Artistic Partners

Richard Egarr

“Egarr has an engaging stage presence, undeflectable focus and an infectious enthusiasm for the music he plays…luminous…riveting…serious, haunting …” — The Washington Post

“Under Egarr’s direction, the SPCO exhibited excellent dynamic contrast, frequently bounding between fortissimos and pianissimos with grace and aplomb … [he] complements the music marvelously with his between-tunes banter, describing the music with a colorful combination of wit and insight …” — The Minnesota Star Tribune

Meet Richard

Richard Goode

“While soloing on two Mozart piano concertos, the Bronx-born 80-year-old took listeners on the kind of probing exploration of a composer’s inner world that few interpreters accomplish. But even calling him a soloist sounds inaccurate, for Goode is above all a collaborator, merely the leader of an expedition that values the contributions of each fellow traveler.” — The Minnesota Star Tribune

“Goode was at his best, in a sensitive, crisply clear and supremely musical performance.” — The New York Times

“… he focuses on thoughtful interpretation and profound understanding, prioritising artistic insight over mere technical prowess.” — Bachtrack

Meet Richard

Abel Selaocoe

“There are few musicians who are able to move seamlessly between headlining the BBC Proms with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales one night and improvising at the London Jazz Festival the next. Abel Selaocoe is one such musician — able to master virtuosic performance with improvisation, singing and body percussion.”
— BBC Music Magazine

“Abel Selaocoe is billed as a cellist and composer, but that doesn’t begin to cover his talents. The South African musician also sings, improvises, dances and directs, seemingly sculpting sound with his hands … Yet Selaocoe’s greatest gift is his irresistible energy, sweeping the audience up into the music in an entirely wholehearted way.”
— The Times

Meet Abel

Gábor Takács-Nagy

“… [Takács-Nagy and the SPCO] indeed share a special chemistry. Here is a conductor who is clearly passionately in love with the music they’re performing, and the atmosphere in the hall was one of intense dedication to expressing the emotional core of the music.” — The Minnesota Star Tribune

“… see for yourself on Medici TV or YouTube just how literally animated Takács-Nagy is, how little he has in common with old time maestros and yet how much of a collaborative spirit of endeavour he inspires in his musicians.” — Gramophone

Meet Gábor

Tabea Zimmermann

“… an artist who channels all her energy into getting to the heart of a musical work — and sharing this experience with her audience.” — Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation

“More than any other violist, Zimmermann has boosted the repertoire for her instrument, inspiring composers including Ligeti, Heinz Holliger, Wolfgang Rihm and Enno Poppe to write for her. And she boldly adopts music written for other instruments … she can coax the warmth and depth of a cello out of her viola, just as she can capture the airy sweetness of any violin sonata by Franck or Schumann.” — The Strad

Meet Tabea