StageSceneLA.com
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."

Website

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

Website

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

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)

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.

Website

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."

Website

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."

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."