The true star of the evening was Helge Dorsch at the conductor´s podium. Through his leadership the Budapest State Opera Orchestra was able to create the kind of complex dramatic tension which gives this opera its musical richness and appeal. From the beginning, the overture bubbled over with fresh and vigorous spirit. The transitions between tender lyrical moments and highly dramatic outbursts were clearly defined. Bizet´s rich shading was seamlessly realized, not as a tragic balancing act such as Don José´s, but rather in subtle musical colors. It was unfortunate that the acoustical quality of the sound from the orchestra pit arrived in the upper rows of the auditorium somewhat muffled in comparison to the voices from the stage, since it was there that the real fire of this Carmen was produced.
(Rhein-Zeitung)

A brilliant Hungarian State Orchestra under the leadership of Helge Dorsch prepared the way toward Seville. The conductor "whirled" his baton: he found just the right note, not only musically, but also with his personal, almost athletic, touch.
(Westfälischer Anzeiger)

The singers were accompanied sure-handedly by the Orchestra of the Budapest State Opera. Under the baton of Helge Dorsch the orchestra played with agility and was able to react sensitively to the singers.
(Badisches Tageblatt)

The orchestra played brilliantly under conductor Helge Dorsch, who led his musicians through the opera with energetic tempi. Responding to the challenge, the orchestra played precisely and did not lose sight of the musical expression in the midst of all the technical finesse. Above ail, the ensemble including chorus, instrumentalists and soloists shone brilliantly as a whole.
(Heidenheimer Neue Presse)

The Orchestra of the Budapest State Opera was without reservation equal to the expectations that such a professional ensemble engenders. The Hungarians played their way vivaciously into the hearts of the listeners.
(Heidenheimer Zeitung)

The most convincing performance of the evening was delivered by the Budapest State Orchestra.
(Rheinische Post)

Professor Helge Dorsch, chief conductor of the Loreley Festival, "paints" with the music: in tender pastels he draws the musical colours, sets the instrumental accents with feathery strokes, and brings it all together in dramatic explosions. Thus the opera patrons hoping for some "Spanish fire" in this open-air theatre should not be disappointed. The soft tones of the flute, accompanied by harp and bells, swelled up to a vigorous Spanish flamenco and broke off abruptly. The Budapest State Opera Orchestra followed the conductor´s every finger movement and ably accomplished the transitions between the tender adagios and the powerful fortissimos.
(Grafschafter Nachrichten)

The Budapest State Opera Orchestra achieved a convincingly homogenous sound without overpowering the stage drama. Compliments for the conductor Helge Dorsch: he was effortlessly able to hold the widely extended ensemble together and to inspire them ever anew.
(Meppener Tagespost)

The Budapest State Opera Orchestra responded conscientiously to the leadership of Helge Dorsch, whose conducting never overpowered the overall effect.
(Bonner General-Anzeiger)

The lion´s share of the applause goes to Helge Dorsch, who has his orchestra well in hand and leads them to remarkable achievements. Beginning with the overture, where the three main themes are introduced, Dorsch works out the various moods strictly according to Bizet. After the "Habanera" the orchestra takes up the gloomy death motive and corresponds with appropriate sonority to the drama onstage. Dorsch´s conducting allows the musicians to recreate with precision Bizet´s work in all its complexity and to delineate the emotional and the highly dramatic sequences, which is what makes this "Carmen" In Bad Mergethelm, despite a few flaws, worth seeing.
(Fränkische Nachrichten)

Now we come to the real good news about the performance, that is, the well rehearsed and strongly confident chorus and even more, the orchestra of the Budapest State Opera under the competent baton of Helge Dorsch. At last we have been able to hear a "Carmen" with the stamp of French lightness and elegance, without the grand-opera pomposity.
(Tauber - Zeitung)

I was introduced to an excellent ensemble, the "State Orchestra of the Rheinisch Philharmonic" under the masterful conducting of Prof. Helge Dorsch, which did not limit itself merely to accompanying the arias, but was equal to the full symphonic demands of the music on the program. (Gala concert of the Loreley Festival with stars from the Bayreuth Festival).
(Der Neue Merker, Wien)

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