Press

“Finally, a fitting tribute to conductor John Baril is in order. The CCO Music Director marks his 30 years with the company. In those years, he has always led a highly professional and polished pit orchestra, shown extreme sensitivity to his singers, and served as the musical glue that binds every production he leads. It is to Baril’s credit that the overture made the impact it did even with the pantomime. He engaged with the audience while leading the Radetzky March, in the set change between Act II and the shorter Act III. As usual, his awesome orchestral players, guided by his assured hand, supported the singers, particularly in the often-difficult transitions between dialogue and singing. Baril is a treasure, the heart of CCO, and his three decades are justly highlighted by the company in this season’s return to its venue and its roots, showcased in this joyous production of Die Fledermaus.”

– Kelly Dean Hansen, Ph.D.,  Weekly Call Register, July 2022

Street Scene

It takes a stage director with the mind and heart of Michael Ehrman and a conductor with the intelligence and insight of John Baril to bring this off.
— Daily Camera July, 1999

Susannah

…the orchestra performs valiantly under the baton of John Baril.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette March, 1998

The Ballad of Baby Doe

Opera Theater of Pittsburgh’s production of The Ballad of Baby Doe, directed by Michael Ehrman and conducted by John Baril is one of [Pittsburgh’s] ten best classical music performances of 1998.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette December, 1998

The Ballad of Baby Doe

Conductor John Baril’s secure, energetic baton work had precision and rhythmic drive.
— Opera News August, 1997

The Pearl Fishers

The Toledo Symphony, lead by John Baril in his conducting debut with the Toledo Opera, played with mesmerizing sensitivity, creating a perfectly-balanced soundscape of aural beauty. Special mention should be made of harpist Nancy Lendrim’s solo work gracefully underpinning a number of arias.
— Wayne F. Anthony The Toledo Blade October, 2017

The Scarlet Letter

This chorus, which serves, as both the opera’s antagonist and its soul, is magnificent, and its preparation is the swan song for John Baril, Opera Colorado’s longtime chorus master. Baril, whose contribution has always been one of the steadiest, most reliable, and excellent aspects of company productions, has resigned the position to pursue other opportunities.
— Kelly Dean Hansen Boulder Daily Camera May, 2016

Three Decembers

John Baril and the festival orchestra are equally at home with Heggie’s melodies, patter, and atmospherics.
— ColoradoDrama.com July, 2010

Three Decembers

Conductor John Baril, who shows a solid feel for Heggie’s musical aesthetic, provided able leadership in the pit.
— Denver Post July, 2010

Tosca

Central City Opera music director John Baril provided able support in the pit and brought out the many beauties of this score.
— Kyle MacMillan Opera News September, 2016

Tosca

Reflecting the modern setting, CCO Music Director John Baril took a brisk approach to the score without detracting from Puccini’s long, lyrical lines.
— Sabine Kortals The Denver Post August, 2016

Tosca

Finally I will mention that the orchestra was great and the conductor John Baril excellent. His pacing and his ability to maintain coordination with the stage was almost uncanny.
— S. Blake Duncan blakesoperablog August, 2016

Tosca

Noticeably effective is musical conductor John Baril’s ability to sync the music with the singers. There is not a moment of discord in the entire opera.
— Claudia Carbone BlastingNewsTV July, 2016

Tosca

John Baril conducted a stylistically accurate, theatrically vivid account of this thrice-familiar score. The orchestra responded with real fire and commitment. The divisi ‘celli were especially vibrant and pulsing with emotion. The clarinet solo work was impeccably haunting. Whether playing soli or tutti, Maestro Baril inspired these fine players to thrilling results. He did on occasion allow soloists to indulge in some held high notes that were long enough to give Corelli pause, but that is a minor consideration. His reading had veristic sweep as well as minute detail.
— James Sohre Opera Today July, 2016

Tosca

Baril, the CCO music director, typically conducts each season’s “standard” opera, and his artistry cannot be underestimated. His sensitive and intelligent musicianship, and that of his orchestra, are absolutely vital here. Puccini’s habit of doubling vocal lines where singers routinely stretch out the rhythm is just one challenging aspect of the score which Baril has totally mastered.
— Kelly Dean Hansen Boulder Daily Camera July, 2016

Tosca

Conductor John Baril brings out the contrasting sounds of the Puccini score – although the orchestra did not have as many stands as Puccini would have demanded, they produce a great sound.
— Delaware Arts Info May, 2010

Tosca

…rich orchestral playing led by John Baril made for a memorable production.
— Colorado Independent July, 1998
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Street Scene

It takes a stage director with the mind and heart of Michael Ehrman and a conductor with the intelligence and insight of John Baril to bring this off.
— Daily Camera July, 1999

Susannah

…the orchestra performs valiantly under the baton of John Baril.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette March, 1998

The Ballad of Baby Doe

Opera Theater of Pittsburgh’s production of The Ballad of Baby Doe, directed by Michael Ehrman and conducted by John Baril is one of [Pittsburgh’s] ten best classical music performances of 1998.
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette December, 1998

The Ballad of Baby Doe

Conductor John Baril’s secure, energetic baton work had precision and rhythmic drive.
— Opera News August, 1997

The Pearl Fishers

The Toledo Symphony, lead by John Baril in his conducting debut with the Toledo Opera, played with mesmerizing sensitivity, creating a perfectly-balanced soundscape of aural beauty. Special mention should be made of harpist Nancy Lendrim’s solo work gracefully underpinning a number of arias.
— Wayne F. Anthony The Toledo Blade October, 2017

The Scarlet Letter

This chorus, which serves, as both the opera’s antagonist and its soul, is magnificent, and its preparation is the swan song for John Baril, Opera Colorado’s longtime chorus master. Baril, whose contribution has always been one of the steadiest, most reliable, and excellent aspects of company productions, has resigned the position to pursue other opportunities.
— Kelly Dean Hansen Boulder Daily Camera May, 2016

Three Decembers

John Baril and the festival orchestra are equally at home with Heggie’s melodies, patter, and atmospherics.
— ColoradoDrama.com July, 2010

Three Decembers

Conductor John Baril, who shows a solid feel for Heggie’s musical aesthetic, provided able leadership in the pit.
— Denver Post July, 2010

Tosca

Central City Opera music director John Baril provided able support in the pit and brought out the many beauties of this score.
— Kyle MacMillan Opera News September, 2016

Tosca

Reflecting the modern setting, CCO Music Director John Baril took a brisk approach to the score without detracting from Puccini’s long, lyrical lines.
— Sabine Kortals The Denver Post August, 2016

Tosca

Finally I will mention that the orchestra was great and the conductor John Baril excellent. His pacing and his ability to maintain coordination with the stage was almost uncanny.
— S. Blake Duncan blakesoperablog August, 2016

Tosca

Noticeably effective is musical conductor John Baril’s ability to sync the music with the singers. There is not a moment of discord in the entire opera.
— Claudia Carbone BlastingNewsTV July, 2016

Tosca

John Baril conducted a stylistically accurate, theatrically vivid account of this thrice-familiar score. The orchestra responded with real fire and commitment. The divisi ‘celli were especially vibrant and pulsing with emotion. The clarinet solo work was impeccably haunting. Whether playing soli or tutti, Maestro Baril inspired these fine players to thrilling results. He did on occasion allow soloists to indulge in some held high notes that were long enough to give Corelli pause, but that is a minor consideration. His reading had veristic sweep as well as minute detail.
— James Sohre Opera Today July, 2016

Tosca

Baril, the CCO music director, typically conducts each season’s “standard” opera, and his artistry cannot be underestimated. His sensitive and intelligent musicianship, and that of his orchestra, are absolutely vital here. Puccini’s habit of doubling vocal lines where singers routinely stretch out the rhythm is just one challenging aspect of the score which Baril has totally mastered.
— Kelly Dean Hansen Boulder Daily Camera July, 2016

Tosca

Conductor John Baril brings out the contrasting sounds of the Puccini score – although the orchestra did not have as many stands as Puccini would have demanded, they produce a great sound.
— Delaware Arts Info May, 2010

Tosca

…rich orchestral playing led by John Baril made for a memorable production.
— Colorado Independent July, 1998
1 … 4 5 6