The Week in Reviews, Op. 138: Jennifer Koh, Simone Lamsma, Vadim Gluzman

July 5, 2016, 3:20 PM · 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.

Jennifer Koh performed the Salonen with the Colorado Music Festival.

Boulder Daily Camera: "Koh, who has a friendship with Salonen, gave a devoted interpretation, and Zeitouni handled the big orchestra in such a way that virtually all the violin notes were clearly audible. The part is by turns violently aggressive and almost painfully understated, and Koh negotiated all of it with confidence."

Jennifer Koh. Photo by Juergen Frank.

Simone Lamsma performed the Tchaikovsky with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

The West Australian: "Her skill on the fingerboard is gratifyingly complete, her bowing technique one that many a lesser musician would give eye teeth to emulate. Lamsma was beyond conventional criticism in the concerto’s formidable cadenza. Crucially, too, the soloist had the very real advantage of a first-rate accompaniment from a WASO in best form."

Vadim Gluzman performed the Tchaikovsky with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The Daily Telegraph: "Gluzman worked seamlessly with the orchestra, smiling and nodding appreciatively when not negotiating Tchaikovsky’s tricky solos. For an encore he gave us the gavotte from Bach’s Partita No 3 for solo violin, exquisitely played with a little comic lilt."

In other news, violinist Anahid Ajemian, a founding member of the Composers String Quartet, died last month at age 92.

The New York Times: "With her sister (Maro), Ms. Ajemian gave premieres of Hovhaness’s Suite for Violin, Piano and Percussion; Henry Cowell’s Set of Five for Violin, Piano and Percussion; Ernst Krenek’s Double Concerto; and many other works

Please support music in your community by attending a concert or recital whenever you can!