Brad Lubman

"Hundreds of excerpts strung together with mastery that also characterised the interventions of three reaction ensembles (the Orchestre de Paris, the Conservatoire de Paris Big Band and the Les Métaboles choir). The conductors (Brad Lubman, Léo Margue and Simon Proust respectively) rendered the work not as a brilliant collage but as a score written with genius."

About Simon Steen-Andersen’s TRIO, opening concert of the ManiFeste Ircam Festival, Théâtre du Châtelet Paris

Le Monde, Pierre Gervasoni, 03/06/2024

"And the best thing is how conductor Brad Lubman organizes everything. A confident pilot, a crystal-clear tactician, everyone can feel safe with him. The Isarphilharmonie is flooded with clear-cut sound. An intoxication after which no hangover threatens."

Merkur.de, Markus Thielm 16/01/2025

“The Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto gave us another memorable moment in the Casa da Música's relationship with the work of Emmanuel Nunes with Brad Lubman's enthusiastic, overwhelming and crystal clear interpretation of the monumental "Musivus".”

Scherzo, Paco Yáñez, 25/04/2024

"Sparing and sober to the delicate senza ritardando, strict but not abrupt, Brad Lubman's musical direction knows how to let all be said with elegance and a welcome touch of humor."

Diapason, Anne Ibos-Augé, 25/04/2023

"It was wonderful to see how the huge orchestra [SWR Symphony Orchestra], masterfully conducted by the American Brad Lubman, has always managed to move from opulence to intimacy without any loss of expression."

Badische Zeitung, Johannes Adam, 22/03/2023

"The music can handle it, it's without exception sensual, comprehensible, and intense, played by the HR Symphony Orchestra under the dedicated direction of Brad Lubman."

Tagesspiegel, Ulrich Amling, 11/05/2022

"Four orchestras have commissioned Glanert's new work, which premiered in Edinburgh in early November. Tonight, in the great hall of the Elbphilharmonie, it will be performed for the first time in Germany under the charismatic Brad Lubman, who conducts it with great mastery."

Hamburger Abendblatt, 13/12/2021

"Full credit to conductor Brad Lubman, warmly applauded by the instrumentalists, for making it all seem effortless, and of course to the London Sinfonietta for commissioning the work alongside Southbank Centre and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival."

The Arts Desk, David Nice, 06/12/2019

"With extraordinarily expressive body language and precise rhythmic ideas, Brad Lubman guided the Radio Philharmonie through the framing orchestral works assuredly and laudably: Leonard Bernstein‘s overture to Candide became a lively tour de force, a brilliant instrumental feat. … The orchestra and its conductor were finally the star of the evening. The standing ovations clamoured for an encore: “Mambo: Presto“. Just brilliant!"

Saarbrücker Zeitung, 16/04/2019

Adams's pounding opening chords [of the Harmonielehre] were crisp and decisive. Lubman's brisk tempo, clear beat and precise cuing made every instrumental stand clear. (...) Drawing high-powered playing from the large instrumental complement, Lubman generated a genuine sense of excitement.

South Florida Classical Review, 09/12/2018 (On the concert with New World Symphony.)

Lubman was also able to show himself as a conductor: The first symphony by Johannes Brahms succeeded the intermission in a soulful and intensive way, never striking and very finely played out in the details. The musicians played in top form for this - they were excellently prepared and in the best playing mood. They followed Lubman's impulsively athletic instructions with noticeably great joy until the radiant finale, which caused great audience jubilation in the Grafenegg auditorium.

Kronen Zeitung, Stefan Musil, 04/09/2017

When the lights were on, Brad Lubman conducted with invaluable clarity: sudden moments of silence were electric, his sense of pace impeccable. In light and dark alike, however, the orchestra maintained an astonishing intensity of communication. (…) An enthralling performance.

The Guardian, Flora Willson, April 2017

It is a rare CD that casts a spell over the listener with just the first two chords, as this one does. (…) Under the spirited fingers of piano duo Andreas Grau and Götz Schumacher, and with the razor-sharp attack of the orchestra under Brad Lubman, the piece [Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra] was lively, witty and cheeky.

BR-Klassik CD-Tipp, Thorsten Preuß, March 2017

One despairs that we so rarely get the chance to see Brad Lubman in France. Each of his appearances proves that he is one of the best conductors, with a particular passion for spreading contemporary music.

ResMusica, Thomas Vergracht, November 2016

Director Stanley Kubrick's space-age masterpiece 2001 was always notable for its brilliant cinematic use of music, and hearing the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus perform the score, conducted by Brad Lubman, was sublime.

The Bay Area Reporter, Roberto Friedman, October 2016

On this evening we had the chance to see [Brad Lubman] with the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto. Conducting without a baton, his gestures were expansive, expressive and clear. He succeeded in accentuating and phrasing the piece as well as in creating a good sound balance. He brought the best out of the ensemble and each individual performer and knew how to make the piece sing and breathe as well as how to bring the orchestra to its highest standard.

musicologie.org, Eusebius, September 2016

The Concertgebouw Orchestra performed rousing and rhythmic numbers, such as Honegger's Pacific 231 and Le Métro by Ibert (...) Conductor Brad Lubman kept things together with panache.

NRC, Joep Stapel, April 2016

It was astounding the way Lubman precisely carved out the different instrumental features in the second part. (…) One can hardly imagine a more intensive live experience of Grisey’s music.

klassik.com, Dr. Stefan Drees, 07/11/2015

Lubman immediately made an impression, leading a powerful rendition of an excerpt from Ligeti's "Atmospheres" prior to the film's opening sequence. And one has to admit, the "Sunrise" opening has never sounded so thrilling as when heard by a live orchestra outdoors with the unforgettable corresponding images on the big screens, validating Kubrick's original vision. (…) Lubman led it [Strauss Jr.’s “Blue Danube”] with considerable sway and grace, syncing with the footsteps of a flight attendant in the film. Same with the Adagio from Khachaturian's "Gayane," given a lovely, patient rendition, and Ligeti's "Lux Aeterna”.

Los Angeles Times, Richard S. Ginell, August 2015 (on the performance of 2001 Space Odyssee with the Los Angeles Philharmonic)

Even if more recordings are released next year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this work, Steve Reich’s instant classic, none will likely be more sensational than this.

The New York Times, David Allen, May 2015

The superb German Radio Philharmonic had at its helm not just an expert in Brad Lubman but also an excellent conductor for newer music. Where conventional conducting techniques are bound to fail, his conducting accompanied by rational empathy was simply perfect. Bravo.

Saarbrücker Zeitung, Helmut Fackler, May 2015

He [Brad Lubman] is, in many ways, the electric Georg Solti of new music. The performance sizzled. Lubman conducted with insistent gusto and an impressive rhythmic dexterity.

Los Angeles Times, Mark Swed, January 2014