Otello
Under John Baril, the orchestra gives a sprightly and stylish performance of Rossini’s score. Special credit goes to the sparkling woodwinds and horn players for their solo turns.
— Sharps and Flatirons, July, 2023
Otello
Maestro John Baril and the Festival Orchestra give full breath to Rossini’s epic score.
— Bob Bows, Colorado Theatre Reviews, July, 2023
Otello
The composer, who wrote his vocal parts in the florid bel canto style that dominated Italian opera in the early 19th Century, requires three first-rate tenors in major roles, a challenge for any company that is met triumphantly in CCO music director John Baril’s casting. Rossini’s demands on the orchestra are every bit as stringent as on his singers. The score is long and often thankless for the musicians, but Baril, who conducts, brings out their best, including prominent solos for principal horn Carolyn Kunicki and harpist Janet Harriman. This ambitious Otello is both a strong argument for the composer and an exemplar for the presentation of his works.
— Kelly Dean Hansen, Denver Hub Denver Post, August, 2023