Review: "Cleveland and Kent/Blossom Chamber Orchestras thrive on evening led by assistant conductor Brett Mitchell"

The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) has reviewed Brett Mitchell's performances with The Cleveland Orchestra, soloist James Ehnes, and the Kent/Blossom Chamber Orchestra, given on Saturday, August 1 at Blossom Music Center:

Doubt not the abilities of Brett Mitchell, assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra. On his official Blossom Music Center debut Saturday, the ensemble's second-in-charge sagely handled a double-header, conducting five substantial works and treating the Kent/Blossom Chamber Orchestra with finesse. Mitchell is well known here, of course. Not until Saturday, however, was it so clear why the conductor was recently promoted from assistant to associate and given a contract extension. On this occasion, in short, he proved himself repeatedly.

Mitchell had little trouble coaxing from the orchestra a reading [of Dvořák's The Noon Witch] that was taut, nuanced, and keenly dramatic. Thus did a short piece make a major impact... Mitchell truly had his hands full after the second intermission, when the combined Kent/Blossom and Cleveland Orchestras took on Bartók's great Concerto for Orchestra. Out of an ensemble large enough to fill the stage, Mitchell coaxed a spacious, imposing, and at times remarkable performance.

 To read the complete review, please click here.