The orchestra included a jazz ensemble with three woodwind players who doubled on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone sax, along with flute and bass clarinet... Abdullah has a grip on American music that combines many influences.
Here, the conductor, Kazem Abdullah, coaxed luscious and cacophonous sounds from the incomparable Met orchestra, showing it can play any form of music required... Abdullah worked tirelessly on the podium to bring the music and musicians together to form a powerful whole greater than the sum of its parts.
Conductor Kazem Abdullah admirably led the Lyric Opera Orchestra, which sounded bright and vivid and felt wrapped around the singers’ voices all evening.