Press

In the filled-to-the-brim pit, John Baril impressively navigated his superb orchestra through Britten’s colorful score, allowing his players to shine brightly in those extended interludes.
— Marc Shulgold Opera News November, 2019

(Under) John Baril the playing was characteristically polished…this brought out the orchestra’s strongest qualities, the ability to adapt to [Jane] Gilbert’s every rhythmic fluctuation…
— Denver Post July, 2002

John Baril’s work on the podium suggests that…especially worthy of praise is the careful preparation of this opening production of the 2002 season.
— Boulder Daily Camera July, 2002

Conductor John Baril managed a fresh and sweet approach to this oh-so-popular score as his orchestra played fine, the chorus of company singers was stupendous and principals sang well enough.
— Weekly Peak – KCME-FM 88.7 July, 2002

[Under John Baril’s direction] the festival orchestra does exemplary work with Bizet’s memorable score…
— ColoradoDrama.com July, 2002

The orchestra played beautifully under the direction of Maestro John Baril, especially the intermezzo in Cavalleria Rusticana.
— Delaware Online December, 2012

The evening’s Cendrillon was quite delightful under John Baril’s skilled baton…
— Opera News September, 2007

John Baril leads the festival orchestra in resonant harmony with Jules Massenet’s lovely romantic melodies.
— ColoradoDrama.com August, 2007

John Baril, the company’s music director, does his usual fine job as conductor.
— Denver Post July, 2007

Massenet’s score – wow, I never thought the orchestra pit in CC could do it, but this had all the color and diversity one could wish for and John Baril knew what to do with it!
— Glenn Giffin Glenn Giffin July, 2007

Here’s a word you don’t see often under my byline: perfection. The pacing of this first-rate production never lagged, thanks in large measure to the steady conducting of John Baril, who presided over a shimmering orchestral accompaniment.
— Rocky Mountain News July, 2007

The total of these many individual assignments is happily balanced by Massenet’s super-sensuous score, and on the podium CCO music director John Baril went straight for the heart of this lush and lavish music.
— Boulder Daily Camera July, 2007

The cast blended impeccably in those dreamy ensembles. Company music director John Baril kept the pace brisk, providing a sympathetic accompaniment from his fine pit orchestra (recitatives were accompanied on piano).
— Marc Shulgold Opera News October, 2017

John Baril conducted Mozart’s glorious music with sensitivity.
— Peter Alexander Boulder Weekly July, 2017

Conductor and CCO music director John Baril leads a robust orchestra in the pit and always accompanies the singers in a way that puts them in their best light.
— Kelly Dean Hansen Boulder Daily Camera July, 2017

Music Director John Baril and Central City’s fine pit orchestra vividly realized Heggie’s sweeping, richly orchestrated score, tinged at times with evocative spirituals and popular music.
— Kyle MacMillan Opera News September, 2014

John Baril conducted with a sure hand, expertly drawing out the colour and constantly shifting dynamics of Heggie’s score.
— Marc Shulgold Opera September, 2014

Heggie’s score speaks volumes on its own, employing strains of Gershwin-reminiscent jazz and blues, or angular lines punctuating speech-like declamation. It was all expertly delivered with effective momentum under the baton of John Baril. Each act culminated in a multi-layered wall of sound (made more palpable in the intimate Central City Opera House) which was enough to rock every cell of my being.
— Carol Perry OPERAGASM July, 2014

Much of the musical interest is in the orchestra, which moves along underlining dramatic sections and offering snatches of jazz rhythm and perhaps zydeco, which itself is an integration of blues, jazz, waltz and other forms. John Baril conducted an obviouly committed orchestra with an intensity that drove the story on.
— Charles Jernigan Jernigan’s Opera Journal/Opera Pronto July, 2014

No one was able to sit comfortably back in their seat, avoiding the searing energy of this opening night performance. It started with the John Baril-lead orchestra. Heggie composed an ever-present instrumental fabric, kind of a sonic canvas, to place his drama upon. He used traditional and modern harmonic language to match the drama as it unfolded – all accomplished without any sense of contrivance. The orchestra accepted its role with attentiveness and intensity.
— David Sckolnik Colorado Springs Gazette July, 2014