Critical Acclaim

Fort Worth Opera - Lucia di Lammermoor

Steven White's passionate pacing squeezed every drop of excitement and  pathos from the score.

                                                                William V. Madison, Opera News

The opera provided a fine showecase for the Fort Worth Opera Chorus, which sang with gusto and dramatic nuance, and for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, which played with elegance under the baton of Steven White.

                                                                             Chris Shull, Opera Now

Pittsburgh Opera – L’Elisir d’Amore

The excellent cast and orchestra gave a stylish musical performance led by Steven White.

                          Mark Kanny, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, November 12, 2007

• Michigan Opera Theatre – Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail

  “Under the baton of conductor Steven White, the orchestra sounded appropriately light, lively and passionate.”

  -Mary A. Wischuse, Opera News, August, 2007

• Baltimore Opera – L’assedio Di Corinto

  Steven White conducted exceptionally well: Rossini created some wonderful music here, mostly dark but occasionally triumphant, and White paced it to perfection and let the singers carry the day, as they should in bel canto.

  -Mark J. Estren, The Washington Post, October 2006

• Steven White, who coaxed mostly smooth playing from the orchestra, conducted with a sure sense of melodic contour and rhythmic flexibility. He also prepared the edition of the score, borrowing a little from Maometto II, which was the precursor to The Siege of Corinth, and an aria for Futral from a much earlier Rossini opera. By and large, the result was a musically cohesive version of an opera that deserves to be better known - and to receive the benefit of more theatrical fire.

  -Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun, October 2006

• New York City Opera – La Bohème

  “The always-reliable City Opera orchestra played their hearts out in this score, which they do on a regular basis. I was very appreciative of conductor Steven White's decision to let this music breathe. It was the undercurrent that made Musetta's waltz (and its swelling reprise) so moving. Rather than treat this music like a cliche, Maestro White played it as if we were hearing it for the first time.”

  -Fred Kirshnit, New York Sun, March 14, 2006

• Baltimore Opera – La Sonnambula

  “White kept stage and pit in synch and had the orchestra playing with a stylish touch and applied telling fire to the most dramatic moments of the score.”

  -Opera News, February 2006

• “The orchestra played firmly for Steven White, whose assured conducting revealed obvious affection for Bellini’s score.”

  -Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun, November 14, 2005

• “Thankfully, conductor Steven White kept everything on track, continually eliciting colorful music and artistry.”

  -Daniel Ginsberg, Washington Post, November 2005

• Baltimore Opera – I Puritani

  “So it was during Saturday night's opener of the Baltimore production, thanks in large measure to the starry efforts of soprano Elizabeth Futral and tenor Gregory Kunde in the lead roles, and the uncommonly sensitive guidance of conductor Steven White…. Except for a sadly wayward horn soloist, the orchestra was a full-fledged partner in the performance, which White shaped with an incisive appreciation for drama-enhancing nuance and rhythmic flexibility. Too bad he had to sanction some time-saving cuts in the score. This was one night when I would have gladly heard every note.”

  -Baltimore Sun, November 2004

• Wolf Trap Opera – L'elisir D'amore

  “On July 28, Steven White conducted a snappy performance that didn't slight the score's sweet moments or miss opportunities to apply some gentle rubato.“

  -Opera News Online, October 2004

• “On Wednesday night, Steven White, who will lead Baltimore Opera's performances of Bellini's I Puritani in November, conducted a snappy performance that didn't slight the score's sweet moments.”

  -Baltimore Sun, July 2004

• Sarasota Opera – Werther

  “Steven White led a performance that confirmed impressions of Sarasota's orchestra as an excellent pit band and deftly balanced Massenet's delicate orchestra textures against his stormier outbursts.”

  -Financial Times, March 2004

• “The orchestra, conducted by Steven White, gave superb support throughout the evening.”

  -Sarasota Arts & Living, March 2004

• “As conducted by Steven White, the opera moved smoothly from the expository first act through to an emotionally charged final death scene...the ensuing result in this Sarasota Opera production is gripping.”

  -Venice Gondolier Sun, March 2004

• Opera Colorado – La Traviata

  "Conductor Steven White does a first-rate job in the pit, superbly pacing this production and animating the ensemble scenes. His skills at accompaniment are especially evident in this aria (Ah fors'è lui...Sempre libera), as he allows Futral to minutely shape the aria in her own way and makes sure the orchestra is right with her every step of the way."

  -Denver Post, May, 2004

• "Also worthy of praise: the wonderful playing of the Colorado Symphony, led with purpose and precision by Steven White, who was in perfect step with the complex performance by Futral. But that's to be expected, since the two are married. Yes, they do make beautiful music together."

  -Rocky Mountain News, May 2004

• In his Opera Colorado debut, conductor Steven White displays a thorough understanding of Verdi's interweaving of themes. He extracts especially sensitive playing in the prelude to the final act.

  -The Daily Camera, May 2004

• Arizona Opera – Don Pasquale

  "While the singers all contributed to the success of the production, Donizetti's lush bel canto music, conducted tightly and with feeling by Steven White, was the real star of the show."

  -Arizona Daily Star, January 2004

• Nashville Opera – Pagliacci

  “But Forbis was ably supported on all sides beginning in the pit, where Steven White led members of the Nashville Symphony. White kept things moving but didn’t miss the chance to savor an especially voluptuous phrase.”

  -The Tennessean, November 2003

• Arizona Opera – Tosca

  “Conductor Steven White’s orchestra played with lusty fervor but the conductor was always careful to let the singers shine.”

  -Azproduction.com, April 2003

• Vancouver Opera – La Fille Du Régiment

  “Thanks heavens for the adept conducting of Steven White and the finely calibrated responses of the orchestra, especially the violins as they accompanied Futral, and the drummers.”

  -Vancouver Courier, November 2002

• “The conductor Steven White has the orchestra playing ebulliently…”

  -Vancouver Sun, November 2002

• Roanoke Opera – Aida

  “The redoubtable Steven White coaxed a tremendous performance from the orchestra, and the Opera Roanoke chorus maintained the high level of competence. It’s demonstrated in recent productions.”

  -The Roanoke Times, April 2002

• Opera Birmingham – Kristine Jepson Concert

  “The orchestral selections led by Opera Birmingham principal conductor Steven White complemented Ms. Jepson’s nicely. The overture to Berlioz’s Benvenuto Cellini erupted in the best tradition of this flamboyant, unpredictable composer. The Bachanale from Saint-Saens’ Samson et Delilah built to a hair-raising conclusion. Conversely, White led a fragrant, nicely understated account of the familiar Barcarolle from Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann”

  -The Birmingham News, January 2001

• Syracuse Opera – Les Contes D’hoffmann

  “Conductor Steven White and a very capable Syracuse Symphony Orchestra were the final touches in a truly memorable performance.”

  -The Post-Standard, May 2001

• Syracuse Opera – Les Contes D’hoffmann

  “In his company debut, Steven White led a well-paced performance that not only gave the singers enough leeway to make their statements but also urged the action onward. The chorus was well-directed and well-rehearsed, blending together quite cleanly. In the pit, members of the Syracuse Symphony reveled in the score’s textural clarity, which was designed to allow every Syllable to be heard without ever letting down moments of high drama.”

  -Classical Singer, September 2001

• Roanoke Opera – Carmen

  “Conductor Steven White led a fine orchestra that was big enough to do justice to Bizet’s lush score”

  -The Roanoke Times, May 2001

• New Orleans Opera – Lucia Di Lammermoor

  “In the pit, conductor Steven White made a pleasing local debut leading the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. After a somewhat slow start, he moved the score with appropriate drive and bounce, paying particular attention to the detailing and color”

  -The Times-Picayune, November, 2000

• Vancouver Opera – Lucia Di Lammermoor

  “Conductor Steven White elicited a warm, rich sound from the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, at times giving a performance of white-heat intensity, particularly in the sextet and final scene.”

  -The Review, October 2000

• “In the pit, conductor Steven White – himself a former singer, and Futral’s husband – kept the VO Orchestra on its toes, and supplied the cast with sensitively colored accompaniments”

  -The Georgia Straight, October 2000

• “Once past the stagey first act, conductor Steven White kept the orchestra in near perfect sync. The flute accompaniment to Futral’s mad scene the harp that precedes her entrance, and the cello that introduces Edgardo’s last aria were specially fine.”

  -Vancouver Courier, October 2000