"Entertaining concert a resounding success, and snow’s the capper." - December 8, 2008. Walt Amacker, Richmond Times Dispatch."White ground coverage was evident over much of the city once the symphony, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Greater Richmond Children's Choir...finished their entertaining program that ushered in the holiday season with class." "Opening with Leroy Anderson's "A Christmas Festival," a collection of just about every seasonal song one could ask for, and ending with George Frederick Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" from "Messiah," there was something for everyone."
"Review: Richmond Symphony." - December 6, 2008. Clarke Bustard, Letter V. "The Richmond Symphony Chorus, prepared by Erin Freeman, was outstanding, not just in the big showpieces "For unto us a child is born," "Hallelujah" and "Worthy is the Lamb," but also in the subtler "His yoke is easy" and "Since by man came death." The choristers’ ensemble and negotiation of counterpoint were consistently fine; and when they punched out big exclamatory lines, the effect was truly thrilling."
"Symphony shines on works by Stravinsky and others." - November 16, 2008. Walt Amacker, Richmond Times Dispatch. "The symphony's chorus director, Erin Freeman, had the singers well-prepared and for the first time in recent memory separated chorus members rather than having them grouped in sections. The chorus responded very well to the new configuration, and one would hope that maybe the upcoming annual performance of "Messiah" will see the same layout."
"Symphony's Haydn Program Impressive." - October 5, 2008. Walt Amacker, Richmond Times Dispatch. "Joined by the Richmond Symphony Chamber Chorus -- prepped extremely well by associate orchestra conductor and chorus director Erin R. Freeman -- and O'Byrne, the Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo was another highlight of the evening."
"Review: Richmond Symphony." - October 4, 2008. Clarke Bustard, Letter V. "A chamber contingent of the Richmond Symphony Chorus, prepared by Erin Freeman, sang robustly in Haydn’s "Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo," better known as the "Little Organ Mass" for its organ obbligato (played here by Michael Simpson) accompanying a soprano soloist (O’Byrne) in the Benedictus. The chorus rendered the "telescoped" (textually overlapped) liturgy of the Gloria and Credo with more clarity than might have been expected, and with the cheerful fervor that 18th-century Austrians brought to musical settings of Catholic liturgy."
"Pocahontas Premieres Opens with Richmond Symphony" - June, 3, 2008. Eric Millirons, Midlothian Exchange. " "As the orchestra began its warm up, Dr. Erin Freeman, Associate Conductor, came into the audience to seek assistance from some 'whistlers' for one of the many familiar pieces that would be part of the presentation. The symphony started off with a series of Irving Berlin favorites. They had the audience’s feet stomping and hearts pumping to the sound of 'Alexander’s Ragtime Band,' then cooled them off with 'White Christmas' and then brought visions of Kate Smith to the audience with 'God Bless America.' ...The 'whistlers' were then called forward for the 'Colonel Bogey March.' As many old-timers will remember, this was the theme song from 'The Bridge Over The River Kwai' that starred William Holden. It was indeed a rousing version of the march. The four amateur 'whistlers' added to the enjoyment of the selection and were handsomely applauded. ...This had been quite an evening for musical enjoyment. Dr. Freeman and the Richmond Symphony are to be congratulated on a job well done and for providing a respite from the workweek that was both calming and foot stomping good. "
"'Save the Last Dance' Symphony Program a Finale that Steps Lively" - May 3, 2008. Walt Amacker, Richmond Times Dispatch. "In its final concert at Toad's Place before moving to The National next season for its Kicked Back Classics series, the Richmond Symphony had something for everyone Thursday night... Associate Conductor Erin Freeman had put together an excellent program titled 'Save the Last Dance.' Kicking off with a lively reading of Aaron Copland's "Hoe-Down" from his incredibly popular "Rodeo," a ballet originally choreographed by Agnes de Mille in 1942, Freeman set the stage for the evening...And kudos to Freeman for adding a movement from "Danzas de Panama" by American composer William Grant Still... Bartok's "Rumanian Folk Dances" provided an excellent penultimate presentation that led to the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. It was a perfect topping by another dance-like piece to usher out the last Kicked Back Classics concerts of the season."
"Symphony Brings 'Requiem' to Life" - March 16, 2008. Walt Amacker, Richmond Times Dispatch. " "Prepped by the orchestra's associate conductor Erin Freeman, the chorus did a splendid job."
"Review: Richmond Symphony: Verdi Requiem" - March 15, 2008. Clarke Bustard, Letter V. "The chorus, prepared by Erin Freeman, sounded generally unified, robust and/or blood-curdling when appropriate; but in quieter sections its sound seemed to float over the room. Whether Verdi had such a literally angelic quality in mind we’ll leave for musicologists to ponder, but the effect was unexpected, striking and often quite moving."
"Review: Richmond Symphony: Bach Festival Series" - March 2, 2008. Clarke Bustard, Letter V. "Erin Freeman, the Richmond Symphony’s associate conductor, led chamber contingents of the orchestra and Richmond Symphony Chorus in a darkly expressive, rhythmically taut reading of Johann Sebastian Bach’s early cantata "Christ lag in Todesbanden" ("Christ Lay in the Bonds of Death"), BWV 4, sure to be remembered as one of the highlights of this season’s Bach Festival series.
Freeman paired the cantata with the comparably austere "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten" by the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, a brief, proto-minimalist work for strings and bells that, although separated from the Bach by two and a half centuries, proved to be a striking introduction to the cantata.
The chorus, whose direction Freeman assumed this season, was trimmed to two dozen voices (among them, founding chorusmaster James Erb, singing in the tenor section), providing the right balance for the small string orchestra. The singers’ ensemble was generally unified and their diction good."
"A Joyful End to an Evening of Bach." - March 2, 2008. Francis Church, Richmond Times Dispatch. "The orchestra was in the capable hands of its versatile associate conductor, Erin Freeman. She not only conducts the symphony in its Kicked Back Classics and pops concerts but also its chorus, where she succeeded the venerable James Erb this season, and youth orchestra, and is a skilled talker for a concert like this lacking program notes." ... "In ... "Christ Lay in the Bonds of Death," Johann Sebastian Bach's early cantata composed when he was in his 20s, she excelled." ... "Were these singers marvelous! They enunciated the German words of Martin Luther impeccably."
"Lovers' Concert Hits Right Notes" - February 16, 2008. Walt Amacker, Richmond Times Dispatch. "Kudos to Freeman for choosing Diamond's composition." "Reznicek's overture to his opera "Donna Diana" put a beautiful golden bow on the night's presentation."
"Review: Messiah" - December 1, 2007. Clarke Bustard, Letter V. "Erin Freeman...made her public debut as director of the Symphony Chorus in the first of two Christmas-season performances of Handel's "Messiah." Although she was facing James Erb, the chorus' founding director, now singing in the tenor section, she showed no hesitation in crafting her own choral sound and putting her own interpretative stamp on this all-too-familiar work."
"Review: Richmond Symphony, Toad's Place" - November 2, 2007. Clarke Bustard, Letter V. "Freeman proved to be both a genially energetic host and a concert programmer who garnishes fun with substance and subtlety."
"Symphony Tries an Unlikely Venue." - October 6, 2007. Lisa Crutchfield. Richmond Times Dispatch. "Erin Freeman, associate conductor of the Richmond Symphony, capably handled her duties as conductor and as affable emcee and knowledgeable interpreter of the works. Her natural rapport with the audience and players worked well for the casual concert."
Walt Amacker's article on Erin Freeman. Run in the Richmond Times Dispatch.
Of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra's December 2, 2006, "Let it Snow" Pops Concert: "The energetic Freeman provided running commentary on each of the varied pieces performed and pulled excellent results out of all participants, including the audience on a singalong of well-known Christmas carols.... Freeman promises to bring a steady baton along with her new duties. She has vocal training and capabilities that should make her a natural for choral performances, and her conducting experience is extensive." Walt Amacker, Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 4, 2006.
"The big star was the orchestra, led sensitively by Erin Freeman." Tim Smith, Music Critic, Baltimore Sun, March 21, 2006
"Conductor Erin Freeman made the score's most emphatic moments speak." Tim Smith, Music Critic, Baltimore Sun, October 28, 2003
"Guest Conductor Erin R. Freeman obtained unusually rich and lyrical playing from the orchestra." Clarke Bustard, Music Critic, Richmond Times-Dispatch, November 3, 2003
"On the podium, Freeman is dynamic but grounded. She remembers what her role as conductor entails. Beyond the technical aspects comes much more - setting the tempo, expression and interpretation, but most importantly, listening." Paula Williamson, Savannah Morning News, March 3, 1999
"Vores's silky, floriferous 'Book of Aphrodite' featured soloists Erin Freeman, Chung Un Seo, and Julianna Tollestrup.... Virginal of timbre, pure of pitch, the singers twined seductive harmonies around the ravishing timbre of trumpets and flutes." Susan Larson, Boston Globe, February 10, 1997
"Can you Handel it?" by Clarke Bustard, Style Weekly, September 5, 2007. To read full article, click here.
"Richmond Symphony Selects New Associate Conductor." Richmond Symphony, October 16, 2006. Read full press release here.
"Symphony Names New Associate Conductor." by Melissa Ruggieri, Richmond Times Dispatch, October 18, 2006. Read full article here.
Walt Amacker's article on Erin Freeman. Run in the Richmond Times Dispatch.
