In Sunday’s (1/23) Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), Jon W. Sparks writes, “In more ways than one, Mei-Ann Chen has brought invigorating change to the Memphis Symphony Orchestra as its new music director. Since taking over last year, her concerts have been lively affairs, her embrace of the organization’s outreach to the community impassioned and her love for young people unmistakable. After all, she hired one as assistant conductor. Stilian Kirov, who turns 27 on Monday, took the job last September. The Bulgarian-born conductor is serving as music director of the Memphis Youth Symphony program and is also handling several of the MSO’s concerts, including this year’s Sunset Symphony. … What was probably his first big impression to Memphians was directing concertgoers at November’s Masterworks concert celebrating Spanish and Latin American composers. … Wearing an enormous sombrero and exuding energy, Kirov made the audience-participation experiment a success and combined some of the things he loves to do: make music, ham it up a bit and engage the audience. … For Kirov, the attraction of Memphis is that, ‘It’s the city of music—it’s known as having some of the most distinguished musicians born here.’ ”
Posted January 26, 2011
