Photo: Todd Rosenberg

“A tall, professorial presence, the Russian-born Finnish conductor led performances Thursday night that combined lucidity and scrupulous balancing with an eruptive brilliance and intensity. Each of the evening’s three works received clear, acutely focused performances that were never merely clinical yet also imbued with passion and warmth.” […] “Slobodeniouk and the orchestra were equal partners, the attentive conductor making every element of this multifaceted score come across with powerful impact and drawing some of the most roiling and intense playing from the orchestra heard all year.”

Lawrence A. Johnson, Chicago Classical Review

“Slobodeniouk is a confident, calm Maestro, whether in the beloved lyrical Grieg, the unusual repartee of the Lutoslawski, or the drawn-out drama of the Rachmaninoff, he gave clear direction and drew forth balanced textures and colors.”

Debra Davy, Splash Magazines