Nadja S-S Concert Review

December 5, 2005 at 1:25 AM

There are two types of professional violinists; those who sound good and have nice stage prescence, and those who sound good and have no stage prescence whatsoever.
Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg falls into the latter category.
Said to be at the "height of her powers", Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg began studying the violin at a young age, in her hometown of Rome. She emigrated to the U.S. at the age of eight, to study under Dorothy Delay at Julliard. Recently, she started her own record label (NSS), and has recorded over 20 cds. The winner of numerous prizes and accomplishments, Nadja is considered one of the leading violinists world-wide.
Yes, her tone is remarkable, her passion for music very well portrayed in her playing, all wrapped up with impeccable technique, including a to-die-for vibrato. But the fact remains that her stage presence is nearly offensive.
My first impression as she walked out on stage was "Lose the outfit". Attired in an un-flattering tight-knit top and tan pants, her close-cropped hair pulled into a tight ponytail, I was immediately taken aback by the casualness of her attitude. As one who has performed with an orchestra, I feel it a great honor to be a soloist, and dress and act with a sort of respect. As Nadja's playing of the Bruch progressed, she portrayed to me a flippance that really bothered me. Every time she took her violin down from her chin, she held it in a careless fashion, as if it were no more than a ten-cent toy, pausing occasionally to glance down her bow as one would an arrow, to see if it is "true". While playing, I was startled by the masculinity of her stance; Nadja stood as if astride a large horse, her legs spread wide, giving me an impulse to shout "Giddy up!". When she was not in this unbecoming position, she was curled up in a fetal position, her right foot stuck in front of her. At one point, she nearly lost her balance, having to cross her legs in order to keep from toppling over. Although one may see this behavior as showing her emotions, it seems to me that if one channels her spirit into the music rather than the bodily movement, the music will be more passionate and moving.
If one closes their eyes, however, he will find himself quite enchanted by her playing. As afore stated, her beautiful wrist vibrato is a gem amongst the hum-drum arm vibratos that normally deck the concert halls, so to speak. Albeit, she over used it once or twice on the Bruch, but it lifted her encore piece, the Rachmaninoff Vocalise, to an entirely new level. In all other musical aspects, she is rock-solid and a pleasure to listen to.
I hold nothing against Nadja, or her playing, but seek to provide my thoughts during her performance last evening. Although gifted musically, a few lessons in a more elegant and feminine appearance would make this violinist one of the great master of the concert halls.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on December 5, 2005 at 2:01 AM

Half the time she comes out in curlers and a bathrobe! You were lucky.

From Natasha Marsalli
Posted on December 5, 2005 at 11:54 AM

Are you serious, or just being sarcastic? (sarcasm often gets lost via email :)

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on December 5, 2005 at 4:31 PM

curlers, bathrobe, smoking a cigarette, and carrying a magazine!

From Cora Venus Lunny
Posted on December 5, 2005 at 7:38 PM

why should her appearance make such a difference? surely her performance should be about the music and not her personal sense of style or how she holds herself. she's not a model, getting paid to be a clotheshorse.

From Miwa Smyrnova
Posted on December 5, 2005 at 7:51 PM

Hi Natasha,

I agree with Cora.
I, too, heard her play a week or two ago, and was very impressed. I actually very much liked her care-free attitude. It made me focus entirely on the music, and that's what I sensed her performance was entirely about. I loved how intensely immersed she was in the Shostakovitch and what respect she had for the orchestra players (she played WITH them) and the music itself.

Thank you for your review,
Miwa

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on December 5, 2005 at 8:22 PM

To be honest, I have to agree with C & M too. Maybe for different reasons. I enjoy a little contrast and cognitive dissonance sometimes.

From Pieter Viljoen
Posted on December 6, 2005 at 6:18 AM

I'm pretty guilty of falling for fairly feminine women, but having just read her website, I gotta say she seems pretty cool.

Her playing is obviously beyond question, but I have not seen her perform. Maybe I will be put off, but she seems like a real firecracker.... not afraid of the "f word" so to speak.

From Natasha Marsalli
Posted on December 6, 2005 at 1:03 PM

I find her flippancy distracting from the music. That is why I suggest one listen to her with eyes closed. It is not that I want violinists to be models, I just think that they should look nice when they get on stage.
Of course, we all have different opinions. I just like to express my thoughts, and I love to hear what you all think.

From Patty Rutins
Posted on December 6, 2005 at 3:36 PM

You're not the only one that finds such behavior distracting. My teacher often complains about modern performers and the way they throw themselves around on stage.

If you're performing in the dark, you don't have to worry about how you look.

If you're performing on stage, your stage presence is all part of the show, and is arguably just as important as the music when it comes to the audience's enjoyment of the performance.

Look at the popularity of someone like Andre Rieu and then tell me that showmanship doesn't matter! :)

From Natasha Marsalli
Posted on December 6, 2005 at 9:33 PM

Thank you Patty!

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