Extraordinary Andrea Chénier at the MET under the baton of MET's Principal Guest Conductor Daniele Rustioni
Andrea Chénier” makes an impassioned, riveting return to the Met
“The Met has assembled such a cast, and with Daniele Rustioni in the pit, the audience was swept up in a riveting performance of Giordano’s most enduring creation.
…Rustioni is a commanding presence on the podium, conveying his intentions through expansive arm movements and the intensity of his facial expressions. The orchestra responded with playing that ranged from graceful, transparent sounds epitomizing the ancien régime, to thunderous, ominous utterances that manifested the horrors of the Reign of Terror. The best were the love-fueled waves of sound that transported Yoncheva and Beczała to such heights.
In a season rich with must-see performances, add Andrea Chénier to the list.”
New York Classical Review, Rick Perdian
“passion and excitement to Met’s Andrea Chénier revival…with fine work from the chorus and the orchestra’s excellent rendition of Giordano’s lush and stirring score led by Daniele Rustioni, the evening was more notable for its standout singing and orchestral playing than for its stage dressing.”
Bachtrack, Susan Stempleski
“The real hero was in the pit, as new principal guest conductor Daniele Rustioni revealed more of his artistic virtues than he did in Mozart earlier this month. Rustioni showed real love for this veristic gem, relishing its vibrant orchestration and dramatic details while giving the singers all the help and room they needed to carry the evening.
…Rustioni conducted like one of those great old Italian masters of the verismo game like Gavazzeni or Serafin and the orchestra played superbly for him.
There is enough good singing up there so that the opera is well served and it was a fun evening out. It showed that a fine and enjoyable Andrea Chénier experience is still possible in this new century; no need to live in the past.”
ParterreBox, Eli Jacobson
https://parterre.com/2025/11/28/to-be-a-poet-is-a-condition/#disqus_thread
“…Then there’s Daniele Rustioni. Honestly, given his position at the Met, he should be the first choice for, if possible, all of the Italian repertory. The orchestra simply sounds great in his hands, but more importantly, there’s a naturalness to how he conducts this repertory. Unlike other conductors, who seem overindulgent to overemphasize every little gesture to squeeze out every drop of expression out of it, Rustioni is more confident in the music, being far less intrusive in his approach. J.S. Bach is famously credited with saying that “It’s easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself.” This seems in line with Rustioni’s approach to the music-making. And it works wonders. The balance in the orchestra is pristine. Ensembles coalesce. Singers always sound supported in their arias and duets. …More importantly, this performance flew by but never felt rushed...
If you couldn’t tell, I love “Andrea Chénier.” It’s an opera with a tight drama and powerful music that when given its due is an operatic experience like no other. This is the first time this season that I’m itching to go back and re-experience it all over again. There are five such opportunities through Dec. 13, 2025.”
Operawire, David Salazar
https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-2025-26-review-andrea-chenier/
Extraordinary Andrea Chénier at the MET
“Daniele Rustioni, on the podium, imbued the piece with all the romantic and revolutionary force it required, and under his baton, the Met orchestra sounded extraordinary, with perfectly timed tempi. Furthermore, Rustioni, leading a vast cast of singers, skillfully guided the performance at every moment, complementing the extraordinary power of each singer without the orchestra ever losing its equally passionate touch.
There is no doubt that this production of Andrea Chénier is one of the best events to see in New York this November/December season.”
Lohengrin Magazine, Anthony Pizzalio
Daniele Rustioni Makes His Mark at the Met
The Italian conductor debuts as principal guest with Giordano’s Andrea Chénier
“In the hushed atmosphere of the opera house, Daniele Rustioni radiates energy—precise, passionate and assured. On the podium for Umberto Giordano’s Andrea Chénier at the Metropolitan Opera, he guides the orchestra from the pastoral lyricism of the first act to the anguished crescendos of the Reign of Terror. The production marks his debut in his new role as principal guest conductor of the Met, a title previously held by only two predecessors, Valery Gergiev and Fabio Luisi.
This revival met every challenge. Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva, Polish tenor Piotr Beczała and Russian baritone Igor Golovatenko were met with ovations after every aria. Rustioni, bringing a distinctly Italian musical sensibility to the pit, received an equally warm reception.
…At 42, Rustioni embodies both tradition and perseverance. The son of a choir singer, he entered the children’s chorus at La Scala of Milan as a boy before turning his focus to conducting. During rehearsals for The Magic Flute, he famously approached Riccardo Muti and told him he wanted to follow in his footsteps. Muti replied bluntly that he would need ten years of piano study and ten of composition before even thinking of such a career. Rustioni took the advice to heart, earning diplomas in organ, piano, traditional composition and conducting.
Rustioni made his Met debut in 2017 with Aida, followed by Rigoletto and Carmen. He has also conducted the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. The New York Times hailed his Met debut as “admirable.” Muti has described him as “a conductor in the old-school tradition, who takes music seriously.” Met general manager Peter Gelb has called him “a born conductor,” while concertmaster Benjamin Bowman credits his sense of humor with keeping even the toughest rehearsals light.
More appearances are already on the horizon. In addition to Andrea Chénier, Rustioni will return to the Met later this season for Don Giovanni and La Bohème.
Andrea Chénier runs at the Met through December 13.”
La voce di New York, Luciana Capretti
https://lavocedinewyork.com/en/arts/2025/11/27/daniele-rustioni-steps-into-the-spotlight-at-the-met/