The Week in Reviews, Op. 186: Gil Shaham, Joshua Bell, Vadim Gluzman

June 19, 2017, 2:00 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.

Gil Shaham performed the Beethoven with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

The Baltimore Sun: "He drew a veritable feast of tone coloring from his violin, along with abundant subtleties of phrasing. There was something at once spontaneous and deeply considered about Shaham’s interpretation, which included wonderful rhythmic freedom."

Gil Shaham. Photo by Luke Ratray.

Joshua Bell performed Lalo's "Symphonie espagnole" with the San Francisco Symphony.

The San Francisco Chronicle: "This is actually one of Bell’s particular strengths — his ability to transform a piece that might seem merely pretty or charming and reveal its unsuspected depths without sacrificing anything in the way of tonal allure. He dispatched Lalo’s silky melodic phrases and delicate passage work with the suave charisma of a boulevardier, while still giving the score plenty of heft."

Vadim Gluzman performed the Tchaikovsky with the Grant Park Orchestra.

Chicago Tribune: "...there was not a hair out of place in his poised, athletic reading."

Pekka Kuusisto performed the Sibelius with the London Chamber Orchestra.

The Arts Desk: (As an encore honoring the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire,) "he gave us...his own apparently improvised reflections on a Finnish children's song, 'The Guardian Angel.' Where did it come from? Out of an ether created by a tissue of sounds and harmonics, I know not how exactly, brought into unison focus with the sweetest whistling. Such magic can only be experienced, not described."

William Preucil performed Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 with the Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra.

The San Diego Union-Tribune: "Preucil played with clarity and elegant smoothness of tone, without ever quite starting the concerto’s motor. Lacking energy and forward motion, the work’s limpid simplicity soon lost its ability to hold attention."

Ilana Setapen performed the Barber with the Milwaukee Symphony.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Setapen’s delivery of the Barber concerto mixed a relaxed command of technical aspects with a lyrical sound and wonderfully expressive playing."

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