Orchestre National de Lyon / Cologne / Debussy, Ravel, Manuel de Falla
"Sein Dirigat verbindet Eleganz und Energie in höchst ansprechender Weise."
Kölner Stadt Anzeiger, 17 February 2008
Orchestre National de Lyon / Debussy
"The Orchestre National de Lyon unfolds with somptuous sonorities of a breathtaking beauty under the baton of their galvanized and inspired conductor."
Le Progrès, September 2007
Orchestre National de Lyon / Vienna Musikverein / Messiaen, Ravel, Mahler
"The musicians gave further proof of their feeling for the different facets of sound in the second ballet suite from Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe. The wind section's decorative motifs rose above the gloomy backdrop of the basses, the strings played with subtle nuances and a dancing lilt. Märkl skillfully let the sound bloom whilst avoiding too much luxuriance."
Der Standard, March 2007
Baltimore Symphony / Wagner, Messiaen, Debussy, Berlioz
"German conductor Jun Märkl, in his third engagement with the BSO since 2002, had the ensemble playing at the top of its game Friday night at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, thinking about the color and character of each note, breathing as one.
All evening, the connection between podium and orchestra was as effortless as it was galvanizing and rewarding."
Baltimore Sun, February 2007
Orchestre National de Lyon / Mahler Symphony No. 3
"…an absolutely explosive performance...with a powerful orchestra and a conductor completely persuasive in his treatment of the Mahler score."
resmusica.com , February 2007
Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Stravinky's Petrushka
"...a top-drawer RSNO performance throughout Stravinsky's Petrushka ... characterised by colourful, zesty and bitingly-rhythmic orchestral playing... I cannot think when the auditorium last sounded this alive to the sound of the RSNO, notably in the wallop at the end of the Shrove-tide Fair and the pounding reprise of the Coachmen's Dance."
The Herald, October 2006
"...Märkl and the RSNO struck exalted heights, drawing from Stravinsky's score an electrifying precision and colourful sense of animation and imagination. On that evidence alone, Märkl ought to be asked back."
The Scotsman, October 2006
Semper Oper, Dresden / Weber's Euranthe
"Unter Jun Märkls Händen entfaltete die Sächsische Staatskapelle einen wundervoll durchsichtigen, farbenreichen Klang, der Webers Partitur bestens zu Gesicht stand und den Sängerstimmen alle Gelegenheit zur Entfaltung bot. Trotz Liebe zum Detail lieiß er den Spannungsbogen nie abreißen, balancierte den Orchesterklang zwischen Iyrischer Zartheit und dramatischer Wucht gekonnt aus. Vielleicht - oder besser: hoffentlich - also der Beginn einer "Euryanthe"-Renaissance?"
U. Ehrensberger, Das Opernglas, May 2006
"With Jun Märkl's lean, intelligent conducting and a cast of stars, this is a landmark interpretation.
What Nemirova and Märkl have done is to place the work firmly in its context, an environment of postwar trauma infused with repressive Biedermeier tensions. Märkl spares the work anachronistic romanticism, approaching it from a background of Beethoven and Schubert. In this brisk, electrifying reading, it is astonishing how much foreshadowed Wagner can be heard."
Financial Times, March 2006
"Praise in abundance for the orchestra who were extremely well-prepared and sensitively led by Jun Märkl, for the glorious chorus and for a cast whose command of this complex, difficult work left nothing to be desired...
In the way his orchestra were alert to every nuance of colour, both in the many solo passages and in the tutti passages - interjections scattered throughout the lyrical drama to reinforce it - Jun Märkl showed how this Euryanthe could have been viable, if only the production had done, what good conductors do: let the work speak for itself. "
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, February 2006
"Of course Weber's own orchestra have just the right woodwind timbre, but Jun Märkl managed by dint of absolute transparency and constant vigilance to make us almost forget that Weber gives us many beautiful moments in this work but never a logical musical whole. Märkl conjured up phrases out of thin air and he flitted into imaginary depths by whipping up extreme dynamics. He was helped by a glorious chorus and a fabulous German-speaking house ensemble, which is rarely the case nowadays."
Die Welt, February 2006
"Jun Märkl maintains the momentum throughout the three-hour work, keeping even the large choral tableaux buoyant, keeping a modern Weber in his sights and achieving wonderful results with his slimmed-down approach."
Der Tagesspiegel, February 2006
"Jun Märkl echoed the production with a slimmed-down, transparent interpretation devoid of any cheap romantic thrills. Under his direction the Staatskapelle were feather-light and full of nuance, and the Chorus made a persuasive contribution to the success of the whole evening. The excellent cast together with the orchestra and chorus all proved the incontestable qualities of this performance of Euryanthe and gave a fitting platform to this neglected music."
Freie Presse, February 2006
"...the orchestra, who under Jun Märkl gave us a very transparent, finely-differentiated Weber, devoid of sentimentality or excess. The cast was marvellously supported by the glorious chorus…"
Sächsische Zeitung, February 2006
"We heard a wonderfully transparent, slimmed-down sound."
Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten, February 2006
Orchestre National De Lyon Gala Concert / Wagner, Prokofiev, Dvorak
"We shan't dwell further upon the qualities of this orchestra who surpassed themselves thanks to the importance of the occasion and the talent of their conductor…Pointless to dwell upon. This concert revealed the strong sense of fellowship between the maestro and his troops. Perhaps the best present the ONL could offer its public".
Le Progrès, November 2005
Orchestre National De Lyon Gala Concert / Liszt, Tomasi, Dvorak
"Precise and elegant, his conducting brings out the best qualities of the whole orchestra, a Rolls Royce which can happily stand comparison with the best European ensembles. "
Le Progrès, November 2005.
Orchestre National De Lyon / Liszt & Messiaen
"The conducting was precise, full of contrasts, enthusiastic and motivating. A treat for the ears."
Lyon Figaro, October 2005
"Audacious and demanding, this programme cohered well. The musicians played it with energy and talent in a lyrical and rigorous interpretation generated by the inspired direction of their new boss."
Le Progrès, October 2005
Orchestre National De Lyon / Beethoven & Liszt
"superbly conducted (by heart) by Jun Märkl who can do no wrong. The surgical precision of his conducting made for a lean, flexible performance of refined suppleness, which was more reminiscent of the Sturm and Drang influence from Haydn rather than a heavier Romanticism. The musicians played it with faultless musicality, masterly technique, and were quite clearly enjoying themselves hugely."
Le Progrès, October 2005
"Jun Märkl conducted an "Eroica" the likes of which we have not heard for many years here, full of fire and irresistable momentum: aural fireworks of which the tiniest rocket, carefully placed, acquired devastating meaning. "
Le Tout Lyon, October 2005
Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Mozart & R.Strauss
"Dramatic tension and energetic convulsions, CSO trademarks when it tackles Strauss, permeated the brilliantine performances of Death and Transfiguration and Don Juan in the second half. But Märkl also managed to bring forth the tone poems' softer, graceful side, their Mozartean moments. The orchestra responded to him like the precision machine that it could be, a willing collaborator in his cogently theatrical and never merely showy interpretations. Märkl has proved himself a maestro to watch."
Chicago Tribune
West German Radio Symphony Orchestra / Prokofiev
"Jun Märkl is one of the most interesting conductors of his generation, knows how to let music bloom with an inspirational, impulsive physicality. An elegant, precise conductor, and a sympathetic and cheering presence. He understands how to choose and effect well, understands dynamic developments, and how to give well-measured effects. He is a pleasure to watch…"
Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung
NDR Symphony Orchestra / Debussy, Canteloube, Mendelssohn
"…the orchestra worked itself up into a collective roar, with intoxicating effect, but Jun Märkl never allowed these moments to become violent. Sometimes his conducting seemed almost dance-like, his left hand, full of gesture, ensured fine tuning. The melodic passages, which brought to mind the Scottish expanses at twilight, never failed to impress."
Die Welt
Minnesota Orchestra / Schwertsik & Schubert
"Märkl, a Munich native, opened the evening with an impressively weighty, spacious account of the Overture to Weber's Der Freischütz, and closed with a detailed, well-paced Schubert Symphony in C Major The Great."
Minneapolis Star Tribune
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra / Brahms
"Jun Märkl is by now a familiar figure here, and a welcome one. He is graceful, even balletic in his movements, but in a natural way; there's never the suggestion that it's all for show or part of an act. His conducting is clear and meaningful."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch