-- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 14.05.2005
Sculpted Forms
Lisa Xanthopoulou conducts
Ever since she won the conductors' competition in Bad Homburg in 2002, Lisa Xanthopoulou has been a welcome returning guest in this city. Together with the Rheinische Philharmonie State Orchestra, she cut an impressive figure on this evening as well, conducting the opening piece, the overture of Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La Forza del Destino" in a streamlined, consistent and clearly sculpted fashion. The ability she showed in drawing the contours of large units worked to her advantage when it was time for César Franck's Symphony M48 in d minor after the intermission. Despite the fact that the sound was at times too compact, due to an overemphasis of the brass section, Xanthopoulou succeeded in giving an impressive rendition, thanks to supple phrasing and sculpted dynamic contours.
ikt.