The Week in Reviews, Op. 136: Julia Fischer, Robert McDuffie, Noah Bendix-Balgley
In an effort to promote the coverage of live violin performance, Violinist.com each week presents links to reviews of notable concerts and recitals around the world.
Julia Fischer performed the Beethoven with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
- Chicago Tribune: "...serenity was the word that sprang to mind while one listened to Julia Fischer's meditative, raptly beautiful and deeply felt account of the Beethoven Violin Concerto."
Julia Fischer. Photo by Julia Wesely.
Robert McDuffie premiered the Concerto for Violin, Rock Band, and String Orchestra by R.E.M's Mike Mills.
- Musical Toronto: " the sold-out event was dedicated to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting and featured a premiere of Concerto for Violin, Rock Band, and String Orchestra by R.E.M’s Mike Mills....The proverbial magician was played by American violinist Robert McDuffie, whose fingers were nimble enough to tie three knots in an eyelash. But questions of taste remained."
Noah Bendix-Balgley premiered his klezmer concerto "Fidl-Fantazye" with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Some of the most rewarding moments were Mr. Bendix-Balgley’s improvised cadenzas, as well as dance rhythms in complex meters derived variously from Romanian, Greek and Turkish dance."
Diomedes Saraza Jr. performed the Sibelius with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
- The Boston Musical Intelligencer: "He showed himself to be technically proficient and possessing a virtuosolike temperament. The opening began with a sweet sound, but he soon descended into impatience."
- Inquirer.net: "A good mixture of American and Filipino audiences in the 2,804-seater Isaac Stern Auditorium of Carnegie Hall gave the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under Olivier Ochanine a rousing standing ovation Saturday night (June 18) in a historic debut in a highly revered venue."
- Manila Bulletin: "The first notes were haunting and melancholic, and he played it so beautifully and perfectly. He finished his solo to a standing ovation. To the audience’s delight, he came back for an encore, playing Nicanor Abelardo’s “Cavatina,” without the orchestra this time."
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Wow! She sounds amazing! That also sounds really hard to play, does it not?
What piece did she play as her encore at the 6/21 concert?
I'd really like to know what exactly "questions of taste" mean in the McDuffie review. It seems like an undefined cheap shot from a hack reviewer. If he can't expound on the statement he shouldn't have tossed it out there.
Scott, I think that you are right that a reviewer is obliged to make a case for that kind of statement; he did make some colorful allusions in the review to "The half-hour long jumpy concerto" sounding like "a backtrack for a Los Vegas magic act" as well as over-amplification of the violin. I'm not sure if he was questioning the taste of the entire endeavor or of McDuffie in particular; to me it reads like the former.
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June 22, 2016 at 01:02 AM · Julia Fischer played a splendidly crafted Beethoven in Chicago. It had beautiful breadth, clear structure, her tone noble, intense, every note full of meaning and purpose... A stunning, reference performance for the ages from a thoughtful and committed master! Brava!!! The Chicago band and Maestro Muti provided sensitive support and never overpowered the solo line, despite their too-large numbers on stage.