Critical Acclaim for New York Festival of Song
This Season
"… extravagant songs, vividly rendered …"
—The New York Times
"NYFOS recitals are exactly what a musical evening should be -- full of wonder, beauty and an intense sense of discovery. And, equally important, a source of great hope for the future of classical music."
—New York Daily News
"… Subtly sumptuous … there were moments that haunted you the entire evening like a ghostly shadow stalking your every footstep. This was simply a beautiful concert that was thoughtfully planned and meticulously executed to perfection. … Emcee for the evening, Steven Blier, and his long-time partner and producer, Michael Barrett, accompanied the singers with well-seasoned fingers that gracefully played the ivories with expert precision and expressiveness … Their strong support at the keyboard and witty humor at the microphone made the evening zip by ... The knowledge this pair imbues upon the audience during the course of an evening is remarkable and thoroughly enjoyable. Music teachers everywhere should take notes and learn how to make class time fun again.”
—BlogCritics.com
From Previous Seasons
"How many concerts have the narrative power of exciting theater? How many concerts offer such a rich sense of discovering new and vital music? This is what we want all concerts to be, though we know it rarely happens.” —New York Daily News
"Everything that a song recital can achieve, in terms of musical revelation, vocal excellence and audience engagement, was exemplified at the Kenndy Center Terrace Theater on Friday night when the Vocal Arts Society presented the New York Festival of Song's Fugitives."
—The Washington Post
"The poignant ache of numerous songs accumulated throughout, abetted by the strong, stylish singing. … In sum, the [“Fugitives”] concert was an unqualified success; I can recall many Festival of Song programs as illuminating and entertaining, but none so profoundly moving.”
—The New York Times
"New York Festival of Song reinvented the song recital with daring and dramatic programming."
—The New Yorker
“… NYFOS celebrates over 20 years of introducing artists and audience members to terrific songs in evenings that can feel like dream dinner parties — the kind where a group of fascinating strangers come together to have wonderfully unexpected conversations.
—Opera America
“What Mr. Blier’s concert proved—confirmed—was that the world of song is rich, and fascinating, and comforting …” —The New York Sun
“… there was no amplification; just the firsthand glory of music and the human voice … it took listeners right into the heart of what these gifted songwriters were really about. When the expected encore ended, it was quite clear that the audience would have relished several additional numbers.… It doesn't get much better than this!”
—Musicals101.com
“Every detail was designed to give the evening seamless coherence, and you left the hall feeling enriched, enlightened, entertained and grateful for the experience.
—The Washington Post
“The festival may be the most reliably excellent musical organization in New York. What orchestra, ensemble or opera company can make every show so special …?
—Newsday
“Best Classical programming in New York.”
—New York Magazine
“What can make you smile for two hours? … the New York Festival of Song.”
—talkinbroadway.com