“The magician on the podium…”

The program concluded with George Enescu’s greatest hit, the irresistible Romanian Rhapsody No. 1, a tour de force for orchestra that’s littered with cameo solos spotlighting individual players. The orchestra sounded in peak condition and got the audience acclaim it deserved. And so did Khudyev, the magician on the podium. Full Article: http://performingartsmontereybay.com

“Music Director Khudyev has to be admired, not only for his musical skills (and he is as accomplished as a violinist as he is as a conductor), but also for his skill in finding increasing support in the community…”

“By any standard, these young musicians played with great enthusiasm and surprisingly advanced skills. The final work on the program, a performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, brought the house down with thundering applause and a standing ovation for the young musicians. It is a great tribute to our community that…

Review from the Peninsula Reviews:

“The orchestra, under the direction of Khudyev delivered a lovely precision and delicious dynamic shaping of the phrases, plus some gorgeous pianissimo playing in the strings that struck a beautiful balance with the choral singers.” “One last work on the program, the Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein brought the…

Review from the New York Music Daily:

“Farkhad Khudyev put on a characteristically majestic, sweeping, intuitive performance.” “Khudyev gave the sweeping, swoony nocturnal second movement extra altitude by bringing it down very, very quietly in places to add an element of contrast: as with the Khachaturian, his attention to detail was striking. Epic, lush and ultimately optimistic,…

Review from the Herald:

“This much-anticipated February program opened with the short, powerful and astounding world premiere of Khudyev’s “The Sounds of Eternity.” Both an intimate musical self-portrait and an unflinching reflection of the human condition, this composition weaves together elements of Khudyev’s childhood growing up in Central Asia’s Turkmenistan with a transcendental message…