Press & Reviews

"...the outstanding musical event of the weekend was Maestro Karel Mark Chichon’s reading of Beethoven’s monumental Seventh Symphony... this youthful conductor of genius... The grandeur of his way with Beethoven was astonishing…….There was nothing external in Chichon's Beethoven. Everything from piano to forte, to thrilling crescendi came from within... He conducted La Traviata with love and dedicated support for his singers... brought out the full poignance of Verdi's masterpiece"
New York Times (USA)- John Paul Keeler

“Karel Mark Chichon - conducted without rehearsal, with a firm and confident grip that resulted in complete co-ordination between stage and orchestral pit... Chichon’s approach was to keep things moving throughout the opera but at the same time he managed to create tempi that gave the right atmosphere for each scene and mood….he never allowed the sound to become slim and dry, instead the sound always blossomed creating a wide range of colours. With this fresh, honest and inspiring performance Karel Mark Chichon left no doubt that he knew the music very well. This was Chichon’s own interpretation of the Magic Flute and not a copy of other conductors or recordings.  The Gibraltar Maestro put his own mark on this opera, and this enthralled the sold-out audience.”
Kleine Zeitung (Austria) - Ernst Naredi-Rainer
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CHRISTMAS IN VIENNA 2007
"The biggest surprise of the evening for me personally was the spirited conducting of Karl Mark Chichon … proved all evening, how wonderfully he responds to singers and choirs. But the RSO Orchestra’s solo numbers were also highlights of the evening … Tchaikovsky’s Russian dance was so skilfully escalated and realised with such absolute orchestral flair that one might forget many famous recordings. Here a truly great talent could be seen at the conductor’s stand!"
Der Neue Merker (Peter Dusek) - 01/2008
 
Karel Mark Chichon celebrated the classical “hit parade” with taut tempi, took pleasure in the lush bacchanal of sound, the right drive and an effective tonal dramaturgy.
Die Kronenzeitung (Florian Krenstetter)
 
Precise and refreshingly sympathetic was Karel Mark Chichon at the conductor’s stand.
Österreich (C. Hirschmann)
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SYMPHONY CONCERT / TIROLER SYMPHONIEORCHESTER INNSBRUCK
FEBRUARY 2008
Chichon gives off elan, animation and sympathy, attaining with Andrea Rainer’s intense flute melody an actual atmosphere of desire, light and fantasy as well as an orchestral sensitivity which he developed even more passionately in the dance of the firebird.
Tiroler Tageszeitung (U. Strohal), 20.01.2008
 
Chichon heats up tempers with the racy Carmen-Suite: tempo, precision and dedication… first rate entertainment which the guest conductor and the visibly animated orchestra coaxed from the notes with brilliant commitment, resulting in tumultuous applause. Hasta la vista, Maestro Chichon!
Kronenzeitung (Jutta Höpfel), 23.02.2008
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“...the undeniable star of the night was conductor Karel Mark Chichon......his performances of Beethoven: “Corolian” Overture and Symphony No 7 were amongst the most inspired I have heard in a long time.....his conducting reminded me of a rare combination of Kleiber, Karajan and Celibidache...”
Il Resto di Carlino (Italy) - Massimo Crispi

“...from the first crescendo of the Prelude to Tristan und Isolde it was clear that Chichon had the full grasp of the architecture of the work, something not usual for a young conductor – this is a work which brings out a good or bad conductor... his interpretation was as honest, clear and brilliant reading as one could hope to hear... Chichon’s performance of “Mathis der Maler” had authority and imagination. This is another work that is not easy to perform but Chichon knew how to lead the listener to the wonders of this creation...”
Ideal (Granada, Spain) - José A. Lacarel

“...Chichon conducted his wonderful London orchestra with élan, authority and great sense of style in Mozart: Symphony No 40... His interpretation of “La Scala di seta” overture was  brilliant!...”
Diaro de Pontevedra (Spain) – Leopoldo Centeno

“....Chichon was vividly communicative with both orchestra and audience – here was a man with great charisma and dynamism without ever becoming a showman.......”
La Voz de Asturias (Spain) - Cristina Rio

“...little by little the orchestra began to “warm up” to the public, thanks to the talent of its conductor, Karel Mark Chichon... he knew very well how to balance the symphonic and folk elements.....a master of orchestral sound and of graduating the orchestra to the greatest theatrical climaxes...”
Ideal (Granada, Spain) - Andres Molinari

“...Chichon’s sublime interpretation of Bach: St John Passion with his London orchestra and chorus proved why he is the principle star of the season of concerts organised by Centro Cultural Caxavigo...”
Faro de Vigo (Spain) - Sandra Penelas

“...Chichon’s performance of St John Passion was simply extraordinary... pure luxury to the ears of the audience...”
La Region (Orense, Spain) – Sara Bordas

“...the young conductor Karel Mark Chichon was again the star of the evening.... conducting the orchestra with grace but authority, from beautiful pianissimi to majestic fortissimi...”
Diaro de Pontevedra (Spain) – Leopoldo Centeno

“...the conductor “set on fire” not only the orchestra but also the audience....I have seen other conductors with great temperament, but Chichon’s energy is not aggressive, the fire is not destructive.....”
Sestdiena (Riga, Latvia) - Inese Lusina

“....Chichon delighted the audience so much that it stood up and shouted for Northern public unlikely loud bravos.... ”
Sestdiena (Riga, Latvia) - Levina Liepina