PRESS
Opera Wire - Candide - Opera Company of Middlebury - February 21, 2022
"Music director Michael Sakir led a fresh and playful performance, grounding the comedy on Bernstein’s unforgettable melodies. Sakir’s band was spot on the entire show, and the closeups and drone shots of the instrumentalists lent the production an intimate and immersive feel."
Opera News - Candide - Opera Company of Middlebury - June 15, 2021
"The orchestra, ranged around the theater screened and distanced, plays energetically under the deft baton of Michael Sakir."
Bozeman Daily Chronicle - News - September 16, 2020
"Intermountain Opera Bozeman announces new Interim Artistic Director."
Rutland Herald - Cendrillon - Opera Company of Middlebury - June 2, 2019
"Principal Guest Conductor Michael Sakir led the Vermont-made professional orchestra effectively and sensitively. They delivered the colorful beauty of the rich orchestration, and supporting without ever overpowering the singers. It was real collaboration."
Addison Independent - A Streetcar Named Desire - Opera Company of Middlebury - June 7, 2018
"Leading the orchestra in his second OCM production as music director was Michael Sakir, who shaped the score and the flow of the drama with easy authority, and drew a stunning performance from the clearly engaged players."
Rutland Herald - A Streetcar Named Desire - Opera Company of Middlebury - June 2, 2018
“Much of the credit for the success of the production also goes to conductor Michael Sakir and the crackerjack 29-piece Vermont orchestra who realized the amazingly rich score with precision and character."
Memphis Daily News - Interview - Opera Memphis - August 10, 2017
"Opera Memphis Hires New Music Director"
Broadway World - Press Release - Opera Memphis - August 2, 2017
"Opera Memphis Welcomes Michael Sakir as New Music Director"
Addison Independent - Il Trittico - Opera Company of Middlebury - June 8, 2017
“The confident and graceful musical direction of Michael Sakir and his full orchestra conveys all the variety of Puccini’s rich, cinematic score."
Opera Today - Galilei Galilei - Des Moines Metro Opera - July 16, 2016
“Under the steady baton of Michael Sakir, every calculated effect was carefully allowed its proper place. Maestro Sakir’s concentration never wavered and he led his amassed forces through the complex writing with insight and skill. He was in full command of the most minute shifts of the sound palette, and he found a wonderful build to the final expansive choral statement."
Orlando Sentinel - The Impresario/Les mamelles de Tirésias - Opera Orlando - April 21, 2016
“Music director Michael Sakir gets the needed lushness from his players. You'd think the orchestra was twice its size."
Chicago Tribune - Dead Man Walking - Northwestern University School of Music - December 29, 2015
February 2015 Chicago premiere production, conducted by Michael Sakir, included among Best of 2015 Classical Music
Opera News - The Turn of the Screw - Eugene Opera - October 30, 2015
“Michael Sakir’s conducting was cohesive, brisk and clear, much like Britten’s on his recording."
Valley News - Review of The Tender Land - Opera North - August 8, 2015
“...conducted deftly and with great delicacy of feeling by Michael Sakir, making his Opera North debut."
Boston Globe - Review of Rinaldo - Boston Opera Collaborative- March 29, 2015
“The orchestra's graceful, songful playing, with music director Michael Sakir at the harpsichord, was a major element in the production's success."
Chicago Classical Review - Review of Dead Man Walking - Northwestern University School of Music - February 23, 2015
“Conductor Michael Sakir led the large forces of the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra with impressive skill, bringing out the intimate lyrical moments while providing daunting force and power to Heggie’s percussion-led climaxes."
Opera News - Review of Nabucco - Florida Grand Opera - January 25, 2014
“The chorus, directed by Michael Sakir, was well adjusted and faultless."
The Boston Globe - Review of Dead Man Walking - Boston Opera Collaborative - March 17, 2013
“Maestro Sakir coaxed some fine playing from his young players and commanded the troops with artistic authority."
The Boston Musical Intelligencer - Review of Dead Man Walking - Boston Opera Collaborative - March 16, 2013
“The conducting was wonderful. There was not a moment where it seemed Michael Sakir was not in control, yet at the same time there was a fluidity of expression which allowed for a lively performance by the singers. Even in moments with the entire cast on stage and the orchestra at full tilt, I never felt the slightest anxiety that the music might be slipping away."
"Music director Michael Sakir led a fresh and playful performance, grounding the comedy on Bernstein’s unforgettable melodies. Sakir’s band was spot on the entire show, and the closeups and drone shots of the instrumentalists lent the production an intimate and immersive feel."
Opera News - Candide - Opera Company of Middlebury - June 15, 2021
"The orchestra, ranged around the theater screened and distanced, plays energetically under the deft baton of Michael Sakir."
Bozeman Daily Chronicle - News - September 16, 2020
"Intermountain Opera Bozeman announces new Interim Artistic Director."
Rutland Herald - Cendrillon - Opera Company of Middlebury - June 2, 2019
"Principal Guest Conductor Michael Sakir led the Vermont-made professional orchestra effectively and sensitively. They delivered the colorful beauty of the rich orchestration, and supporting without ever overpowering the singers. It was real collaboration."
Addison Independent - A Streetcar Named Desire - Opera Company of Middlebury - June 7, 2018
"Leading the orchestra in his second OCM production as music director was Michael Sakir, who shaped the score and the flow of the drama with easy authority, and drew a stunning performance from the clearly engaged players."
Rutland Herald - A Streetcar Named Desire - Opera Company of Middlebury - June 2, 2018
“Much of the credit for the success of the production also goes to conductor Michael Sakir and the crackerjack 29-piece Vermont orchestra who realized the amazingly rich score with precision and character."
Memphis Daily News - Interview - Opera Memphis - August 10, 2017
"Opera Memphis Hires New Music Director"
Broadway World - Press Release - Opera Memphis - August 2, 2017
"Opera Memphis Welcomes Michael Sakir as New Music Director"
Addison Independent - Il Trittico - Opera Company of Middlebury - June 8, 2017
“The confident and graceful musical direction of Michael Sakir and his full orchestra conveys all the variety of Puccini’s rich, cinematic score."
Opera Today - Galilei Galilei - Des Moines Metro Opera - July 16, 2016
“Under the steady baton of Michael Sakir, every calculated effect was carefully allowed its proper place. Maestro Sakir’s concentration never wavered and he led his amassed forces through the complex writing with insight and skill. He was in full command of the most minute shifts of the sound palette, and he found a wonderful build to the final expansive choral statement."
Orlando Sentinel - The Impresario/Les mamelles de Tirésias - Opera Orlando - April 21, 2016
“Music director Michael Sakir gets the needed lushness from his players. You'd think the orchestra was twice its size."
Chicago Tribune - Dead Man Walking - Northwestern University School of Music - December 29, 2015
February 2015 Chicago premiere production, conducted by Michael Sakir, included among Best of 2015 Classical Music
Opera News - The Turn of the Screw - Eugene Opera - October 30, 2015
“Michael Sakir’s conducting was cohesive, brisk and clear, much like Britten’s on his recording."
Valley News - Review of The Tender Land - Opera North - August 8, 2015
“...conducted deftly and with great delicacy of feeling by Michael Sakir, making his Opera North debut."
Boston Globe - Review of Rinaldo - Boston Opera Collaborative- March 29, 2015
“The orchestra's graceful, songful playing, with music director Michael Sakir at the harpsichord, was a major element in the production's success."
Chicago Classical Review - Review of Dead Man Walking - Northwestern University School of Music - February 23, 2015
“Conductor Michael Sakir led the large forces of the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra with impressive skill, bringing out the intimate lyrical moments while providing daunting force and power to Heggie’s percussion-led climaxes."
Opera News - Review of Nabucco - Florida Grand Opera - January 25, 2014
“The chorus, directed by Michael Sakir, was well adjusted and faultless."
The Boston Globe - Review of Dead Man Walking - Boston Opera Collaborative - March 17, 2013
“Maestro Sakir coaxed some fine playing from his young players and commanded the troops with artistic authority."
The Boston Musical Intelligencer - Review of Dead Man Walking - Boston Opera Collaborative - March 16, 2013
“The conducting was wonderful. There was not a moment where it seemed Michael Sakir was not in control, yet at the same time there was a fluidity of expression which allowed for a lively performance by the singers. Even in moments with the entire cast on stage and the orchestra at full tilt, I never felt the slightest anxiety that the music might be slipping away."