Chen, center of gravity
"From the first bar of Arturo Márquez's Danzón No. 2, it was clear that enthusiasm does not replace discipline, but elevates it. The work, poetically considered the "symphonic anthem" of the Americas, advanced with flexibility, sensuality and precision; and Mei-Ann Chen turned the podium into a gravitational center: in the middle of an interpretive performance performed by the musicians, the conductor marked, smiled, jumped, invited to breathe and, when necessary, affirmed the character with a precise gesture: a master of ceremonies with an architectural control of the interpretation.

The Mestizo Waltz, by Gabriela Lena Frank, prolonged the dialogue between symphonic tradition and American identities. Then came Michael Torke's Sky, written for Tessa Lark: a concert that fuses classical language, bluegrass and Irish fiddle roots. ...

Lark did not appear as an ornamental visitor, but as an organic part of that youthful machinery. She played with clean virtuosity, rhythmic freedom and an unaffected charisma. ...The orchestra responded with quick reflexes and a joy that made Sky a performative experience: young musicians who played, moved, danced and celebrated the music without lowering a single technical demand.

Paris and Rome inside the theatre
After the intermission, An American in Paris allowed us to see the maturity of the sections. ...The NYO2 made its contrasts visible: street lightheartedness, elegance, melancholy and rhythmic drive, with solos that confirmed the individual musicality of these teenagers.

The Pines of Rome, by Respighi, on the other hand, was the most immersive moment of the night. Its four episodes cover Villa Borghese, a catacomb, the Janiculum and the Appian Way; The huge template incorporates off-stage instruments and turns the space into part of the symphonic poem. When the brass sounded from the balcony, the National Theater stopped containing the orchestra: it was taken over by it. The final advance grew like an inevitable, monumental procession, until it ended in an ovation as loud as it was deserved." (Review Excerpt)

Full review available at link below.