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Shlomo Mintz - Press

Concert review: Press extracts on Mr. Mintz's concerts & recitals during the 2004 - 2005 Season.

From Ilona Schaareman
Posted April 17, 2005 at 02:34 AM

violinist - violist - conductor

PRESS EXTRACTS 2004 – 2005

Ha’aretz (By Hagai Hitron) 10/08/2004 Keshet Eilon
(Gala concert in Tel Aviv with teachers and participants of the Keshet Eilon Mastercourse)

...Shlomo Mintz demonstrated true violin musicianship and an elegance of tone in Kreisler’s exceedingly spare “Recitativo and Scherzo-Caprice”, and observed in brief remarks that Keshet Eilon’s vision is to be a light unto young violinists throughout the world.
Whoever attended the Mastercourse events at Kibbutz Eilon knows that this comment was no exaggeration but a reflection of reality...

Diario de Sevilla (By Andrès Moreno Mengíbar) 14/10/2004 Sevilla
(Recital with Itamar Golan - Brahms Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major Op. 78, Sonata for Viola and Piano No. 1 in F Minor Op. 120, Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor Op. 108)

...Shlomo Mintz performed Brahms’s sonatas with sober gestures and a high degree of concentration, with an irreproachable technique and a clear and fleshy sound.
There was poetry, passion, fire and energy. And what a quality of sound…

Der Landbote (By Anja Bühnemann) 19/10/2004 Winterthur
(Winterthur cycle - Recital with Itamar Golan - Brahms Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major Op. 78, Sonata for Viola and Piano No. 1 in F Minor Op. 120, Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor Op. 108)

...Shlomo Mintz played with great intimacy and his performance was characterized by inner emotions and a scale of fine nuances.
The impressed audience rewarded him with standing ovations...

Aargauer Zeitung (By Jürg Haller) 26/10/2004 Baden
(Winterthur cycle - Orchester Musikkollegium Winterthur - conductor and soloist - Stravinsky Suite No. 1 for small orchestra, Shostakovitsch Kammersinfonie in C Minor Op. 110a, Beethoven Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 61)

...Shlomo Mintz shone both as conductor and violin soloist.
It was wonderful to see him combining the double function of soloist and conductor. He mesmerized the audience with his intense tone, his flawless technique and his subtle shaping of the musical lines.
The orchestra followed him highly concentrated and in the end the enthusiastic audience gave him a roaring applause.As a conductor, Shlomo Mintz impressed with his ability to inspire the musicians on a deep emotional level, which resulted in profound interpretations...

Der Landbote (By Rita Wolfensberger) 26/10/2004 Winterthur
(Winterthur cycle - Orchester Musikkollegium Winterthur - conductor - soloists: Itamar Golan & Natsuko Inoue - Mozart Concerto for two pianos and orchestra KV 365, Poulenc Concerto for two pianos and orchestra in D Minor, Beethoven Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21)

...During his week as a guest star with the Musikkollegium Winterthur, Shlomo Mintz showed that he is a masterly chamber music player and concert soloist, as well as a brilliant conductor, and in this last concert, in which he performed only as a conductor, he proved that he is also an excellent soloist accompanist.
Shlomo Mintz’s conducting is an ideal mix of precision and flexibility and his refreshing interpretations of even the most well-known pieces resulted into a wonderful listening experience...

Beijing Portal (By Joey) 02/11/2004 Beijing
(Recital with Adrienne Krausz - Mozart Sonata for violin and piano No. 34 in A Major KV. 526, Schubert Sonata for violin and piano in A Major D. 574 "Grand Duo", Beethoven Sonata for violin and piano No. 10 in G Major Op. 96)

...Israeli Violinist Shlomo Mintz is one of the finest musicians in the world...

WASO (West Australian Symphony Orchestra) 25/11/2004 Perth
(Announcement upcoming performance of Brahms’s Violin Concerto)

...Sibelius, Beethoven, and now the Brahms. Those who have followed Shlomo Mintz’ survey of the great romantic violin concerti in his remarkable partnership with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra will not want to miss this superb violinist’s performances in 2005.
When an artist of this presence and authority stands on the stage of a city’s concert hall,
the silence that he commands steals into the city’s consciousness, and the sound that pours forth from his instrument, burns into its soul...

Westdeutsche Zeitung (By Finn Jacobsen) 13/12/2004 Düsseldorf
(Düsseldorfer Symphoniker - soloist - Beethoven Violin Concerto)

...Shlomo Mintz played with noblesse and concentration and his wonderful tone carried remarkably far, and was clear in all ranks and nuances…
Since he has no technical limitations, he played the solo part in a natural way, without any unnecessary effects...

El Día (Author unknown) 11/01/2005 Tenerife
(Zurich Chamber Orchestra - soloist - Mozart Concertos No. 4 & 5)

...The interpretations of Mozart’s Violin Concertos No 4 & 5, performed by Shlomo Mintz, were rewarded with a roaring applause...

Frankfurter Rundschau (By Bernhard Uske) 20/01/2005 Frankfurt
(Tour with English Chamber Orchestra - conductor and soloist - Bach Violin Concerto No 2 in E Major,
Mozart Violin Concerto 5, Jupiter Symphony)

...Shlomo Mintz at the Olympus…
The precise musicians of the English Chamber Orchestra adjusted to the master and offered a record experience live...

Tageblatt (By Marco Schmidt) 24/01/2005 Munich
(Tour with English Chamber Orchestra - conductor and soloist - Mozart Concertos No. 4 & 5, Jupiter Symphony)

...With his violin tones Shlomo Mintz could even enchant a nightingale, and his perfect co-operation with the English Chamber Orchestra was an otherworldly highlight...

Südwest Presse (by Jürgen Kanold) 25/01/2005 Ulm
(Tour with English Chamber Orchestra - conductor and soloist - Mozart Concertos No. 1 & 3, Prague Symphony)

...Shlomo Mintz played unendingly beautiful, and conducted the sovereign English Chamber Orchestra in a serious and convincing way…
Too good to be true? No, it was good and true...

Altamusica (By Gérard Mannoni) 31/01/2005 Paris
(Tour with English Chamber Orchestra - conductor and soloist - Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3, Sinfonia Concerante for Violin (Hagai Shaham) and Viola (Shlomo Mintz), Jupiter Symphony)

...Shlomo Mintz, magical and magnificent…
A true lesson in music, direct and sincere…
Mozart like one has always dreamt it...

Classicalsource (By Colin Anderson) 03/02/2005 London
(Tour with English Chamber Orchestra - conductor and soloist - Mozart Concertos No. 4 & 5, Jupiter Symphony)

...Shlomo Mintz is not a regular visitor to London – which is a shame.
His renditions of Mozart’s concertos returned this music to an era of time-taken elegance…
With consistently measured tempos, shapely articulate phrasing, and with no need to intervene on the music’s behalf, these were totally trusting, rather genial accounts...

Il Resto del Carlino (by Stefano Marchetti 08/02/2005 Modena
(Tour with English Chamber Orchestra - conductor and soloist - Mozart Overture Le Nozze di Figaro,
Concertos No. 3 & 4, Prague Symphony)

...The incredible soloist conductor Shlomo Mintz and the English Chamber Orchestra offered an extraordinary performance…
This evening will always remain a “souvenir”...

Hong Kong Entertainment (hkentertainment.com 21/03/2005 Hong Kong
(Hong Kong Sinfonietta - soloist - Beethoven Violin Concerto)

...In the violin concerto in D, Op 61 by Ludwig van Beethoven, Shlomo Mintz kept the audience spellbound throughout an entrancing performance, excellently supported by the orchestra.
After the concert the audience was treated to a most superb solo performance and repeated encores. An evening to remember...

Extracts assembled and translated by Ilona Schaareman

To all who like to read about Mr. Shlomo Mintz!
Regards,
Ilona

Thank you so much for your efforts. I am a huge fan of Shlomo Mintz, and cannot understand why he is not recording with a major label again.

Regards,

Don

I recently received my copy of his new Mozart concerto cycle CD in Avie and it is a wonderful recording - everything I was hoping it would be. Great recordings both in terms of performance and sound engineering. It has everything I look for in a recording. I am looking forward to receiving my copy of the Brahms sonatas as well. The store had already sold out their stock of that CD even though I pre-ordered it!

On the following link you can find Mr. Mintz’s current biography:

http://www.iclassics.com/artistBio?contentId=645

Kindest regards,

Ilona

Jyllands-Posten (By Hjarne Fessel) 29/04/2005 Aalborg
(Aalborg Symfoniorkester - soloist - Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2)

...International allure in Aalborg...
Shlomo Mintz has a fierce temperament and his typical, sometimes even aggressive tone-shaping suited Bartók’s Violin Concerto fabulously…
His virtuoso performance was profound, personal, and in every way convincing…

Il Gazzettino (By F.L.) 29/04/2005 Vicenza
(l'Orchestra del Teatro Olimpico - soloist - Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto)

...Shlomo Mintz’s, the soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, bewitches audiences in all great concert halls of the world with his incredible talent...

Regards,

Ilona

SSO (events) 13/05/2005 Singapore
(Announcement concert with Singapore Symphony Orchestra)

Celebrated Israeli violinist Shlomo Mintz ("Shlomo Mintz's heavenly tone enchanted the audience"- Munchner Zeitung) makes his Singapore debut as both soloist and conductor in this all-Beethoven concert.
He will lead the SSO from the violin, a first in the history of the Orchestra…

Bravo-Music (By lzydata) 13/05/2005 Singapore
(Singapore Symphony Orchestra - conductor and soloist - Beethoven Coriolan Overture,
Symphony No. 8 in F major, Violin Concerto in D major)

…Shlomo Mintz’s playing and conducting was fantastic…

Blogspot (By Pei Yun) 13/05/2005 Singapore
(Singapore Symphony Orchestra - conductor and soloist - Beethoven Coriolan Overture,
Symphony No. 8 in F major, Violin Concerto in D major)

…Shlomo Mintz was the conductor for the concert, and he was also the violin soloist.
It was noteworthy to know that he conducted the orchestra from the violin tonight, while playing the solo violin for Beethoven's Violin Concerto.
His sound was clear and refined…

The West Australian (By Neville Cohn) 04/07/2005 Perth
(West Australian Symphony Orchestra - soloist - Brahms Violin Concerto)

…Brahms’s Violin Concerto abounds in musical ideas. Some bristle with virility - and Shlomo Mintz was the man to convey them to the listener in all their rugged strength.
The opening measures of the finale, for instance, were informed by an almost palpable, grainy tone that projected arrow-like into the auditorium.
Mintz was no less convincing in evoking the composer’s most tender themes, clothing notes with beguilingly sweet sound. This latter quality was much in evidence in the slow movement.
Here, Mintz revealed the achingly beautiful solo line flawlessly, allowing the listener to savour this gentle, lullaby-like statement to the full.
This serene quietness was all the more effective when contrasted with Mintz’s defiant, even aggressive, approach to the outer movements of the concerto…

Regards,

Ilona

we proudly inform you that there will be from now on a website available with many informations about Shlomo Mintz.

Please visit:

www.shlomo-mintz.com

Christa Morneweg,
Management Shlomo Mintz

Without a doubt Mr Mintz was one of the greatest violinists ever recorded - a wonderful sound and effortless technique and somehow he has a unique way of phrasing and articulating his ideas, very colorful sound and often offers a unique musical vision... his recordings of paganini caprices and sibelius are among the best I have heard - bar none - as is the prokofiev concertos and sonatas, the dvorak is exploding with expression.

Its a shame dg dropped him, Im really happy to see him still going.

Mr. Mintz is very happy now to work with AVIE Records. Do you have the new CD's?
With both of them he was chosen from the new
Penguin Guide under the top 100 with outstanding
reviews.

New recordings will come end of 2006.

Christa Morneweg,
Management Shlomo Mintz

Otago Daily (New Zealand) 07/07/2005

…Shlomo Mintz’s violin playing: Ravishingly beautiful with the ability to enchant a nightingale…

Ha’aretz (Israel) 11/08/2005

…Keshet Eilon (Patron: Shlomo Mintz) is an educational enterprise that entices both ear and eye…

Matterhornstate.com (Switzerland) 13/08/2005

…The magical Maestro Shlomo Mintz…

Atelier (Romania) 29/09/2005

…Phenomenal soloist - conductor Shlomo Mintz deeply affected the audience…

Jornal do Brasil (Brasil) 30/09/2005

…Shlomo Mintz: a great name, a perfect violinist…

Hoy (Ecuador) 11/10/2005

…Gentle musical lines and difficult virtuoso violin solos were performed with dazzling skilfulness by violinist Shlomo Mintz…

Libertà (Italy) 27/10/2005

…Mintz, a magician on the violin…

ArtRusse (France) 24/11/2005

...An exceptional concert…

University of Malta (Israel) 21&22/12/2005

…Violinist Shlomo Mintz’s magical baton leads the choir and orchestra…

El Universal (Mexico) 18/01/2006

…Shlomo Mintz: “We must listen to each other more than ever. I hope that this concert communicates through music and words the message "Nunca más" - "Never again"…

Gazeta Wmborcza (Poland) 06/03/2006

…The illustrious Shlomo Mintz displayed exceptional musicality and marvellous elegance…

Corriere della Sera (Italy) 30/03/2006

…The great Shlomo Mintz returns to Milan not just to reveal once again his incredible immense talent on the violin, but also to present his skills as a violist and a conductor…

La Nacion (Argentina) 06/05/2006

…The highlight of the evening was the exceptional Shlomo Mintz…

Diario de Cuyo (Argentina) 15/05/2006

…Shlomo Mintz, a phenomenon…

Radio Prague News (Czech Republic) 06/06/2006

…Violinist Shlomo Mintz’s applauded recital can be seen as one of the true ornaments of the festival…

Ecuador Inmediato (Ecuador) 23/06/2006

...Shlomo Mintz: One of the leading and most enchanting violinists & conductors of the world…

El Norte de Castilla (By Fernando Herrero) 07/10/2006 Spain
(Paganini 24 caprices)

…To interpret Paganini’s 24 caprices in one single concert is an immense achievement.
Only a few instrumentalists have the courage to do so, and Shlomo Mintz, the American - Russian artist, realized this in an absolutely triumphal way.

Paganini’s compositions are, of course, virtuoso and for that reason the technique predominates over musical inspiration.
But Shlomo Mintz showed in an amazing way that the caprices also do possess moments of great beauty.

This experience was fascinating.
With absolute solemnity, an amazing technique and a prodigious left hand, Shlomo Mintz taught us what playing the violin is about.
The audience reacted with great bravos and the artist, in spite of his already incredible performance, played yet another virtuoso piece of the composer.
An absolute triumph…

FiloMusica no.78 (By Fernando López Vargas-Machuca) November 2006 Spain

…It is beyond understanding that there is a human being on the Earth who is able to touch this monument of the most arduous and impossible virtuosity in such a perfect and direct way.
Absolutely all the technical resources of the violin are within the reach of his hands, and in addition, he uses them without showing off at any moment.

One heard a sound so powerful and homogenous, a sound beautiful and flexible, and he obtained at any moment a polyphonic clarity, which is far from easy in these not so very playable pieces by Paganini.
Shlomo Mintz managed to extract a good dose of strength, gentleness, irony and dramatic musical quality in a tense reading, with expressive shades, and at moments he even surpassed the miracle that already offered in his mythical registration for Deutsche Grammophon from two decades ago…

…The magnificent Shlomo Mintz, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest violinists, demonstrated both his master skills and profoundness in Bartók’s Concerto and in an encore by Bach.
His flawless, touching and subtle approach of Bartók’s composition relieved the heaviness of this concerto by the Hungarian, who is considered a pioneer of the Twentieth Century music…

Comunità ebraica di Milano (By Guido Vitale) 29/11/2006 Milan
(Recital with Adrienne Krausz - Mozart Sonata KV 378, Shostakovich Sonata Op. 147)

…”There is something that goes beyond every possible artistic understanding”…
This became clear in the extraordinary concert that Israeli violinist Shlomo Mintz gave at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan.
The performance of the violinist, who is nowadays unanimously considered to be the greatest violinist of our times, was unforgettable.
With his flawless technique, and his intense and transparent renditions, Shlomo Mintz left the audience breathlessly and in ecstasy…

Radio Televizija Srbije (Production Department) 9/12/2006 Belgrade
(RTS Symphony Orchestra - soloist - Sibelius Violin Concerto)

…More than a concert…

AmadeusOnLine (Press office) 15/12/2006 Vercelli
(Orchestra Camerata Ducale - conductor and soloist - Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4 KV 218,
Mozart Symphony. No.25. KV 183, Bach Violin Concerto in A Minor BWV 1041)

…Shlomo Mintz in Vercelli - The enchanted bow…
The audience of the Viotti Festival could admire the extraordinary twofold musical skills of famous violinist and conductor Shlomo Mintz…

…Violins for life…
Violinist Shlomo Mintz pays homage to violins of the Shoah with this “Violins for Life” concert.
Through several compositions, the violinist leads the audience through the universes of the violins of Shoah…
An exciting concert with the legendary Shlomo Mintz from Israel…

The Jerusalem Post (by Maxim Reider) 12/03/2007 Eilat
(Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra - conductor and soloist - Tchaikovsky Serenade for strings, Mozart Concerto No. 4, Symphonia Concertante

…The concert of Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra from Amsterdam, led by Shlomo Mintz, crowned the festival.
Performing "Serenade for Strings," by Tchaikovsky, the orchestra exhibited a beautiful and flexible chamber sound. After intermission, Mintz played "Concerto No. 4" by Mozart and then, switching to viola, offered a top-notch rendition of "Symphonia Concertante" by the same composer together with violinist Hagai Shaham…

Il Portale del Violino (Author unknown) 27/03/2007 Figline Valdarno
(Orchestra Regionale Toscana - conductor and soloist - Grieg Holberg Suite, Beethoven 2 Romances, Schubert Symphony No. 5)

…Last Saturday evening I listened to the optimal Orchestra Regionale Toscana conducted by
Shlomo Mintz! ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT…

they didn't drop him, the contract expired and recordings as I produced with Shlomo Mintz since 2004 would not be possible these days with the "big" companies at all.
After the highly acclaimed recordings of the Brahms Sonatas and all Mozart concertos a new album will be released end of 2007. Shlomo Mintz
just finished the recording, accompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with the 2 violin concertos, the viola concerto and the 2 Rhapsodies by Bela Bartok.

Best,

Christa Morneweg
Management and producer of Shlomo Mintz

…Famous Israeli virtuoso Shlomo Mintz’s playing is considered to be equal to Paganini's…

Los Andes (By Patricia Slukich) 19/06/2007 Mendoza
(La Orquesta Sinfónica - soloist - Brahms Violin Concerto)

…Shlomo Mintz: One of the best violinists of the planet…
An extraordinary performance…

KBS-Info (Author unknown) 28 & 29/06/2007 Seoul
(KBS Symphony Orchestra - soloist - Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in e minor, op.64)

…Shlomo Mintz, Master of the Dazzling Glamour…

Corriere della Sera 07/10/2007
By Parola Enrico

The great Shlomo Mintz at the Scala

THE OTHER NIGHT AT THE PIERMARINI

A sold-out concert hall for the 'Caprices' played by Shlomo Mintz for charity

"This is for children all over the world."
After filling the hall of the Piermarini with an overwhelming and virtuoso performance of Paganini’s 24 Caprices, Shlomo Mintz spoke a few words.
"Giving money is not enough: we must also devote our talents," explained Mintz after the concert, which he ended with an encore by Bach, to calm down the enchanted audience who attended his concert of last Friday night, at the Scala.
This long awaited recital of the great Russian violinist was dedicated to the "House of small angels,"
a centre for children with mental and physical handicaps in Haiti.

Comments:

AT5 News Amsterdam 21/10/2007

…Violin expert Herman Krebbers: “When one can play the Caprices, one can play anything”…

Amsterdam Weekly Amsterdam 21/10/2007

…The world renowned violinist Shlomo Mintz is touring the world's greatest concert halls for memorable performances of Paganini's 24 Caprices for solo violin…

The TV Show (Dutch TV) Amsterdam 21/10/2007

…Ivo Niehe: “Shlomo Mintz: The best violinist in the world, a very special person”…

Quotes:

Corriere della Sera (Italy)

…Critics define Shlomo Mintz as a “phenomenon”…

MijnNL (Holland)

…Only the greatest violinists can play these impossibly difficult compositions…

Amsterdam Uitburo (Holland)

…The ultimate challenge…
Musical acrobatics…

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