The Week in Reviews, Op. 176: James Ehnes, Janine Jansen, Anne-Sophie Mutter

April 10, 2017, 3:37 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.

James Ehnes performed the Kernis with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

The Dallas Morning News: "James Ehnes, for whom the piece was composed, dispatched this formidably difficult music with astonishing precision and pizzazz, and Gimeno skillfully managed the very tricky orchestral interleavings."
Texas Classical Review: "Not surprisingly, Ehnes and the orchestra were clearly unfazed by the relentless technical demands of the work. The absence of ear-catching lyricism in this concerto will definitely count against it as a candidate for the permanent repertoire, in spite of the healthy christening ahead with multiple performances by major orchestras and a flawless, clearly dedicated soloist."
Theater Jones: "...this concerto has legs, and James Ehnes’ playing is a marvel."

James Ehnes. Photo by Benjamin Ealovega.

Janine Jansen performed the Berg with the London Symphony Orchestra.

The Guardian: "Her performance was typically understated, full of quietly eloquent solo playing and never parading its sense of loss and elegy too obviously, so that the lilt Noseda gave to the Carinthian folk tune that Berg quotes in the second part of the first movement seemed almost louche."

Anne-Sophie Mutter performed with pianist Lambert Orkis at Kennedy Center Concert Hall.

The Washington Post: "After a tender, seductively swung introduction, she dove undaunted into the pyrotechnic rondo, suffusing it with Mediterranean warmth and heaps of swagger, her technique as on-point and commanding as ever."

Alina Ibragimova performed works by Bach, Brahms and Ysaÿe, in recital with pianist Cédric Tiberghien.

San Francisco Classical Voice: "C Minor isn’t a bright key on violin, but, through the use of low positions and open strings, Ibragimova maximized her instrument’s resonance. Tasteful vibrato was an ornament, not a crutch, and she phrased the expressive slow movements almost exclusively with the bow."

Augustin Hadelich performed the Dvorak with the Toledo Symphony.

Toledo Blade: "The melodically driven piece was rendered exquisitely. From the forceful opening statement to the spinning of the lyric web of the second movement, and on to the eastern European folk romp of the third, Hadelich commanded with a sensitivity and sonority that held the listener captive to his artistry and technique."

Alexandra Soumm performed the Sibelius with the Fort Worth Symphony.

Texas Classical Review: "Soumm’s wide dynamic range and her deep, rich tone quality made up, at least for the vast majority of the audience, for some brief wobbles in intonation and some tiny ensemble issues."

Tamas Kocsis performed the Beethoven with the Venice Symphony.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune: " It was clear that Kocsis accepted the myriad challenges of this concerto seriously and delivered the music with all its vast musical landscape intact and beautifully highlighted."

Paul Huang performed Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 with the Omaha Symphony.