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Excerpts of press reviews
Excerpts of Press Reviews:
Concerto Performances
Vaughan-Williams: "Greensleeves"
Rodrigo: Concierto Pastoral
Still: Christmas Suite for Orchestra and Choir (and flute)
Sinfonia of Colorado

"On Friday night, flutist Alexa Still, originally from New Zealand and now Professor of Flute at the CU College of Music, delivered a jovial interpretation of familiar Christmas tunes in "Christmas Suite for Orchestra and Chorus". This delightful - although haphazard- arrangement by Still, as accompanied by the Sinfonia orchestra, left room for plenty of enthusiastic sing-along participation. More importantly, however, the entertaining summation of songs and carols perfectly captures Still's luminous style of musicianship in which every light note was tendered with utmost thoughtfulness, clarity and joy.
Also on the program was Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concierto Pastoral" by which Still made her local debut in a solid and professional performance. While most associate the Spanish composer with guitar music - such as that performed by the pre-eminent Romero family -this work was written for flutist James Galway over 20 years ago.
True to form, Still conveyed Rodrigo's consistent, glowing style that has become a trademark of the recently-deceased composer: from breathless, rapid-fire runs that proved the mettle behind Still's technical aptitude to dreamy, improvisatory melodies delivered without even the merest hint of affectation.
In fact, Still's skillful artistry is nothing but natural, pure and honest. ... The program... also includes Ralph Vaughan-Williams Fantasia on "Greensleeves", which was as poignantly delivered as the composer surely intended. The compelling and eloquent musical lines of this piece from the opera "Sir John in Love" were expertly articulated by Still and the Sinfonia musicians."

        Sabine Kortals, Daily Camera

Hanson: Serenade for Flute, Harp and Orchestra
Arnold: Concerto for Flute and Strings
San Diego Chamber Orchestra

"Soloist Still, the New Zealand Symphony's principal flutist, displayed considerable instrumental mastery in Arnold's "Concerto for Flute and Strings". It mattered not that there were agitated arpeggios, staccato outbursts and jagged trills. Her technique remained fluid and her tone impressively focussed.
... The two women successfully teamed in Hanson's "Serenade" as Barra and the orchestra provided smooth support. Still excelled in the flute's assertiveness while Hays reveled in the harp's rippling delicacy. The performance was warmly received, and not just because of the temperature inside the hall."

        Valerie Scher, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Gordon Jacob: Flute Concerto
South Bend Symphony
"...The featured work for the evening was Gordon Jacob's Concerto for flute and orchestra. Jacob was a 20th century composer whose work was rarely performed. This obscurity is surprising considering the beauty and style of this concerto. It gives a strong platform for a skilled flutist, and featured guest artist Alexa Still is this. One danger of a concerto such as this is "vanishing flute syndrome". The tone of this woodwind instrument can be delicate and light, risking that the sound may wash over it. In Still's performance there was no such danger. She played with a powerful presence that made itself heard clearly."
        Lowell Francis, South Bend Tribune

Corigliano: Pied Piper
New Zealand Symphony
"... charged atmosphere... Alexa Still dressed as the Pied Piper performed with distinction. The emotion of the Corigliano concerto reached its climax when the flute playing children were led away by the Pipe Piper, the rats having been previously dispensed with... Alexa Still's brilliant playing, her wonderful costume..."
        Bettina Lamb, Evening Post

Mozart: G major
Ibert: Flute Concerto
Wellington Sinfonia
"Nowadays the Mozart No.1 Flute Concerto is more often relegated to the ranks of muzak than the concert stage. A performance such as that given by Alexa Still firmly returns the piece to an essential concert item.
It was the opening Allegro Maestoso in which Still showed such an understanding of line, a variance of dynamics and articulation, shaping each phrase with attention-demanding originality. With Jack Spiers conducting, this was some of the very finest modern-instrument Mozart playing to be heard anywhere.
The Ibert Flute Concerto after the interval had an equally committed performance from this outstanding soloist. The piece makes extraordinary demands of colour on an often monochrome instrument, and requires virtuosity in abundance; Still took it's challenges in her stride."

        Allan McFarlane, Evening Post

Rodrigo: Concierto Pastoral
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
"... First was the flute. Rodrigo's extraordinarily difficult Concierto Pastoral...The indeterminate tonalities and angularities of the first movement eased into the second's lush, expansive mood tinged with melancholy. At times there was even a sultry Latin American sunshine. A magic ending let to the third movement's spiky, fairground rhythms. A showpiece for the soloist with rather uninteresting orchestral accompaniment, this work certainly demonstrated the consummate capabilities of Alexa Still, who played from memory."
        Rosemary Collier, Evening Post

Rodrigo: Concierto Pastoral
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
"...Alexa Still led the way with Concierto Pastoral by Rodrigo. Its first movement, begun very actively , did not seem to have much depth in the many short phrases.
Much more appealing was the Adagio, capped with an extensive and brilliant cadenza. Still's excellent technique, and the light accompaniment, brought the whole work through clearly."

        L C M Saunders, New Zealand Herald

Rodrigo: Concierto Pastoral
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
"... The low point was Alexa Still lavishing all her considerable artistic and technical expertise on the twittering inanity of Rodrigo's Concierto Pastoral."
        William Dart, Listener and TV Times

Rodrigo: Concierto Pastoral
Dunedin Sinfonia
"Rodrigo was undoubtedly the highlight. Alexa Still performed the virtuosi flute part with accuracy and energy, and with a keen sense of rhythm, especially in the first movement. She showed her ability to produce a more lyrical tone in disturbing second movement, and the cadenza was glittering.
...It was an excellent idea to end the concert with Alexa Still playing Gluck's Minuet and Blessed Spirit Dance from Orfeo, with the strings. She performed this exquisite piece with refinement and beauty."

        Anthony Ritchie, Otago Daily Times

Mercadante: Concerto in e minor
Opus Chamber Orchestra
"... Mercadante's comparatively mereticulous flute concerto in e minor, its technical problems overcome by soloist Alexa Still with effortless aplomb."
        G E Fairburn, Hamilton

Vivaldi: Goldfinch concerto
New Zealand Chamber Orchestra
"Good as all these items were, the high spots of the program were the two concertos for which Alexa Still was soloist.
In the flute concerto by Vivaldi, she sang and trilled in realistic bird melody, had a gentle arioso in the middle movement, and was brilliantly agile in the finale."

        L C M Saunders, New Zealand Herald

Mozart: Concerto in G Major
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
"In between came the Mozart G Major concerto, an eagerly awaited event, with Alexa Still as soloist. Among the many things I admire abut Alexa Still's playing is her passionate approach to the instrument - even her physical attitude to it suggests a love affair with it, and the sound she make is full of heart and feeling. She knows how to end a phrase to keep one longing for more, and her cadenzas were models of meditative beauty - preserving the improvisatory feel which most soloists lose in their rush to fill in the silences with flurries of notes"
        Simon Tipping, City Times

Mozart: Concerto in C Major for Flute, Harp and Orchestra
Auckland Philharmonia
"Alexa Still and Rebecca Harris gave a synergetic account of the Mozart Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra, the harp providing fine forward momentum with its fluent arpeggios, the flute darting above and below with the interpolation of new material - all achieved with deceptive ease.
In keeping with the 18th century salon atmosphere, the gilt of the instruments - and of the player's garments - provided a golden ambience to match fine musicianship."

        Rex Fisher, New Zealand Herald

Mozart: Concerto in G major
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
"The soloist immediately impressed with clarity in florid passages and expression displayed throughout. There were times unfortunately when the strings couldn't match the extent of her dramatic diminuendi and overshadowed the solo in the first movement, which concluded with a cadenza of sheer brilliance.
The second movement allowed her artistry full reign, the delicate touches and emotional accents were marvelous and the accompaniment was more sympathetic here.
Another brilliant cadenza followed and the third movement was stylishly played with good ensemble work and tuttis and superb playing by the soloist to the end.
This item was warmly applauded and I'm sure the entire audience feel as I do, that this fine musician should be featured as soloist more often."

        J. H. N., Wanganui Chronicle

Ibert: Flute Concerto
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
"It was good programming to precede the new work with Ibert's jaunty Flute concerto of 1934. NZSO principal flute Alexa Still presented the solo part with the unflappable control and strong projection we have come to take for granted from her.
Apparently dressed in metallic homage to the late lamented Gianni Versace, Still's stage entrance caused a stir in the theatre.
By the end of the concerto, she had won over the musical sensibilities of the audience as well. From time to time, the solo line was overpowered by the orchestra, but in quieter passages Still was able to reveal a whole spectrum of instrumental colour."

        Waikato Times

Bach: b minor Suite
Gordon Jacob: Flute Concerto
Nelson Chamber Orchestra
"It was an elegant occasion. The hall was virtually packed, the orchestra seated symmetrically about the harpsichord and wonderful Wellington Flutist Alexa Still...
Bach's b minor orchestral suite opened the concert.
...In general the orchestra was responsive and sympathetic to the flexible vitality of the solo flute, but could have done with more transparency and accuracy.
...However, it was the Gordon Jacob concerto that was a performance of real beauty. Still's slender and lovely opening phrase immediately held us and, combining with Paczians' conducting skill, inspired the orchestra to maintain a very high level until the Finale swirled to a close.
She is a superb musician."

        Mary Ayre, Nelson Daily News

Rodrigo: Concierto Pastoral
Auckland Philharmonia
"Rodrigo's Concierto Pastoral for flute and orchestra could not have been more different; straight forward writing, but tacking advantage of flute technique to the full. Alexa Still gave a commanding performance from the start, with the angular themes of the opening allegro jauntily performed above the violin's pizzicato. A lyrical second movement showed Still's strength in legato phrasing, although a bit breathless on some high notes in the cadenza."
        Auckland Star

Rodrigo: Concierto Pastoral
Auckland Philharmonia
"Alexa Still, soloist for the Concierto Pastoral of the Spanish composer Joachim Rodrigo, gave a winning performance of this demanding work.
It plunged her immediately into very active music, and then a less strenuous section in which the solo flute had a dialogue with the oboe.
This stylistic pattern was frequented again in the serious slow movement, where phrases from the flute were picked up by individual instruments.
Here there were also rapid scalic flourishes and a big cadenza, before she returned to the quiet of the opening.
Alexa Still handled it all with professional expertise, her tone notable for it's control and glitter rather than mellow quality."

        L. C. M. Saunders, Auckland Herald

Dame Ethyl Smyth: Four songs for mezzo, flute, harp percussion and strings
Chloe Moon: Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra
New Zealand Womens' Chamber Orchestra
"Alexa Still's ever-effervescent flute playing together with the clear and warm sounds of the orchestra lent support to Medlyn's singing, finding a lushness in Smyth's music ...Concertino for flute and chamber orchestra by Chloe Moon saw Alexa Still bringing her authority to the music. The driving first movement had some extreme explorations of the flute range. A haunting opening and closing to the second movement was not sustained, but provided a special moment."
        Ivan Patterson, Dominion

Chloe Moon: Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra
New Zealand Womens' Chamber Orchestra
"The elegant and colourful flute playing of Alexa Still made Chloe Moon's Concertino enjoyable listening."
        Canzona

Anthony Ritchie: Concerto for flute and Orchestra (world premiere)
Dunedin Sinfonia
"..Ritchie can feel well please with the piece - it offers the soloist plenty of bravura display, and the accompaniment is comparatively simple and judiciously scored. The music has enough substance to satisfy while there is no denying the happy and accessible nature of most of it. The audience was extremely appreciative of the work and the brilliant playing of the dynamic Alexa Still."
        Peter Adams, Music in New Zealand

Vivaldi: Goldfinch Concerto
Bach: Suite no.2 in b minor
New Zealand Chamber Orchestra
"It helped to have Alexa Still as the soloist in the Flute Concerto RV 428 (the Goldfinch) and in the Bach Suite no.2 in b minor BWV1067, for she is a player of the highest quality. She is regarded by more than one visiting conductor as the finest flute player in Australasia and on the evidence of her playing in this concert it would be difficult to argue with such an assessment."
        John Button, Dominion

Mozart: Concerto for flute and Harp
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
"That Alexa Still is a flute player of real quality is well known to all who attend NZSO concerts, but here, as a soloist, she showed she is also a considerable musician and a Mozart stylist to boot."
        John Button, Dominion

Mozart Concerto in C Major for Flute, Harp and Orchestra
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
"...the gracefully phrased playing of Alexa Still..."
        Lindis Taylor, Evening Post

Vivaldi: Goldfinch Concerto
Bach: Suite no.2 in b minor
New Zealand Chamber Orchestra
"The orchestra was joined by flautist Alexa Still for the last piece of the first half, Vivaldi's Flute Concerto in No.3. Her performance was bright, intelligent and stylish. While she does not produce a big tone, it is warm and beautiful and this was particularly evident in the slow movement.
Alexa Sill returned in the second half to play Bach's Suite No.2 and again produced a polished, elegant performance. Her encore was charming."

        Anthony Ritchie, Otago Daily Times

Smyth: Four songs for mezzo, flute, harp percussion and strings
Chloe Moon: Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra
New Zealand Womens' Chamber Orchestra
"Alexa Still gave a typically commanding performance in Chloe Moon's Concertino for Flute and Chamber Orchestra."
        Music in New Zealand

Devienne: Concerto in e minor
Mozart: Andante in C, Rondo in D
New Zealand Chamber Orchestra
"... in this programme Alexa Still introduced one by Devienne. Rich in attractive melody, it exemplified classical beauty, a point emphasised in the refinement and beauty of Still's playing.
Mozart filled the second half of the programme. Accompanied by strings, oboes and horns, Alexa Still continued her flute solo role in an Andante in C, graceful in its smooth flow, and the Rondo in D..."

        L.C.M. Saunders, New Zealand Herald

Ibert: Flute concerto
New Zealand Sympony
"...Alexa Still, in spangles, dazzles in Ibert's flute concerto."
        William Dart, Listener

Mozart: Concerto in G Major
New Zealand Symphony
"Alexa Still, very Emma in her peach coloured dress, gave a beautiful performance of the Mozart flute concerto...an exquisite job of the slow movement... She seemed to be particularly careful to merge her sound with the orchestra, notable even in her cadenzas."
        Lindis Taylor, Evening Post

Mozart: Concerto in G Major
Ibert: Flute Concerto
Wellington Sinfonia
"There was an international-class soloist in Alexa Still...the second movement was serenely beautiful...
Though it (Ibert) makes big demands of the soloist, Alexa Still succeeded in turning its bravura into a musical stream that was in turn witty and reflective."

        Lindis Taylor, Evening Post

Anthony Ritchie: Flute Concerto (world premiere)
Vivaldi: Piccolo Concerto
Dunedin Sinfonia
"... a very listener-friendly concerto (Ritchie) which was played by Ms Still and the orchestra with style and flourish...
Earlier Ms Still demonstrated her virtuoso skills in Vivaldi's Concerto for piccolo and Strings. A real tour de force, this, for the soloist where the best technical skills are necessary just to play all the notes.
As might be expected, it was beautifully played."

        Donald Evans, Otago Daily Times

Mozart: Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra
"Alexa Still played beautifully...."
        John Button, Dominion

Devienne: Concerto in e minor
Mozart: Andante in C, Rondo in D
New Zealand Chamber Orchestra
"Here flutist Alexa Still was at her lyrical best, with some delicate phrasing in the Andante, while the Rondo highlighted a firm control of scale passages.
A concerto by Francois Devienne beforehand sounded demanding, if somewhat superficial music. Devienne, a contemporary of Mozart , certainly gives a soloist plenty of opportunity for bravura playing, although in comparison the depth shown in Mozart's scores is clearly missing. Having said that, Still once again handled the many scale passages in beautiful articulated fashion, especially in the elegant Rondo."

        Tara Werner, Auckland Star

Vivialdi: Goldfinch Concerto
Bach: Suite No. 2 in b minor
New Zealand Chamber Orchestra
".. the better known Goldfinch Concerto in which Alexa Still, flautist, showed her customary agility and brilliance.
That it is not entirely a display piece was evident in the scoring and performance of the contemplative sicilienne.
... The evening closed with Alexa Still blending skillfully with the band in Bach's lively B minor Suite, so well received that an encore was given; Saint-Saens' dazzling tour de force for flutes, The Birds, from his Carnival Of Animals."

        G E Fairburn, Waikato Times

"Waiata Poi" for Last night of the Proms
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
"Then it was Alexa Still and her flute (she in a dazzling metallic gown looking like Jessica Rabbit) for Waiata Poi....."
        John Button, Dominion

Bach: Brandenburg 5
Bach: Musical Offering
"The fifth Brandenburg Concerto was a fine place to start; it featured the orchestra's favorite flautist, Alexa Still... the playing was refined and beautiful, the music treated with authentic reverence..."
        Lindis Taylor, Evening Post

Doppler: Duettino for Two Flutes
Wellington Chamber Orchestra
"But it was the glittering last piece - Franz Doppler's Duettino for Two Flutes- from Alexa Still and young Bridget Douglas that brought it all to a brilliant conclusion. The accompaniment presented few problems, but flawless was the gipsy gaiety, the perfect phrasing, the exact ensemble from the two flautists."
        Lindis Taylor, Evening Post

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