Press Reviews
"…..Elli Jaffe was the driving force behind this performance, inspiring the soloists chorus and orchestra with ardour and intensity, while giving special attention to dynamic nuances. every one of its five parts stood out as an entity, but Maestro Jaffe also linked the parts ecclesiastically opening to up to us the communication between mind and soul….. ….But it was the orchestral sounds and that of the chorus which really gripped "
"The Zurich Chamber Orchestra with Elli Jaffe conducting, has demonstrated it’ full potential with Mozart Symphony No. 29. It was truly a most remarkable performance."
Elli Jaffe has amazed us with his performance of Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony, which really thrilled the crowd. Elli Jaffe conducted with great emotional feelings.
“The highlight of the concert was a truly splendid performance of Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony. Elli Jaffe has raised the Jerusalem Symphony to an exciting professional level. Jaffe controlled firmly all the groups of the orchestra to bring about an effective creative long breath of musical phrasing. The symphony was enthralling from beginning to end, as the left hand of the conductor brought out the musical expression and poetry. It is worthwhile for both the audience and the orchestra to remember the name Elli Jaffe”.
...Elli Jaffe who makes an impression of a very hearty and pleasant person, on the other hand he gains respect by unostentatious certainty with which he conducts from memory such an extensive composition.
“Mr. Elli Jaffe....conducted the orchestra by heart. ...Jaffe must have a relation to Bernstein... so that he points out the “colors” adding piquancy thereto. The opening concert of the Festival was brilliantly produced by the Prague Symphony Orchestra, from all part when musicians react extremely well to the conductor’s gestures. “The big top” was Mahler 4th Symphony.
.. “It was rather unusual to see Mr. Jaffe conducting the orchestra part to the violin concerto (Korngold) by heart.... .... The top of the evening was production of Mahler 4th..... conducted perfectly by Elli Jaffe. Petar Zapletal: .... The best part of the evening was production of the 4th Symphony.... by G. Mahler. Mr. Jaffe gave the three concert parts (Bernstein, Korngold, Mahler) “Strikingly limpid lines” as for the sound and formal production.....
Elli Jaffe, conducting without score, supported the violinist, Koljia Blecher, beautifully and created a perfect balance between soloist and the orchestra. Whenever Elli Jaffe stands on the podium he truly does justice to the composer and to the music. Thus we heard a sensitive performance, personal and flowing, of Bruckner’s Fourth. Jaffe structured the long and involved movements with deep understanding, and just as in his previous performances, the Jerusalem Symphony sounded polished and presented a warm and elegant sound. What brilliant playing from the brass! The orchestra’s latent potential was awakened. And Jaffe led them from one tapestry to another without excessiveness, and with a sure yet sensitive hand. Bruckner would have smiled with pleasure as did the audience. It was a beautiful concert to behold.
.. Here stands before us the Israeli Elli Jaffe, and he appears to be an excellent conductor. A young man, that music flouts out of his hands, and he his hardly known here. Where is he hiding ? The proverb says: “There is no conductor in his own town”. Would have Elli Jaffe come to Israel as a foreign strange conductor, he would have been surly received here with open arms and glory. Hence, as an Israeli we ignore him. nevertheless, he introduces a Mendelssohn (Pslam 42) mixed with lots of musical poetry with Aroma of romanticism that is unfaked. ! The climax was “Jeremiah” Symphony by Bernstein. Here, Elli Jaffe brings out the whole internal beauty of the work. Suddenly a Musical Orgy is exploding from the Winds and Brass. That was a brilliant and remarkable performance, a celebration of an orchestra! In the end, there was a surprise. Elli Jaffe conducted Verdi’s “Hebrew Slaves” Choir and the whole audience sang together with the orchestra. That was really moving! The audience, orchestra, and choir are all singing.
This time, the Prague Symphony Orchestra played, just two days after the imperfect concert at Smetana's Litomyšl, well, with much greater enthusiasm and precision. Elli Jaffe led them matter-of-factly, accurately. By the way - by heart all evening. In separate compositions, which were also preludes to Figaro's Wedding and The Barber of Seville and Polonaise from Dvořák's Rusalka, as well as in all sixteen songs and arias. Unlike the soloist, who had an , in-blinking, music stand in front of her.
“Only Elli Jaffe can excite the audience with his amazing musicality. …And with a confident hand, his symphonic arrangements sounded very warm”
Elli Jaffe, was excellent as always presenting an unknown work by Miloslav Kabelac (Symphony no.1) which was a remarkable surprise.
…..Elli Jaffe presented a precise potent reading of the darkly modal score…. … Jaffe rendering of the former (Verdi: “Slave choir”) was suspenseful built up…
“Elli Jaffe was absolutely wonderful in conducting Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony. He revealed a mighty hand in conducting that work. He demonstrated that Tchaikovsky’s music is not just a series of warm melodies, but he was a composer of style and capability. Elli Jaffe expresses beautifully in building rich dynamics, rhythm, flow, change of tempi, variety, phrasing and intonation’.
“Elli Jaffe was absolutely wonderful in conducting Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony. He revealed a mighty hand in conducting that work. He demonstrated that Tchaikovsky’s music is not just a series of warm melodies, but he was a composer of style and capability. Elli Jaffe expresses beautifully in building rich dynamics, rhythm, flow, change of tempi, variety, phrasing and intonation’.
.. “It was rather unusual to see Mr. Jaffe conducting the orchestra part to the violin concerto (Korngold) by heart.... .... The top of the evening was production of Mahler 4th..... conducted perfectly by Elli Jaffe. Petar Zapletal: .... The best part of the evening was production of the 4th Symphony.... by G. Mahler. Mr. Jaffe gave the three concert parts (Bernstein, Korngold, Mahler) “Strikingly limpid lines” as for the sound and formal production.....
Vestido de negro de modo informal,….Elli Jaffe tuvo que salir una y otra vez a agradecer. el aplauso del publico y el que. de manera mas entusiasta que la usual. la tributo la Orqustra Filarmonica de la Ciudad de Mexico que. huerfana de director titular, se acopla de modo muy agradecible a las diversas batutas de los directores huespedes…… Desde el primer Mahler ( el adagieto de la quinta sinfonia) y despues con Mendelssohn. entusiasmo al publico. Pero lo que sentimos durante los cuatro movimientos del "Titan". con sus frecuentes transiciones nes de la musica languida a la rotunda y triunfal, deja una huella que no se borrara facilmente.
“It is always a pleasure to watch and hear again conductor Elli Jaffe. In Bruckner’s 4th Symphony we could all understand why. Jaffe has taken this symphony and stamped with his own individual interpretation. Under Jaffe’s baton, the symphony has revealed a unique beauty and character . Jaffe knows how to tell a story, and the symphony, based on tales and images was flowed from one story to another, from one legend to another. Without question, Jaffe succeeded in bringing the best out of the orchestra. The Jerusalem Symphony played with a beautiful sound and expression, with delicate sound of strings and winds and not to harsh fortissimo in the brass. The rhythmical and dynamical varieties became richer during the concert progressions.”
...Elli Jaffe behind the counter of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra conducted safely by heart its performance to a lucrative set of rhythmically complicated images. ...The Orchestra offered a compact and master full performance.