Nordic Chamber Orchestra
September 2021
Conductor Damian Iorio created beautiful contrasts in both dynamics and atmosphere, and produced exceptionally sharp and detailed interplay in the orchestra.
Damian Iorio produces intense music from the orchestra … We also want to hear more from him.
Susanne Holmlund, Sundsvalls Tidning, 25/09/2021
Nordic Chamber Orchestra
October 2020
The guest conductor Damian Iorio nurtured the music with love in every wave and every breath.
Susanne Holmlund, Sundsvalls Tidning, 04/10/2020
CD Review – Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana
Malipiero – Symphonic Orchestral Works, Naxos
February 2020
Here we have an orchestra that are outstanding champions of the composer and convincingly conducted by the British/Italian, Damian Iorio; the Swiss recording is excellent, and I hope a Malipiero symphony cycle follows.
David Denton, David’s Review Corner, 16/02/2020
Welsh National Opera
The Magic Flute – Wales Millennium Centre
February – April 2019
There was plenty to admire in the orchestral playing, with a lithe, crisp sound providing plenty of punchiness in perfect balance with the singers.
Rohan Shotton, Bachtrack, 19/02/2019
The very fine skill of guest conductor Damian Iorio is more than confirmed as he raises his baton to take us into Mozart’s wonderful overture and the magic begins. The playing of the Welsh National Opera orchestra is pretty near perfect.
Michael Kelligan, Theatre in Wales, 16/02/2019
Damian Iorio’s conducting…has energy and vitality
Stephen Walsh, The Arts Desk, 16/02/2019
Opéra de Paris
Boris Godunov – Opera Bastille
July 2018
Damian Iorio led a hair-raising performance from the Paris Opera’s orchestra and chorus.
Paul du Quenoy, New Criterion, 18/07/2018
Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, Spain
October 2018
….. the key to yesterday’s success must mostly be attributed to the work of the conductor. Damian Iorio, who has already shown us his value in previous appearances, did a thorough and conscientious job and everything worked perfectly. The security of his leadership gave a necessary calmness to the musicians who had an inspired evening. The synchronisation was outstanding, the result of rehearsals led by someone who knew every detail of the score. The ovation at the end signalled a richly deserved success for the OSCyL.”
Emiliano Allende, El Norte de Castilla, 27/10/2018
Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, Spain
Shostakovich – New Babylon
October 2017
Damian Iorio did an excellent job conducting. He knows the work in depth, and has an outstanding ability to communicate its essence, advancing the action at all times and synchronising to the moving images with ease. His treatment of the dynamics was very effective. It was, for another year, one of the brightest moments of the festival.
Emiliano Allende, El Norte de Castilla, 29/10/2017
CD Review – Records International – Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI
Pizzetti – Symphony and Harp Concerto, Naxos
April 2017
This is the best thing Naxos has put out in years.
recordsinternational.com, 01/05/2017
Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, Spain
January 2017
Damian Iorio proved to be a great conductor. Flexible and gifted, he brought out the best in the music.
Emiliano Allende, El Norte de Castilla, 14/01/2017
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, UK
April 2016
“Quite simply the best rendition of the music I have ever encountered”
Even better was the final item on the programme, an absolutely stunning delivery of Respighi’s Church Windows. And this performance was quite simply the best rendition of the music I have ever encountered. The dynamic range which Damian Iorio obtained from the orchestra was simply overwhelming; the concert is being broadcast on Radio 3 at some time in the next couple of weeks, but the engineers will have their work cut out to convey anything like the excitement generated in the hall.
Paul Corfield Godfrey, seenandheard-international.com, 26/04/2016
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, UK
March 2016
“A stunning performance”
A stunning performance of Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story as well as a seriously competent interpretation of Respighi’s Church Windows. The latter was exciting, dramatic, thoughtful and introspective. It’s hard to think of all those adjectives imposed onto one performance but this was it. Iorio coaxed a great deal out of the RLPO and it worked. This was a stunning performance, too, of the Bernstein Symphonic Dances. Here was the RLPO in real party mood, making a huge sound, really letting their collective hair down and having a great time. A stunning end.
Glyn Môn Hughe, theartsdesk.com, 13/03/2016
Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Finland
September 2014
“A convincing debut”
Conductor Damian Iorio was a pleasant acquaintance. Although his moves have temperament and artistic sensitivity, he doesn’t resort to theatrical or physical exhortation. And his musicians respond to him. The end result are clear contours without any frailty, and a mutual interaction without any tonal unclarity.
Jari Pitkänen, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 20/9/2014
Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Switzerland
March 2014
“OSI in top form, skillfully conducted by Damian Iorio”
Both the orchestra and the conductor Damian Iorio were excellent in Mozart’s Ouverture of La Clemenza di Tito and in Symphony no. 38 in D major K504. Iorio’s conducting was precise and appropriate but never conventional, and his performance was distinguished by its intensity.
Alberto Cima, Corriere del Ticino, 24/03/2014
CD Review (4 stars) – The Guardian – Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali, Italy
November 2013
“I Pomeriggi Musicali’s fine live performances are scrupulously conducted by Damian Iorio.”
I Pomeriggi Musicali’s fine live performances are scrupulously conducted by Damian Iorio.
Tim Ashley, The Guardian, 21/11/2013
Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, Spain
January 2013
“OSCyL infected by the romance of Maisky and the energy of Damian Iorio”
The other attractive addition of the concert was the conductor Damian Iorio ….. He immediately showed his personality with the vital impulse needed to get an excellent performance of the Overture to ‘Ruslan and Lyudmila’ by Glinka. ……. Then he attacked Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony showing his knowledge and decisiveness, a work that despite its short length maintains the identity of a composer who lived a constant struggle with political power. The changes of tempo, rhythmic pulse and sonic contrasts were well exposed under him by the soloists and all sections of the orchestra.
Emiliano Allende, El Norte de Castilla, 19/01/2013