Press – Reviews in brief
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- Neeme Järvi Summer Academy
- “If there was an accepted star of the class, it was Lowe, who generated energy on the podium and connected smartly with each orchestra. Lowe, who expressed genuine interest in his colleagues' lives and careers, was also well liked by his peers - no small feat in a competitive field.”
Mary Ellyn Hutton, Musical America - Strauss - Alpine Symphony, 2007
- “…The ecclesiastical setting was justified by a performance sonorously sustained by young James Lowe and his plucky players.”
Conrad Wilson, The Herald - Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Nielsen 4, 2006
- “Lowe is a deep-end conductor which absolutely suited the Nielsen in this volcanic interpretation which erupted before the crowd.”
Michael Tumelty The Herald - Kwa-Zulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, South Africa, February 2006
- “The conductor, 30-year-old James Lowe from England, has a most animated style on the podium and he drew some exceptional playing from the entire orchestra.”
Michael Green artSMart“The KZNPO sounded crisp and fresh under the baton of young British conductor James Lowe... Lowe's conducting matched the exhuberant finale in a wonderful display of bravura… his enthusiastic conducting translated into an intelligent and rewarding performance.”
Stavros Anthias Kwana Newspaper - Meadows Chamber Orchestra, 2006
- “Lowe, another talent worth watching, has been the RSNO's associate conductor since 2004... he had the drama of Dvorak's D-minor Symphony at his disposal, and he made the most of it, bringing to it the mysterious Wagnerian undertones to which the Wesendonck songs served as preparation.”
Conrad Wilson, The Scotsman - Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Tchaikovsky 5, Inverness 2005
- “…The strings swirled thrillingly round the brass as they blazed out the theme before both forces united for the symphony's resoundingly powerful climax that drew cheers from the audience and smiles of satisfaction from the orchestra.”
Jim Love, Inverness Courier - Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Mozart by Candlelight, 2005
- “Here was multi-faceted Mozart, raw-edged, reflective, gritty and alive - and conclusive proof that the symphony's famous opening is wasted as a mobile phone ring tone.”
Carol Main, The Scotsman - Classic Bites, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, 2004
- “…on came the young associate conductor James Lowe with a conducting style borrowed from swordfighting, while the band unleashed a thunderous version of Mars from Holst's suite The Planets, that had the woman beside me gasping, then roaring in approval”
Michael Tumelty, The Herald
“Here is a young man with all the attributes to make his mark in the world of music in a big way - remember the name!”
Geoff Evans, Border Telegraph - Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scotland Tour, 2004
- “…a conductor who's definitely got something. His stage manner is relaxed and confident...He imbued Schubert's Unfinished Symphony with both breadth and pace, as well as some warm lyricism. Perhaps most impressive was the sensation - hard to define, though you know when it's not there - that Lowe has a feel for the line and structure of a piece. That was certainly the case in his account of the first movement of Dvorak's New World Symphony which was well shaped, and which concluded with no sense of time having past... An auspicious start.”
Michael Tumelty, The Herald - New Nottingham Sinfonietta
- “Despite the presence of several remarkable musicians in key positions, nothing could have prepared a reviewer for the sheer power or depth of Saturday's playing. James Lowe conducted an outstanding performance of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. It had the epic virtue of authentic classical passion.”
Peter Palmer, Nottingham Evening Post
“Sibelius' Second Symphony formed an impressive conclusion to the concert. This was a vital urgent performance, full of insights into the score and created a wonderfully dark atmosphere out of which sweeping strings conjured up images of vast northern landscapes. The transition in the finale was magnificently handled and all this was warmly appreciated by the small audience. Future concerts deserve to be a sell out.”
Peter Palmer, Nottingham Evening Post
“Under its previous name this orchestra used to go in for respectable run-thoughs. But James Lowe has given the playing an extra dimension.”
Peter Palmer, Nottingham Evening Post