Dan Saunders.net

L'Italiana in Algeri (2010)

"…the highest artistic merit corresponded to the superior performance of the National Symphony and the precise and crafted direction of Dan Saunders. The musical director coordinated pit and stage, forging a vibrant interpretation of the Rossini score. He drew an enthusiastic response from the orchestra, producing a full sound, polished and calibrated."
Nacion (San Jose, Costa Rica)

La Boheme (2009)
“This production is El Paso Opera’s season opener and if it’s any indication of what’s to come this year, then the El Paso community is in for a rousing and thrilling season filled with remarkable talent and a marvelous time at the theater.
The Monitor Online

“a performer with clockwork consistency….. a whiz-bang conductor!”
El Paso Inc.

The Marriage of Figaro (2007)
" Dan Saunders conducted with meticulous attention to orchestral detail...sheer delight was what this Figaro delivered."
The Washington Post

" Dan Saunders effectively coordinated pit and stage, allowing the work to breathe and giggle. His vitality and control resulted in a perfect merger of all facets of the evening."
Opera Canada

" The Virginia Symphony, conducted by Dan Saunders, supported the stage with crystalline accuracy, lively tempos and sensitive dynamics. The delightful overture started the evening with a whispered scurrying that exploded into a wall of sound that foreshadowed the secret and boisterous passions to come."
PortFolio Weekly

La Boheme (2005)
" The sensitive conducting of Dan Saunders was key to the production's success."
The Washington Post

" Conductor Dan Saunders led a masterful performance of Puccini's complex, emotional music. During Saunders years and conducting opportunities with Virginia Opera he has grown ... (in skill and confidence); this Bohème shows his maturity."
PortFolio Weekly

" The strength of La Bohème (is that) the conductor sees the work as an integrated whole and presents it that way. And this is what Dan Saunders does, in his best conducting to date for this top-notch company."
lnfodad Reviews of Music

The Magic Flute (2004)
" Conductor Dan Saunders led a superb reading of the opera. This was first-rate music-making, supportive of the singers, fully cognizant of the range of emotions and colors in the opera, yet in balance with the stage. The Virginia Symphony musicians rewarded Saunders with a brilliant performance of the familiar overture."
The Virginian-Pilot

Die Fledermaus (2003)
" Conductor Dan Saunders showed mastery in his handling of the score, which is trickier than it might seem to the casual listener."
The Washington Post

The Mikado (2002)
" Musically, the show was beautifully performed by the singers, but the real surprise was the acuity and vigor of the orchestra, conducted by Dan Saunders"
The Washington Post

" It was clear from the first notes of the overture that conductor Dan Saunders was firmly in charge. The orchestra's performance was first rate-clean, precise and lively...Musically, this was a more subtle and stylish rendition than usual."
The Virginian Pilot

Barber of Seville (2001)
" Conductor Dan Saunders set a sprightly pace for the show ... one gracefully shaped phrase followed another in the lovely ensemble sound. "
Port Folio Weekly

West Side Story (1999)
" Conductor Dan Saunders' account of the Bernstein score was delightfully edgy, reminding the listener of what the original West Side Story fuss was all about."
The Washington Post

" Saunders...coaxed a vibrant performance from his orchestra."
The Virginian-Pilot





		L'Italiana in Algeri (2010) "…the highest artistic merit corresponded to the superior performance of the National Symphony and the precise and crafted direction of Dan Saunders. The musical director coordinated pit and stage, forging a vibrant interpretation of the Rossini score. He drew an enthusiastic response from the orchestra, producing a full sound, polished and calibrated." Nacion (San Jose, Costa Rica) La Boheme (2009) “This production is El Paso Opera’s season opener and if it’s any indication of what’s to come this year, then the El Paso community is in for a rousing and thrilling season filled with remarkable talent and a marvelous time at the theater. The Monitor Online “a performer with clockwork consistency….. a whiz-bang conductor!” El Paso Inc. The Marriage of Figaro (2007) " Dan Saunders conducted with meticulous attention to orchestral detail...sheer delight was what this Figaro delivered." The Washington Post " Dan Saunders effectively coordinated pit and stage, allowing the work to breathe and giggle. His vitality and control resulted in a perfect merger of all facets of the evening." Opera Canada " The Virginia Symphony, conducted by Dan Saunders, supported the stage with crystalline accuracy, lively tempos and sensitive dynamics. The delightful overture started the evening with a whispered scurrying that exploded into a wall of sound that foreshadowed the secret and boisterous passions to come." PortFolio Weekly La Boheme (2005) " The sensitive conducting of Dan Saunders was key to the production's success." The Washington Post " Conductor Dan Saunders led a masterful performance of Puccini's complex, emotional music. During Saunders years and conducting opportunities with Virginia Opera he has grown ... (in skill and confidence); this Bohème shows his maturity." PortFolio Weekly " The strength of La Bohème (is that) the conductor sees the work as an integrated whole and presents it that way. And this is what Dan Saunders does, in his best conducting to date for this top-notch company." lnfodad Reviews of Music The Magic Flute (2004) " Conductor Dan Saunders led a superb reading of the opera. This was first-rate music-making, supportive of the singers, fully cognizant of the range of emotions and colors in the opera, yet in balance with the stage. The Virginia Symphony musicians rewarded Saunders with a brilliant performance of the familiar overture." The Virginian-Pilot Die Fledermaus (2003) " Conductor Dan Saunders showed mastery in his handling of the score, which is trickier than it might seem to the casual listener." The Washington Post The Mikado (2002) " Musically, the show was beautifully performed by the singers, but the real surprise was the acuity and vigor of the orchestra, conducted by Dan Saunders" The Washington Post " It was clear from the first notes of the overture that conductor Dan Saunders was firmly in charge. The orchestra's performance was first rate-clean, precise and lively...Musically, this was a more subtle and stylish rendition than usual." The Virginian Pilot Barber of Seville (2001) " Conductor Dan Saunders set a sprightly pace for the show ... one gracefully shaped phrase followed another in the lovely ensemble sound. " Port Folio Weekly West Side Story (1999) " Conductor Dan Saunders' account of the Bernstein score was delightfully edgy, reminding the listener of what the original West Side Story fuss was all about." The Washington Post " Saunders...coaxed a vibrant performance from his orchestra." The Virginian-Pilot