Reviews
Click the links below for detailed information.
StageSceneLA - Saturday, May 4, 2013
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - WOW!
by Stephen Stanley
"Director Pearson, musical director Salazar, and choreographer Todd elicit some terrific performances from their student cast..."
"Under Salazar's expert musical direction, harmonies are great and the pit orchestra sounds every bit as splendid as you'd expect from a professional production."
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StageSceneLA.com & Long Beach PressTelegram - Monday, May 16, 2011
"Reefer Madness the Musical Smokes at Cerritos College..."
PressTelegram review by jOHN fARRELL (lower/upper correct)
StageSceneLA.com by Steven Stanley
"...seven lively musicians directed with energy by Hector Salazar" ~jOHN fARRELL
"Salazar leads a pitch-perfrect orchestra"
"...virtuoso music director Hector Salazar holding the baton..." ~Steven Stanley
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BackStage.com & StageSceneLA.com - Friday, October 1, 2010
"No, No, Nanette" reviews
Review by Les Spindle (BackStage.com)
"Hector Salazar's rousing music direction and conducting."
Review by Steven Stanley (StageScene.com)
"Musical director Hector Salazar does a fine job conducting the big Downey Civic Light Opera Orchestra."
Goldstar.com - Monday, March 30, 2009
Various Patron Comments - Sweeney Todd
These are taken from actual Patron comments from Goldstar.com after seeing Sweeney Todd at El Camino College.
"This is such an exceptional and difficult score and the musicality and diction [of the singers], the orchestra and cast were impeccable." (Anonymous)
"Director Ron Scarlata and Conductor Hector Salazar did their usual magic, and the cast was very professional -- always on pitch and powerful." (Joan)
"An impressive production of Sweeney Todd featuring marvelous production values and a rare chance to hear this extraordinary score with a full 19-piece orchestra." (Anonymous)
"The orchestra was a very, very pleasant surprise! I think there were 18 musicians excellent from beginning to end. Sondheim is very tricky and they nailed it." (Liz K)
"The set, the music, the lights, the acting... This was an all around GREAT performance." (Edogh)
"I don't think I've ever heard Sondheim sound so effortless and virtuosic." (Anonymous)
StageSceneLA.com - Wednesday, March 18, 2009
"A WOW for Sweeney Todd"
by Steven Stanley
"The 19-piece orchestra hits nary a false note under the superb musical direction of Hector Salazar."
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CSU Dominguez Hills - Dateline Thursday, February 26, 2009
Hector Salazar: Music Almnus Takes the Stand as Conductor....
by Joanie Harmon
Interview before concert on February 7, 2009 at CSU Dominguez Hills.
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El Paisano - Rio Hondo Community College - Thursday, November 6, 2008
Those Romantic Germans a success
by Salomon Baeza
Rio Hondo Symphony
Soprano, Erin Wood, soloist
"Beautifully conducted"
"Salazar's conducting is on par showing his range and expertise."
"Salazar's conducting pulls together the piece [Reinecke Symphony No. 3] and is a beautiful conclusion to an amazing afternoon."
Whittier Daily News - Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Rio Hondo Symphony offers night of music
by Karissa Nedeau
Advance of Concert
Rio Hondo Symphony Orchestra
Hector Salazar, guest conductor
Erin Wood, soprano soloist
Program:
BRAHMS: Academic Festival Overture
WAGNER: Wesendonck Lieder; Dich teure Halle from Tannhauser
REINECKE: Symphony No. 3 in g minor
"I like to challenge myself and the orchestra to do something new and different, and challenge the audience to open up their possibilities to something new and fresh."
The Beach Reporter - Thursday, July 25, 2002
El Camino makes the most of its Guys and Dolls
by Kent Stoddart
El Camino College Center for the Arts
Ron Scarlata, director
Dorothy LaSpina, choreogrpaher
starring Kevin Earley, Nathan Holland, Richard Blake, Kaylenn Leone and Nora Roque
"Musical director Hector Salazar's men and women in the pit capture that Broadway energy that is inherent in the Loesser score."
Daily Breeze - Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Young artists offer not-so-standard concert
Review by Kari Sayers
"...[Hector Salazar] elicited a dulcet sound from the players in the tone poem, "Wo die schonen Trompeten blasen" (Where the Shining Trumpets Sound) as well as the other lieder."
Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay
Concert on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Iris Malken, mezzo-soprano
Palos Verdes Peninsula News - Thursday, December 14, 2000
COSB Gives Concert without Steiner
by Leonne Lewis
Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay
Flutist Nadine Asin, soloist
"The orchestra's assistant conductor Hector Salazar, of El Camino College, filled in for Steiner. He is an experienced musician, having already conducted the COSB and other Southland orchestras."
"Salazar's conducting is very musical. Despite the limitations of last minute rehearsals, he secured the performances when necessary... Salazar is a fine conductor of the contemporary repertoire ... there was a constant sense that conductor and orchestra were participating in a gripping musical experience."
Back Stage West/Drama-Logue - Thursday, October 8, 1998
CRAZY FOR YOU at the Downey Theatre
by Les Spindle
Downey Civic Light Opera
Ted Sprague, director/choreographer
starring Randy Hills, Leanna Polk, Chris Sands and Paul Hasenyager
"Hector Salazar's vibrant musical direction does full justice to the glorious score."
The Daily Breeze - Tuesday, April 4, 1995
Salazar impressive in role as substitute conductor
by Peter Lefevre
You're going out there a guest conductor, but you're coming back a star!
"OK, so maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but Hector Salazar's last-minute substitution for Dr. Frances Steiner in Saturday's performance of the Carson-Dominguez Hills Symphony Orchestra was impressive enough . . . "
Daily Breeze - Tuesday, March 1, 1994
A creative musical tribute to Black History Month
by Peter Lefevre
"Hector Salazar took the baton for the introductory pieces: four of Joplin's rags. Salazar paid close attention to the composer's omnipresent warning to 'Never play ragtime fast!' as a result, Joplin's fecund compositional mind was displayed with verve and charm."
Los Angeles Times - Tuesday, February 9, 1993
Brazen Overtures! in a Mostly American Program
by Timothy Mangan
"Salazar reveals a fluid and clear baton technique and an intelligent sensibility."