Thomas J. Mandl
Conductor .
Composer .
Coach .
“…well-known as one able to win over the guests from Kiev in terms of dynamics and phrasing, the brilliant conductor Thomas J. Mandl left nothing to chance. An exceptional performance, and a conductor from whom we want to hear more, in Germany as well.” (Rachmaninov, 2nd symphony)
“…Thomas J. Mandl gave proof of his interpretive abilities with a painstaking, intensively- expressive and highly-exciting shape of the underlying structures of Dvorak’s 7th Symphony.”
“…that was called into being by the sensitive musical direction of the outstanding young kapellmeister Thomas J. Mandl. …the way he enjoyed Könneke’s melodies to the fullest and let them blossom with the Ulm Philharmonic Orchestra, the way he brought out the dance rhythms… with precision and spirit, and the way he emphasized the finali and ensembles were of recording quality.”
“The orchestra played in an amazingly cultivated way under the capable young conductor Thomas J. Mandl, who displayed a healthy lyrical sound and alert Rossini flexibility, but also real drama. During the first ensemble finale, time seemed to stand still. The singers were accompanied with suppleness. Again and again instrumental solos bewitched the listener. Thomas J. Mandl sounded out shades of color sensitively, traced fine points with appropriate tempi and, finally, made the sentimental dimension of Bellini’s style dramatically plausible.” (Bellini, I Capuleti e i Montecchi)
“The Danube city offers not only a dare-devil Romeo, but a Juliet (Eva Zettl) who is a match for him – and, finally, the young, committed conductor, Thomas J. Mandl, who makes grand opera in a small theater an exciting event…Mandl traces the score’s niceties with the sensitive Ulm Philharmonic Orchestra, enjoying the melos of this narcotic music to the utmost. In doing so, he is interested not only in realizing Bellini’s somewhat questionable opera aesthetic of “far piangere cantando”, but also in making strong points with furious cabaletta attacks…“ (Bellini, I Capuleti e I Montecchi)
“The Philharmonic Orchestra, playing with similarly remarkable precision under the outstanding Conductor Thomas J. Mandl, provided the basis, on a gratifyingly high level, for an evening of bel canto that was tumultuously acclaimed by the audience.” (Donizetti, Maria Stuarda)
“…the clear commitment of an entire ensemble has made the most difficult tasks possible – beginning with the Philharmonic Orchestra under the brilliant Conductor Thomas J. Mandl, who made enormously precise and theatrical music with the dense score.” (Fritz Schenker, Gefährliche Liebschaften, world premiere)
“It was a fantastic concert: on the highest musical level with the famous Façade…as well as three youthful songs by Walton, in clean-as-a-whistle interpretations under conductor Thomas J. Mandl…the quick rhythms of speech and the clean playing of the chamber ensemble, under Thomas J. Mandls highly inspired conducting, were precisely synchronized. Thomas J. Mandl showed himself to be a sensitive accompanist to Williams.” (Walton, Façade with Lady Susana Walton and the world premiere of three early Walton songs)
“The admirable development of an orchestra…until now, the ensemble did not need to travel new paths, but under Thomas J. Mandl’s sinewy, sensitive conducting, it showed that it is on the precipitous way to Parnassus.” (Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony)
“It was apparent that the Reichenhaller Philharmonic can truly be compared to Salzburg. Under Thomas J.Mandl’s leadership, it made music of intoxicating beauty, cultivated and stylish…after this grandiose performance, one heard many audience members wishing for a repetition of the Tosca…The acclaim was unbounded.”
“Already the beginning of the symphony urged to prick up one’s ears: how the wide projecting melody like of one’s own accord walked through the space, how the whole building of sound seemed to grow out of itself without forcing from outside. Also the rest of the first movement was filled with enthusiasm and common breath as you can find it rarely even at the great orchestras…” (Bruckner’s 7th Symphony)