Christian Kluxen : Reviews
CONDUCTOR
“No matter what you do, how old you are, who your mom is or what your dad believes in – if you have just the slightest interest in music, you simply have to experience Christian Kluxen conducting. […] Christian Kluxen is an absolutely magnetic figure”
Nordlys (Greenwood, Haydn, Mozart with pianist Vikingur Olafsson)
“Kluxen indicated to Monday Magazine in a previous interview that he wanted audiences to experience how the Victoria Symphony interprets these great works of musical art. Indeed, from the urgent opening, the full orchestra tackled each movement in the Fifth with enthusiasm and reverence, creating a triumphant and majestic performance that prompted many in the crowd to stand with appreciative applause following the final note. … The Victoria Symphony’s flawless performances of the Fifth and Third symphonies gave this audience member a wonderful taste of what is to come.“
Monday Magazine
“The maestro drew out a playfulness that went directly through the screen. The energy poured from the slim sized orchestra, swinging and the music developed in a natural flow. I don’t know if it derives from Kluxen’s slightly sassy presence and natural technique, the sudden smile, or if it is a pedagogical method, but he lifts the orchestra and makes them deliver. When it reaches all the way into my living room, I am simply grateful.”
Corren (Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven: Symphony No. 4, online stream)
“Symphony concert in Cowichan the best this year […] A superb rendition of Mozart’s ‘Symphony No 35’, the Haffner. This music is so familiar that we all know it well, but for me the difference was that Kluxen brought out the very best of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra; every section played together with great clarity and precision.”
Cowichan Valley Citizen (Victoria Symphony, Brian Yoon, cello)
“The Arctic Philharmonic is something so fierce at home under the direction of chief conductor Christian Kluxen and of course the recording, made by maestro Lindberg in Stormen Concert Hall in Bodø, is at the level we always expect from there – on the top shelf.”
Nettavisen about The Sound of the Arctic recording
“It was with a spectacular account of the fourth that Christian Kluxen and the Victoria Symphony began their second weekend of Beethoven symphonies”
Islandnet
“As the orchestra’s Danish conductor Christian Kluxen solidly controls the many refinements in Thoresen’s neo-impressionistic, eclectic and detailed music”
Five stars, Politiken about The Sound of the Arctic recording
“Conductor Christian Kluxen did full justice to a score crammed with incident and ingenuity […] He skillfully charted the shifting moods, securing the perfect balance.”
New Zealand Herald
“Christian Kluxen conducts with exemplary clarity and a rather heavenly warmth. Lovely!”
Berlingske Tidende
“North of the Arctic Circle, Danish Conductor Christian Kluxen is building a surprisingly beautiful orchestra sound […] My jaw dropped for ten minutes in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto […] It sounds almost too perfect…”
Politiken
“The young Danish maestro has managed to groom his Arctic musicians into a well-oiled opera machine.”
nrk.no
“The Danish conductor Christian Kluxen drew out a primordial force, an impressive vertical power of emotion and living sound layers from this music. He embraced the whole sound and inspired the musicians. Focus was always on the grand form. This symphony has a tight texture and the conductor smoothly joined together the different sections, all the way to the intense burst of the finale.”
Norrköpings Tidningar
“Christian Kluxen showed impressive ability to shape the music with an eye to the long view, especially with the great spans of the outer movements. He also wasn’t afraid to go to extremes of dynamic levels, barely audible violin tremolos in the second movement but roof-raising climaxes in the finale.”
Seen and Heard International
“The maestro drew from the orchestra the most exquisite “Nimrod” this writer has heard live.”
Cowichan Symphony Society
“The piece worked well with Kluxen’s mature interpretation and sense of the work’s deepest meaning…”
Åbo Underrättelser
“Kluxen’s use of tempo from work to work was ingenious and genuine, and his grasp of Stravinsky was solid and accurate.”
Åbo Underrättelser
“The biggest triumph went to Christian Kluxen, who began in a confident tempo and kept a tightly controlled flow in the orchestra […] The career seems promising for this only 34-year old conductor, who has already led dozens of orchestras.”
Dagbladet Information
“Christian Kluxen’s phenomenal mastering of the music’s sophisticated, trembling, painful emotion tore apart the hearts of the audience.”
Weekendavisen
“The musicians in the orchestra pit played so beautifully, it sent shivers down the spine. The conductor, Christian Kluxen, can of course take a lot of credit for this and it is no exaggeration to say that his achievements will draw great attention in the future.”
Kristeligt Dagblad
“The Danish National Opera’s Madama Butterfly is among the best, not least due to conductor Christian Kluxen.”
Fyens Stifttidende
“It is clear that the orchestra likes to work with this evening’s conductor. The stage floor rumbled with stomping feet, when the musicians applauded Christian Kluxen. He has a very musical and sensitive style of conducting. A joy to watch, even for the audience.”
kultursidan.nu
“At the helm was Christian Kluxen, nearing the end of his assistant conductorship of the RSNO […] He revealed a connection with the band that was charismatic, confident and impressively competent.”
The Scotsman
“Another bonus was conductor Christian Kluxen. … His interpretation of the works showered youthful exuberance, but there were also signs of maturity, style and expert manipulation of the players.”
The Courier