Daniele Rustioni brings a magical spell to the Ulster Orchestra’s season opener

This concert was a bittersweet affair after the announcement that Daniele Rustioni is to leave the Ulster Orchestra at the end of this season. His tenure has been marked by some highly memorable performances, this one being no exception. To a packed Ulster Hall, the audience were given an evening of very fine music-making in an inventive French and Russian programme. (...) In the more expressive Girls’ Dance, Rustioni avoided any sentimentality, keeping the pulse strictly measured. He gently shaped the cantabile lines beautifully, one of the best performances I’ve ever heard.

Closing the night was the Second Suite from Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, which was utterly beautiful from beginning to end, Rustioni balancing the orchestra perfectly, with every line crystal clear. (...) This was a strong programme on paper and even better in execution. For an orchestra with many new faces on the platform — with extra players and deputies – the playing was exceptional. Every player gave Rustioni exactly what he wanted. While we already lament Rustioni’s departure, we have a full season of concerts to relish. Belfast is in for a wonderful year of music-making. Bachtrack, Leighton Jones

Chief conductor Daniele Rustioni will take to the stage in the Ulster Hall tonight at the start of his season with the Ulster Orchestra after several years of distinguished musical service to the orchestra and to the local community. (...) During Rustioni's tenure there were a number of outstanding achievements including a highly-acclaimed concert last year at the BBC Proms in London'r Royal Albert Hall, ans a concert in Linz, the city of the composer Anton Bruckner. Daniele's period with the Ulster orchestra is regarded as one of the most outstanding in its history, and despite the challenges of the Covid pandemic there was significant musical progress. One bonus of his time here has been the regular appearance on stage of his wife Francesca Dego, a highly-regarded international violinist, who will return to the ulster hall for a concert on November 17, conducted by daniele. (...) Speaking of his time with the Ulster Orchestra, Daniele said: " This has been a dream for me and I am grateful for the orchestra for their efforts to make this come true. In these hard times we all need to feel that the Resurrection Symphony is not an abstract concept but a real spirirtual need." News Letter Belfast, Alf McCreary