Press & Reviews
A selection of recent reviews and articles. For reviews before 22/23, please refer to the Musichall Ltd website
SPRING - SUMMER 2024
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA - WGHO
“Matthew Kofi Waldren gave a masterclass…Waldren’s approach was crisp and disciplined yet responsive. The music flowed admirably, yet this was bel canto which allowed the singers to shape phrases” - Planet Hugill (July 2024)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren’s conducting of the West Green House Orchestra is highly accomplished. He maintains a strong sense of forward momentum without ever making the pace feel forced” - MusicOMH (July 2024)
TOSCA - Opera Holland Park
“As so often, conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren and OHP’s house band…seized the opportunity of their place right at the centre of the action. They delivered not just background music but the densely coloured Roman scene-painting…that peaks in Puccini’s extraordinary, and beautifully executed, prelude to Act III. Cellos, horns, clarinets and harp painted the city in tender shades while Waldren wrung every drop of the drama from the Wagner-meets-Hollywood motifs that define character and mood. The big ensemble scenes stirred” - The Arts Desk (June 2024)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren, with his notable flair for the Italian repertoire, conducts the City of London Sinfonia. The instrumentalists mark their 20th year at OHP with playing that tells a story every bit as vividly as the stage performers. *****” - Culture Whisper (June 2024)
“Under Matthew Kofi Waldren, the City of London Sinfonia played with clarity, nuance and impeccable pace - yet another winner in a wet evening that saw the audience set alight.” - Opera Wire (June 2024)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren steers the music along with flair” - The Stage (June 2024)
“Waldren allowed the music to flow with the vocal line, care was taken over shaping and extending phrases…and you always sensed Waldren’s grip on the larger dramatic point; big moments were thrilling, and small ones were intense. - Planet Hugill (June 2024)
‘the City of London sinfonia…is alert to Matthew Kofi Waldren’s brisk direction, particularly in Puccini’s serene depiction of dawn over deeply troubled Rome.” - Guardian (June 2024)
I DUE FOSCARI - COG
“The whole enterprise was fortunate to be conducted by the highly gifted Matthew Kofi Waldren…His control over proceedings brought forth my admiration in the way he obtained wonderful playing and singing from the orchestra and chorus while, at the same time, needing to coordinate his singers who were, at all times, singing away from his baton into the audience. A great gift and one that will carry his career forward with confidence and success.” - Musical Opinion (June 2024)
“The score’s succession of compact scenes is fast-moving, even precipitous, and in the comparitive intimacy of Cadogan Hall its many bold passages achieved a visceral impact…the sensitivity of Matthew Kofi Waldren’s conducting and the playing of the excellent orchestra came especially to the fore in the contemplative writing for solo clarinet, divided cellos, and a duetting viola and cello.” - Opera (July 2024)
WINTER - SPRING 2023/24
THE SNOWMAIDEN - RNCM
“Matthew Kofi Waldren is a wizard in the pit and draws lovely sounds from his players.” - Theatre Reviews North (Dec 2023)
“From the very first note, the RNCM’s orchestral prowess, guided by Waldren’s masterful conducting, set the stage for a journey into a realm of mystique and wonder.” - I Love Manchester (Dec 2023)
“The Orchestra of RNCM flourished under Matthew Kofi Waldren’s conducting that felt secure and with sensible tempos. Expertly played were solo contributions fron the section principals with flute and clarinet standing out.” - Seen and Heard (Dec 2023)
“Much of the opera’s glory lies in its choral set pieces and Rimsky-Korsakov’s prismatic orchestral colours, and, under…Matthew Kofi Waldren, the RNCM chorus and instrumentalists rose thrillingly to the occasion. The final scene in particular was electrifying…” - Opera (February 2024)
BRITTEN VS AUDEN - CLS
“Matthew Kofi Waldren elucidated the complex thematic developments and variations of the Sinfonietta Op.1, textures and colours brilliantly defined, motifs shaped with invigorating bite, aided but the virtuosity and vitality of the City of London Sinfonia ensemble.” - Opera Today (November 2023)
“Conducted by Matthew Kofi Waldren…the Sinfonia’s tight and agile playing let us appreciate young Britten straining at the formal leash…the exhilarating early Sinfonietta - executed with panache all round, and lit up by Karen Jones’s flute.” - The Arts Desk (November 2023)
“By the end…conducted by Matthew Kofi Waldren, a moving story emerged, not new but well told, of two artists struggling to find their own voices.” - The Observer (November 2023)
AINADAMAR - WNO
“Conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren presided over the rich musical mix with great skill, drawing first-class playing from the WNO Orchestra.” - Musical America (September 2023)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren does a superb job in capturing its melting pot of potent emotions and rich cultural influences” - The Times (September 2023)
“But it was the music, interpreted with urgency and flair by the WNO orchestra, conducted by Matthew Kofi Waldren, that gave that sense of healing and comfort. - Nation Cymru (September 2023)
“Alongside these outstanding principals, this latest incarnation of Ainadamar is featherbedded by the musical brilliance of the WNO Chorus and Orchestra under Matthew Kofi Waldren, and by a supporting cast of unimpeachable quality.” - Bachtrack (September 2023)
“Conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren, and an orchestra packed with guitars, piano, percussion and more, relish this eccentric piece, happily augmented by electronica…Today’s opera world is at its best when it incorporates other musical and dance styles, on an international plain; as barriers continue to be broken in the field, WNO’s Ainadamar stands as an impressive example of this inclusiveness. - Buzz Mag (September 2023)
“Under the baton of Matthew Kofi Waldren, the WNO Orchestra handsomely delivered the composer’s score in playing that was rhythmically alert and seductive.” - Opera Today (November 2023)
“The WNO Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren, ensured Golijov’s complex score was fully expressed so that we felt pulled into the sometimes staccato rhythm of flamenco but also taken through the lyricism of the choral and solo pieces.” - WhatsOnLive (November 2023)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren’s conducting is exemplary. The score is demanding, not least in combining the acoustic and electronic elements. Full credit to all involved in creating such an intricate and engaging soundscape.” - The Reviews Hub (November 2023)
10 WAYS TO SAVE CLASSICAL MUSIC
In 2023, Matthew was asked by the Guardian newspaper to contribute to a major article discussing the future of Classical Music in the UK. You can read this article here.
SPRING - SUMMER 2023
THE PEARL FISHERS - OPERA NORTH
“There is some luscious playing in the orchestra, conducted by Matthew Kofi Waldren, not least from the harp. The recurrence of the duet melody, in its various guises, floats in and out of the action like a memory, a reminder.” -The Opera Critic (June 2023)
“Under the baton of Matthew Kofi Waldren the spellbinding soundscape, intricate harmonies and soaring choruses expertly captured the extremes of beauty and darkness” - Mag North (May 2023)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren and his band eke out every fleck of colour from Bizet’s score.” - The Times (May 2023)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren’s orchestra is impeccable throughout, maintaining an even momentum.” - The Stage (May 2023)
“under Matthew Kofi Waldren’s baton the Orchestra of Opera North sounded magnificent and did him and it proud. - The Arts Desk (May 2023)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren exploits the score’s lyrical qualities expertly.” - The Reviews Hub (May 2023)
“Conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren’s delivery, in this regard, was surefooted and insightful, highlighting both the score’s serenity and violence. His tempi accomodated the singers admirably and, despite the wide dynamics, there was ample allowance made for them to register vocally. The orchestra was alert and responsive throughout, with particularly beautiful, sympathetic contributions from the flute, cor anglais, horns and cello.” - Leeds Living (May 2023)
“With Matthew Kofi Waldren conducting, the Opera North Orchestra brought energy to the dance rhythms in the opening chorus, a splendidly light touch to the Entr’acte setting the scene for the start of Act II, and plenary of bite to the storm at the end of Act II.” - Classical Music Daily (July 2023)
BLUE - ENO
“a conductor at the top of his game…He was just as impressive here, attentive not only to his singers but wringing everything he could from Tesori’s score; the ENO Orchestra responded in kind” - Seen and Heard (May 2023)
“ENO’s crack musicians squeeze every penn’orth from her score under the assured baton of Matthew Kofi Waldren, an unsung hero of UK opera conducting…Waldren’s conviction always carries the day, especially when anger and anguish - the composer’s strongest suits - are to the fore.” - Bachtrack (April 2023)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren conducts with total authority, as always; it seems like only yesterday that I was privileged to be on a jury which chose him as joint ENO Sir Charles Mackerras Conducting Fellow.” - The Arts Desk (April 2023)
“masterfully written and performed, with Matthew Kofi Waldren making space for the swell of Jeanine Tesori’s score, and for the quiet moments where every word needed to be heard. - Opera Now (April 2023)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren conducts, complete master of all the score’s many musical genres, and with the Orchestra of English National Opera on top form, right down to the growliest contrabassoon.” - Culture Whisper (April 2023)
“Kofi Waldren conducts with considerable commitment and finesse. The playing is exemplary.” - The Guardian (April 2023)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren conducted with evident love as well as efficiency and care.” - The Observer (April 2023)
“The House orchestra, conducted with fluency and precision by Matthew Kofi Waldren, performs with supple sensitivity to the different genres of music in play.” - Plays to See (April 2023)
“The ENO Orchestra are on a roll after the wide-screen triumph of Korngold’s The Dead City, and with Matthew Kofi Waldren conducting, the dramatic line was never sacrificed. The climaxes were intense and tempi suited to the conversational metres of the libretto.” - London Unattached (April 2023)
THE CHEVALIER - LPO
“The LPO - presided over by conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren - was on ravishing form, managing to convey the chattering class sophistication and lurking anger in Bologna’s work.” - The Arts Desk (March 2023)
AUTUMN - WINTER 2022
MIGRATIONS - WNO
“This work represents revolutionary operatic theater…It could very well reframe how opera is created going forward…Perhaps one of the most neo-Wagnerian works staged in some time…Conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren, director Sir David Pountney, composer and jazz pianist Will Todd, and six brilliant librettists were at the forefront of the collaborative giant.” - Opera Wire (July 2022)
“Conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren did a bang-up job” - Buzzmag (July 2022)
“Matthew Kofi Waldren conducted with authority, marshalling forces that included the Renewal Choir Cummunity Chorus as well as WNO’s chorus and orchestra.” - Opera (September 2022)
“With some 100 people on stage and some 60 instrumentalists in the pit, conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren is in secure musical charge of this vast enterprise. It’s an ambitious project that will undoubtedly have achieved many of its goals as well as showing WNO at its best.” - The Stage (June 2022)
“with the WNO orchestra on fine form, conducted by Matthew Kofi Waldren. A testament to the power of multicultural collaboration, Migrations pulses with life.” - The Times (June 2022)
“Conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren marshalled all the WNO forces, plus the Renewal Choir Comminity Chorus, with great flair throughout; the participants’ joy was palpable.” - The Guardian (June 2022)