Natalia Ponomarchuk “models the interior of the music with her bare hands” in debut with the Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra
On the 8 December, lauded conductor Natalia Ponomarchuk made her highly anticipated debut with the Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra at the Wunderino Arena in Germany. The programme featured Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2 (The Age of Anxiety) with pianist Herbert Schuch and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 (Pastorale). Natalia received wide admiration for her captivating performance.
Christian Strehk from Kieler Nachrichten wrote:
“…guest conductor Natalia Ponomarchuk, who commutes between Kiev and London, captivates the audience with a grand gesture. Almost everywhere, the rhythmic barbs and urgent warnings hit the spot. Where it hurts.”
(Beethoven’s Pastorale Symphony) “…Ponomarchuk scores points here too and receives great recognition from the orchestra and the audience. Like a mime, she intervenes in the musical action with her bare hands and the glowing cuffs of her rolled-up tailcoat sleeves.
Her Beethoven is extremely flexible in terms of internal tempos and colors. The Scene by the Brook flows along with delicate silk, with woodwind solos served with delight. The Merry Gathering of the Country People sounds exuberantly cheeky, and the thunderstorm develops elemental power. When ‘grateful feelings’ blossom in the finale, there is probably hope that nature will survive unreasonable humanity.”