Cleveland Classical -- December 14, 2021
Apollo's Fire captivates with jubilant Messiah (Dec. 8)
[link]
"In “The trumpet shall sound,” Adams found a skillful duet partner in Baroque trumpeter Steven Marquardt, who played with nimble technique and a warm, covered tone."
Cleveland Classical -- May 20, 2021
Apollo's Fire: Virtuosity: Fireworks from J.S. Bach [link]
"Bach's Jauchzet Gott cantata, BWV 51, receives a flawless performance from Forsythe and Marquardt, whose tonal blend nearly makes soprano and clarino interchangeable."
Cleveland Plain Dealer -- April 22nd, 2021
Apollo's Fire rewards in-person audience with resplendent Bach on live season finale [link]
"The fireworks in "Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen" are high, fast, and bright, and [Forsythe] brought them off with a heavenly grace brilliantly complemented by trumpeter Steven Marquardt."
Seen and Heard International -- December 18th, 2019
From Apollo's Fire in Ohio, the gift of Bach [link]
"The numerous sections twining the oboe d’amores of Deborah Nagy and Kathryn Montoya were expressive highlights, as well as the trumpet passages, led by bright soloist Steve Marquardt."
Cleveland Classical -- December 17th, 2019
Julian Wachner & Apollo's Fire: Bach's Christmas Oratorio at CMA (Dec. 13) [link]
"Trumpets and drums graced the opening chorus, Jauchzet, frohlocket, introducing the dulcet tones and nimble capabilities of period brass instruments in the hands of trumpeters Steve Marquardt, Perry Sutton, and Paul Perfetti."
"Highlights abounded. In Cantata No. 1, Blumberg and Marquardt came to the lip of the stage for their eloquent duet in Großer Herr, o starker König."
"The whole oratorio closes with that chorale melody, decorated by ornate trumpet parts once again flawlessly played by Messrs. Marquardt, Sutton, and Perfetti."
Cleveland Plain Dealer -- December 17th, 2019
Apollo's Fire Makes Vibrant Case for Bach's Christmas Oratorio in Holiday Canon [link]
"The orchestra, too, was a vibrant presence. More than a mere backdrop, the ensemble under Wachner was a key expressive force, vital to the impact of each aria and chorale. What was true of the group was also true of the individual. Without the bright contributions of so many soloists on timpani, baroque trumpet, transverse flute, and oboe, many sections wouldn’t have been half as potent."
Classical Voice of North Carolina -- June 8th, 2019
Charlotte Bach Festival Kicks Off Year Two in Astonishing Style [link]
"...to regale his audience immediately with the NC Baroque Orchestra's heavy artillery -timpanist Jonathan Hess and three trumpeters playing valveless Baroque instruments. Yet they only needed to rock the hall for about a minute before the chorus entered and began swelling toward their full volume, adding thunder to thunder.... Glorious it truly was..."
Cleveland Classical -- April 16th, 2019
Apollo's Fire: Bach's B-Minor Mass at St. Raphael, Bay Village (Apr. 14) [link]
"At climactic moments, they were enhanced by exquisite natural trumpet playing and dramatic timpani punctuation."
The Boston Musical Intelligencer -- February 14th, 2019
ACRONYM Restores Republic in Rare Scarlatti Gem [link]
"ACRONYM’s ten regular members plus two glorious guest trumpeters played with verve, sensitivity, and cohesiveness."
The Grunion Gazette -- December 13th, 2018
MUSICAL NOTES: Holiday Cheer With A Dab Of History [link]
"Bach’s solo cantata, “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen,” ...received a magnificent performance. Trumpeter Steven Marquardt was equally distinguished in his challenging part."
Cleveland Classical -- December 10th, 2018
Apollo's Fire: Handel's Messiah At First Baptist, Shaker Hts. (Dec. 1) [link]
"...an amazingly comfortable and stentorian “The Trumpet shall sound” — with powerful playing from trumpeter Steven Marquardt."
Seen and Heard International -- December 6th, 2018
Apollo's Fire Offers A Bracing Messiah [link]
"The instrumental players were equally alive and compelling. Particular notice goes to Steve Marquardt’s elegantly perfect solos in ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’."
Portland Press Herald -- June 9th, 2018
Portland Bach Experience Features Lively Pieces, Strong Ensemble [link]
"Throughout the [Orchestral Suite No. 3], the ensemble’s three superb trumpeters... maintained the ebullient spirit of the music..."
"Again, the trumpet trio commanded the attention in the opening movement [of Bach's Magnificat in D Major]..."
Seen and Heard International -- October 20th, 2017
A Master Storyteller Adapts An Undervalued Handel Oratorio [link]
"The instrumental solos throughout were brilliant, particularly Steve Marquardt’s natural trumpet and Debra Nagy’s baroque oboe, which echoed the blend and transcendence of the sopranos’ duet."
Cleveland Classical -- October 17th, 2017
Apollo’s Fire: Handel’s Israel in Egypt At First Baptist, Shaker Heights [link]
"...during his dramatic aria “To God our strength, sing loud and clear,” embellished by the well-matched tones of Nagy and the flawless trumpeter Steve Marquardt."
Cleveland Plain Dealer -- October 16th, 2017
Apollo's Fire Plays To Its Many Strengths In "Israel in Egypt" [link]
"The aria ["To God, our strength, sing loud and clear"] is enhanced by trumpet and oboe obbligatos, which were handled deftly by trumpeter Steve Marquardt and oboist Debra Nagy."
Apollo's Fire captivates with jubilant Messiah (Dec. 8)
[link]
"In “The trumpet shall sound,” Adams found a skillful duet partner in Baroque trumpeter Steven Marquardt, who played with nimble technique and a warm, covered tone."
Cleveland Classical -- May 20, 2021
Apollo's Fire: Virtuosity: Fireworks from J.S. Bach [link]
"Bach's Jauchzet Gott cantata, BWV 51, receives a flawless performance from Forsythe and Marquardt, whose tonal blend nearly makes soprano and clarino interchangeable."
Cleveland Plain Dealer -- April 22nd, 2021
Apollo's Fire rewards in-person audience with resplendent Bach on live season finale [link]
"The fireworks in "Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen" are high, fast, and bright, and [Forsythe] brought them off with a heavenly grace brilliantly complemented by trumpeter Steven Marquardt."
Seen and Heard International -- December 18th, 2019
From Apollo's Fire in Ohio, the gift of Bach [link]
"The numerous sections twining the oboe d’amores of Deborah Nagy and Kathryn Montoya were expressive highlights, as well as the trumpet passages, led by bright soloist Steve Marquardt."
Cleveland Classical -- December 17th, 2019
Julian Wachner & Apollo's Fire: Bach's Christmas Oratorio at CMA (Dec. 13) [link]
"Trumpets and drums graced the opening chorus, Jauchzet, frohlocket, introducing the dulcet tones and nimble capabilities of period brass instruments in the hands of trumpeters Steve Marquardt, Perry Sutton, and Paul Perfetti."
"Highlights abounded. In Cantata No. 1, Blumberg and Marquardt came to the lip of the stage for their eloquent duet in Großer Herr, o starker König."
"The whole oratorio closes with that chorale melody, decorated by ornate trumpet parts once again flawlessly played by Messrs. Marquardt, Sutton, and Perfetti."
Cleveland Plain Dealer -- December 17th, 2019
Apollo's Fire Makes Vibrant Case for Bach's Christmas Oratorio in Holiday Canon [link]
"The orchestra, too, was a vibrant presence. More than a mere backdrop, the ensemble under Wachner was a key expressive force, vital to the impact of each aria and chorale. What was true of the group was also true of the individual. Without the bright contributions of so many soloists on timpani, baroque trumpet, transverse flute, and oboe, many sections wouldn’t have been half as potent."
Classical Voice of North Carolina -- June 8th, 2019
Charlotte Bach Festival Kicks Off Year Two in Astonishing Style [link]
"...to regale his audience immediately with the NC Baroque Orchestra's heavy artillery -timpanist Jonathan Hess and three trumpeters playing valveless Baroque instruments. Yet they only needed to rock the hall for about a minute before the chorus entered and began swelling toward their full volume, adding thunder to thunder.... Glorious it truly was..."
Cleveland Classical -- April 16th, 2019
Apollo's Fire: Bach's B-Minor Mass at St. Raphael, Bay Village (Apr. 14) [link]
"At climactic moments, they were enhanced by exquisite natural trumpet playing and dramatic timpani punctuation."
The Boston Musical Intelligencer -- February 14th, 2019
ACRONYM Restores Republic in Rare Scarlatti Gem [link]
"ACRONYM’s ten regular members plus two glorious guest trumpeters played with verve, sensitivity, and cohesiveness."
The Grunion Gazette -- December 13th, 2018
MUSICAL NOTES: Holiday Cheer With A Dab Of History [link]
"Bach’s solo cantata, “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen,” ...received a magnificent performance. Trumpeter Steven Marquardt was equally distinguished in his challenging part."
Cleveland Classical -- December 10th, 2018
Apollo's Fire: Handel's Messiah At First Baptist, Shaker Hts. (Dec. 1) [link]
"...an amazingly comfortable and stentorian “The Trumpet shall sound” — with powerful playing from trumpeter Steven Marquardt."
Seen and Heard International -- December 6th, 2018
Apollo's Fire Offers A Bracing Messiah [link]
"The instrumental players were equally alive and compelling. Particular notice goes to Steve Marquardt’s elegantly perfect solos in ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’."
Portland Press Herald -- June 9th, 2018
Portland Bach Experience Features Lively Pieces, Strong Ensemble [link]
"Throughout the [Orchestral Suite No. 3], the ensemble’s three superb trumpeters... maintained the ebullient spirit of the music..."
"Again, the trumpet trio commanded the attention in the opening movement [of Bach's Magnificat in D Major]..."
Seen and Heard International -- October 20th, 2017
A Master Storyteller Adapts An Undervalued Handel Oratorio [link]
"The instrumental solos throughout were brilliant, particularly Steve Marquardt’s natural trumpet and Debra Nagy’s baroque oboe, which echoed the blend and transcendence of the sopranos’ duet."
Cleveland Classical -- October 17th, 2017
Apollo’s Fire: Handel’s Israel in Egypt At First Baptist, Shaker Heights [link]
"...during his dramatic aria “To God our strength, sing loud and clear,” embellished by the well-matched tones of Nagy and the flawless trumpeter Steve Marquardt."
Cleveland Plain Dealer -- October 16th, 2017
Apollo's Fire Plays To Its Many Strengths In "Israel in Egypt" [link]
"The aria ["To God, our strength, sing loud and clear"] is enhanced by trumpet and oboe obbligatos, which were handled deftly by trumpeter Steve Marquardt and oboist Debra Nagy."
