louis: A Hit is a Hit is a Hit

Opera Today 07-08-2014
"Ward Stare’s conducting found all the underlying spiritual beauty in the rhythmic, lean score. Maestro Stare layered the orchestral colors with commendable balance and taste, and he never lost sight of the musical destination of any given scene or set piece. He elicited especially incisive moments from the winds, and coaxed burnished tones from the brass section. The percussive effects were subtle yet provided a solid foundation for many climactic moments. Best of all he provided a secure cushion of sound as a springboard to encourage the best from the singers. And what a group they were! …"
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Reviews: Opera Theatre of St. Louis spring season

Chicago Tribune 07-02-2014
“Poulenc's ravishingly beautiful score was in good hands in the pit, with Ward Stare – the former first trombone of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, now a rising star in the conducting firmament – enforcing color, nuance and flow in his musicians.…”
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Die Fledermaus

Opera News 12-11-2013
"Conductor Ward Stare made a piquantly effervescent concoction of Strauss's exquisite score…"
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Lyric Opera serves up a delightful, funny 'Fledermaus'

Chicago Tribune 12-11-2013
“This "Fledermaus" is, in short, a singing and dancing delight, with plenty of laughs that arise naturally out of the comic situations and don't feel forced. It's the fifth time around for Strauss' melody-rich Viennese confection at Lyric, and most certainly the best.…”
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‘Die Fledermaus’ soars at Lyric Opera

Chicago Sun-Times 12-11-2013
"Lyric Opera has whipped up a perfect holiday confection for opera lovers in Die Fledermaus…"
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