Opera News
“Conductor Valery Ryvkin proved an inspired interpreter, conveying the melodic sweetness and innocence in the score and obtaining first-class playing from the excellent Sarasota Opera Orchestra.”

(Hansel & Gretel, Sarasota Opera)

“For Sarasota’s first performance, apparently the U.S. premiere, Valéry Ryvkin paced the score with wit, verve and colloquial nuance.”

(May Night, Sarasota Opera)

“Some credit for this must go to the conductor, Valéry Ryvkin, who never let the pace slacken and extracted fine playing from the Greensboro Symphony.”

(Madama Butterfly, Greensboro Opera)

“Gately’s innovations were largely subtle and sure, complimenting the equally assured conducting of Valéry Ryvkin.”

(La Traviata, Greensboro Opera)

Opera
“Conductor Valéry Ryvkin’s obvious affection for the piece likewise proved irresistible…the orchestra responded potently to that enthusiasm, often sounding double its size as it reveled in the richness of Rimsky’s scoring… conductor Valéry Ryvkin maintained a good ensemble and led with idiomatic flair.”

 (May Night, Sarasota Opera)

European Reviews
“Maestro Valéry Ryvkin drew excellent music making from his cast and orchestra, breathed life and magic into the music, and anchored the performance in authenticity of style.”

(May Night, Sarasota Opera)

Los Angeles Times
“With an able conductor in the person of Valéry Ryvkin signed on as music director....Ryvkin’s cohesive and fluent conducting and Igesz’s sometimes hyper kinetic staging usually hold the entire project together.”

 (Don Pasquale, Opera Santa Barbara)

"The first version (of "Boris") has been criticized for its monochromatic color and ostensibly for certain musical ineptness. But there was no justification for thar here. Under the loving and sympathetic conducting of Valery Ryvkin, a native of St. Petersburg now artistic director of Opera Santa Barbara, the work took on almost chamber opera quality, an opera rightfully dominated by singers, not the orchestra. Ryvkin and the company revealed how Mussorgsky used his palette of orchestral colors sparingly and tellingly, with a sense of theme and character appropriateness."

(Boris Godunov, San Diego Opera)

The San Diego Tribune
"As staged by veteran director Lotfi Mansouri and conducted by Russian-born Valery Ryvkin, the production is traditional in the best sense of the word, meaning that it's true to the work's intentions and doesn't resort to attention-getting gimmickry or distortion. The 16th-century-style costumes are striking and the sets are evocative, even if the wooden siding at the inn looks like cut-rate paneling and the backdrop in the czar's living room resembles a massive shower curtain.

The San Diego Symphony was a reliable asset, summoning delicate string pizzicatos as well as brass-fueled outbursts under Ryvkin's confident direction. And the computer-assisted church bells that were pumped through the Civic's sound system provided further proof that this season-opening “Boris” was more than good enough."

(Boris Godunov, San Diego Opera)

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“The young performers were expertly guided by Valéry Ryvkin, who brilliantly invigorated rhythms and sensitively controlled dynamics.”

 (L’Elisir d’Amore, Pittsburgh Opera Center)