Ongaku no Tomo, April 2013
Kyoto Symphony Orchestra (565th Subscription Concert)

Held on 16th February at the Kyoto concert hall, Conductor: Adrian LEAPER, Pianoforte: Makoto OZONE, Trumpet: Harald NAESS, Programme: Stravinsky 'Symphonies of wind instruments' (1920 version), Shostakovich 'Piano concerto No. 1', Walton 'Symphony No. 1' English conductor Adrian Leaper conducted a unique programme with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra with a main focus on Walton's 'Symphony No. 1'. The opening work was Stravinsky's 'Symphonies of wind instruments' which was a quite a nice performance, reaffirming again how good this orchestra now is, and the next work, Shostakovich's 'Piano concerto No. 1' performed by Ozone was also nice.
Although there was still the element of curiosity regarding his performing classical music, with his repeated performances he was in his comfort zone - and this performance was also actually fun. He had a nice sound and his fingering was spot on. Most of all, this was music with a good rhythm full of modern sensibility where the fun aspect of the work was brought forth. I wondered if there were many new orchestra members for the Walton Symphony performing in the latter half. What was surprising was that they were seeped in elegant sympathy for the music as if it were a well-known work. Naturally there was no doubt of the power of Leaper who conducted from memory, and I also have to give a big round of applause to the orchestra which went along with Leaper. It was a good performance where I could appreciate once again the fine form of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra.
(Takayoshi NAKAMURA)

Ongaku no Tomo, March 2011 Concert Reviews
Sapporo Symphony Orchestra (the 535th Subscription Concert)

Adrian Leaper, known for a series of recordings on the Naxos Records label, was brilliantly in control of the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra. The first half featured Hisako Kawamura as the soloist for Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 which Mr Leaper conducted with a calm and balanced sound. Ms Kawamura performed with a natural and refreshing lyricism in a graceful form, and her clear and insightful musicality particularly at the finale conveyed well the charm of Brahms during his youth. However, it would have been nice for both the soloist and orchestra to show more fury in the 1st movement.
With Mr Leaper's capable workmanship in the best sense, Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5 in the second half was a brilliantly conducted and lovely performance. Here, the nice balance of the orchestra stood out with an appealing sound, which shone through without loss of litheness. The tutti was also free and easy without being shrill and the forte was resounding. The brisk rhythm as well as the speed toward the climax without loss of tension in the 2nd movement and finale of the thrilling Prokofiev was thoroughly enjoyable. Whether because of the ongoing cold days, the capacity of the concert hall seats was another issue, but such an appealing sound from the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra brought forth under Mr Leaper's baton certainly deserves another listen.
January 28th at the Sapporo Concert Hall
(Tomohiko HONDO)