Press

The Standard UK

The Finnish-Ukrainian conductor has been fighting the cultural battle since the war began. She talks about driving supplies to the border, keeping the country’s music alive, and her new album

Anyone who underestimates Stasevska’s worth is making a big mistake. My prediction? If the powers behind one of those big bands have even a modicum of sense, she’ll be running one of them by the time she’s 50.

Datebook SF

Guest conductor Dalia Stasevska and pianist Seong-Jin Cho perform with the San Francisco Symphony in San Francisco, Calif.

Stasevska has that intangible quality essential to any conductor — the ability to lead, cajole, persuade and inspire a collection of independent-minded musicians to pull together in the same direction

The Guardian

There’s such a contrast between light and dark in Ukraine. Music is to me the light. It makes me believe in good – and in humanity.

The Times UK

Interested in starting the new year with a new experience? How about listening for the first time to the music of Helvi Leiviska, Finland’s primary female composer of the 20th century?

It’s clear that personable Dalia Stasevska (known here as the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s principal guest conductor) feels utterly at home with music that fully acknowledges the Finnish giant Sibelius but still projects a satisfying and striking personal voice

The New York Times

Surveys of works by Helvi Leiviska and Louis Wayne Ballard, as well as a restored version of “Cavalleria Rusticana,” are among the highlights.

Dalia Stasevska and the Lahti Symphony give everything their all.

The New York Times

These eight performers and artists broke away from the pack this year, delighting us and making us think.

Broadway World

Stasevska demonstrated her affinity for her native music, not to mention a comprehensive knowledge of the score, with a clear understanding of the subtleties set forth in the opening. Her long-armed, broad strokes, rhythmic body gestures and heartfelt facial expressions drew both subtlety and splendor from the orchestra’s first-class wind and brass sections…

Cincinnati Business Courier

Exactly a year after making her debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, guest conductor Dalia Stasevska made a welcome return to Music Hall.

“She is the real deal. The warmth she communicated in her remarks was also evident in Dvorak’s “Largo”… It made me wish that the entire symphony had been programmed… Stasevska was a dynamic presence as she led with momentum to its majestic summit and the six chords that punctuate the work. Listeners were instantly on their feet.”

Seen and Heard International

“Last night’s Seattle Symphony performance drew the largest crowd I’ve seen so far this season. Which meant a flow of positive energy and attentiveness was already surging through Benaroya — even before Dalia Stasevska ascended the podium for her return visit to conduct the SSO in a lively program of new music combined with a classic by her compatriot Sibelius.”

KING FM

Dalia Stasevska talks about her return as a guest conductor at the Seattle Symphony this weekend along with her husband Lauri Porra who composed music in the program

Podbean

Acclaimed Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska opened this year’s prestigious First Night of the Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall... She tells Helen she considered giving up her career in music for a while to concentrate on volunteering full-time but has decided to use her platform to keep people informed of the ongoing atrocities and to ensure the world doesn’t tire of the plight of Ukrainian people.

The Spectator

Plus: splendour from Dalia Stasevska and the BBC Symphony Orchestra

Stasevska’s slashing baton the brass fanfares achieved a machine-gun precision that was gleefully matched by the strings... It can’t be long before she climbs the ladder.

The Guardian

★★★★☆ A programme ranging from Sibelius, Grieg and Britten to a world premiere by Ukrainian Bohdana Frolyak opened the Proms with conductor Dalia Stasevska engaged and outgoing.

Conductor Dalia Stasevska had a lot to do with it too. The evening’s engaged and outgoing programming reflected her press-on musical personality - she is not a conductor who lingers over the score, but given her own Ukrainian origins and her Finnish citizenship, her defiance in the choice of works and the performances was hard to miss, and the impact unerring.

The Times

★★★★☆

Stasevska’s flamboyant interpretation of Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra: two masterpieces that have no agenda except a celebration of music itself.

The Arts Desk

★★★★☆ A blazing launch to the biggest music festival in the world

Stasevska – who over the last year has driven lorries from Finland to Ukraine with supplies for the war-torn nation – was in every sense the concert’s star, amplifying the sense of bravery and defiance that made it a memorable first night.

inews

★★★★★ This concert was heart-warming for its engagement with today’s burning issues, while simultaneously celebrating the timeless joy of music-making

Dalia Stasevska, the BBCSO’s principal guest conductor, is a treasure. Born in Kyiv, raised in Finland, at present heavily pregnant and, in her spare time, busy driving lorries of aid to Ukraine, she has oodles of energy and charisma; her down-to-earth warmth and her delight in the music seems to bring out the best in everybody, the audience included.

The Telegraph

★★★★☆ Opening night evokes pure joy whilst acknowledging turbulent times and the fight for freedom

... she had more reason to feel the music’s message than anyone else in that hall, and she led a blazing performance of the choral version of the piece [Finlandia].

The Times UK

When the acclaimed Ukrainian-Finnish conductor is not leading top orchestras she’s driving aid lorries to Lviv, she tells Neil Fisher

"There is a core of steel about Stasevska… and it doesn’t sound as if defeat is on the table."

Financial Times

Dalia Stasevska conducts Britten’s filigree score with bold colours and tougher accents than many, giving this revival its own self-confident air. Surely against all the odds, the magic lives on.

The Guardian

A programme of Sibelius, Andrea Tarrodi and Beethoven – with soloists Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Benjamin Grosvenor and Hyeyoon Park – saw the Hallé on magnificent form, conducted with flair and grace

Segueing into the Sibelius without a pause was a daring juxtaposition, moving from an exotic paradise into the stark simplicity of a line rising from a Finnish horizon. Stasevska achieved it all with flair.

San Francisco Classical Voice

Stasevska extended the movement’s pauses between subjects into pools of contemplation of what had just been and what was to come.

The Berkeley Daily Planet

Dalia Stasevska made a forceful impression... A highly physical conductor, the results were undeniably strong.

KQED: NPR Morning Edition

KQED’s Ariana Proehl talks with conductor Dalia Stasevska.

SF Chronicle: Datebook

In her first San Francisco appearance, Stasevska left a formidable impression as a performer of eloquence and insight.

San Francisco Classical Voice

Dalia Stasevska is not your mother’s conductor. Indeed, as chief conductor of Finland’s Lahti Symphony Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra — in 2019, she became the youngest person, and first woman, to be awarded that title...

Violinist

The orchestra, under conductor Dalia Stasevska, sounded jubilant during its long interludes, accelerating forcefully into the cadenza, releasing Goosby to play in his own time.

ConcertoNet

Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska… mastery of the music is apparent with an interpretive vision that she is able to portray to the audience… Stasevska’s tempos were spirited… and dazzled… with a particularly noteworthy second movement, played with sweet lyricism.

Bachtrack

The conductor elegantly shaped the first movement with familiar tranquility, though she inserted details that stood out within the fabric of the piece…The Allegro molto finale was as hard charging as I’ve ever heard it, though not at the expense of precise dynamic control. Tension ratcheted up to the stirring release of the final crashing chords…after the final burst concluded, you felt as if you’d witnessed a lightning storm.

NBC 10 PHILADELPHIA

Dalia Stasevska brings an orchestra to life with a message of the toll that Russia’s war is having on the people of Ukraine. NBC10’s Randy Gyllenhaal shares her message.

WETA

I began by asking her how she “psychs” herself, achieves the level of confidence needed to lead the talented musicians of famous orchestras throughout the world.

I have no special tricks for preparing myself. I just come as I am, share the passion for music and hope it resonates with the musicians and audiences alike.

CBS Minessota

Derek James talks with Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska, who made her debut with the Minnesota Orchestra on Feb. 24th. The Ukrainian-born musician has been working to provide help and hope to those suffering amid the war overseas.

New Criterion

From Stasevska and the Philharmonic, the first movement of this symphony was very effective. It had a Classical skeleton, with little room for the blowsy... it was good to hear the Symphony No. 2—like meeting an old, loved friend.

BlogCritics

Right from the rumbling, ominous start, an animated Stasevska brought out the orchestra's manifold of colors... Altogether, I can’t recall hearing a more intelligent and fresh reading of Sibelius’ distinctive sense of time and unique musical language.

The New York Times

It was the kind of performance that, without trying to, had audience members roaring with applause after the first movement, then, at the end, immediately rising for a standing ovation — one of the most passionate I’ve heard at Geffen Hall this season.

The New York Times

Dalia Stasevska, who leads the New York Philharmonic this week, has raised money for and delivered supplies to Ukraine, where she was born.

I can’t save Ukraine by playing music, but I can use my mouth and speak out, and I can act,” she said. “We can’t just hide behind our virtues. There comes a time for action.

WDCB

WDCB’s Gary Zidek sits down with conductor Dalia Stasevska during her recent visit to Chicago.

WNYC

Finnish-Ukrainian conductor Dalia Stasevska has become one of the fastest rising stars in the classical world, and she'll be leading the New York Philharmonic in a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto as well as the world-premiere performance of Wang Lu's new composition "Surge." Stasevska joins us to discuss the performances, her career, and her activism surrounding the war in Ukraine. The Philharmonic will be playing from January 20-22

Splash Magazine

...there were two amazing women in charge of the orchestra, and again this work did its magic. With conductor Dalia Stasevska (in her debut with the CSO) and violinist Hillary Hahn (the reigning queen of the violin) each note was beautiful... it was thrilling to see these two women in action and powerful to watch bow and baton in choreography with one another.

PBS: WTTW

Dalia Stasevska has loved music since she was a child. It wasn’t until her introduction to classical music by a teacher when she was 12 years old that she realized she’d discovered a lifelong passion.

CBS News

Conducting orchestras is Dalia Stasevska's passion, but she frequently moves from the podium to the front lines of war in Ukraine – helping the war-torn country where she was born.

YLE

Sinfonia Lahti's Ukrainian-born chief conductor Dalia Stasevska speaks for Ukraine around the world. He demands more aid to the country, where the war has continued for more than nine months.

The New Classical FM

Dalia Stasevska, conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra presentation of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto & Pathétique, joined guest host Paul Thomas on Sunday Night at The TSO to discuss the upcoming show, coming to Roy Thomson Hall on Wednesday November 23rd. Tune into the full podcast HERE!

Cincinnati Business Courier

"A rising star... with her inventive and well-conducted program, it’s no surprise that she is turning heads around the world."

The Daily Telegraph

Following its autumn break after the Proms, the BBC Symphony Orchestra has come roaring back into action.

The Guardian

The BBC’s 100th birthday gift from its Symphony Orchestra was Iain Farrington’s jaunty tribute, plus a scientific curiosity, a noble Elgar and an edge-of-your seat Sibelius finale

Bachtrack

If there is one thing that Stasevska is particularly good at, it is the ability to release huge reservoirs of energy in an elemental work like Sibelius’ Symphony no. 1 in E minor.

The Times UK

Bernstein could crush presidents and professors, but the heyday of the ‘conductor as dictator’ is long gone...

Los Angeles Times

As principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Stasevska has already passed a trial by fire: She conducted the orchestra in the Last Night at the Proms in September 2020. A difficult enough assignment at any time, this raucous populist London tradition always ends with “Rule, Britannia!” and “Land of Hope and Glory” sung by a large chorus and 5,000 spectators.

Jackson Hole News & Guide

The Arts Desk

She was thrilling to watch and ignited the orchestra with sheer force of personality, making for a very exciting performance.

Bachtrack

This is a conductor who can elicit the finest nuances with her precise directing, the softest moments often preceding great sweeps of her arms as she gathers in all the musicians while equally precisely bringing out one or another group.

NY Times

The New York Times

"Their works landed with persuasive panache [...] aided by powerful but never overly brash conducting by Dalia Stasevska."

Musical America

Stasevska is an important talent. Throughout the program, her time-keeping was rock solid, her cues impeccable, her musical understanding and commitment to these pieces unwavering.

The New York Times

Their works landed with persuasive panache on Wednesday, aided by powerful but never overly brash conducting by Dalia Stasevska, also making her Philharmonic debut.

New York Classical Review

Stasevska led what might have been the finest performance this piece has ever had.

The Guardian

Stasevska’s pacing was masterly – a coiled spring of a performance to push the current uncertainties of the music world from our minds.

Classical Music

And to round off her relaxing summer, she will then return to Finland to conduct her first concert as the newly appointed chief conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra.

Classical-Music

Since July 2019, Dalia has been principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and has been named as chief conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra

Classical Source

By the end, laurels won, the packed audience hungry for more, she had the orchestra right behind her, flying triumphant. This was an auspicious Proms debut, expectant and adrenalin-charged.

The Telegraph UK

She has the real conductor’s gift of establishing pin-drop silence and total concentration in a hall filled with 5,000 people, and there’s a guilelessness and total sincerity in her conducting which is very winning.

The Guardian

Dalia is the youngest person – and the first woman – to be given a titled conducting position at the London-based orchestra.