The Week in Reviews, Op. 213: Baiba Skride; Augustin Hadelich; Itzhak Perlman

January 15, 2018, 9:28 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.

Baiba Skride performed the Tchaikovsky with the New York Philharmonic.

The New York Times: "Her distinctive sound — full-bodied and sumptuous but never forced — ideally suited the passages of melting lyricism and nobility. She brought tender grace to the rueful slow movement. And, with the alert Ms. Malkki there to keep the orchestra right with her, Ms. Skride tore through the breathless finale with impetuous energy and impressive precision."
Zeal NYC: "Mälkki and soloist had an easy, collaborative rapport, and Skride paced her performance carefully, with ample reserves in store to sail into the energetic finale...."Skride dazzled in the dizzying cadenza’s teetering tightrope walk of harmonics and glissandos."

Baiba Skride. Photo by Marco Borggreve.

Augustin Hadelich performed the Britten with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "In the hands of the brilliant violinist Augustin Hadelich, the audience was kept appropriately off-balance throughout, while marveling at the beauty of his tone and his spectacular technique. The cadenza that closes the second movement was spectacular. Robertson and the orchestra provided an ideal accompaniment."

Philippe Quint performed Bernstein’s "Serenade after Plato’s 'Symposium'" with the Milwaukee Symphony.

Journal Sentinel: "Quint captured the character of the five movements with musical depth and a seamless combination of varied, flexible dynamics, colors and textures of sound, and articulations, sculpting those technical elements into mesmerizing communication."

Itzhak Perlman performed the Bach with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Los Angeles Times: "Perlman’s musical outlook these days continues to be weighty, serious and impervious to whatever trends happen to be in vogue....His violin playing remained in shape, with just enough songful sweetness in the slow movement, though recessed in volume within the compact ensemble of just 24 players."

Fabio Biondi performed concerti by Vivaldi with Europa Galante.

Los Angeles Times: "It takes considerable flair to bring this kind of thing off. Biondi and his excellent ensemble of nine strings, harpsichord and lute have, instead, more grace than flair. They make an agreeable sound. But the more stunning colors and character they exhibit on their Vivaldi recordings dim in a large hall, even one with Disney’s acoustics."
Washington Classical Review: "Europa Galante’s sizzling recordings have brought a number of unknown operas and orchestral works to inquisitive listeners. The Italian group’s live performances, most recently at Shriver Hall in 2016, are generally not at the same level of technically polished achievement, but add an element of visceral excitement that can be lacking on disc. A thrilling concert Friday night at the Library of Congress, a decade after its last visit there, was in the same category."

David Coucheron performed Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Arts ATL: "...it proved an especially splendid choice of solo repertoire for Coucheron, showing vividly how far his playing has come in the seven and a half years since he joined the ASO as concertmaster in September 2010 – at the time the youngest concertmaster among all major US orchestras."

Steven Copes performed the Beethoven with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Pioneer Press: "When the orchestra would pump up the drama, Copes would invariably become an emissary of calm, maintaining a smooth subtlety even when the lines were lightning quick, fiery or forceful. An extended first movement cadenza served as a reminder of Copes’ confident imagination, while the sprightly finale danced with delight."
Star Tribune: "The performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto had similar qualities of joy and elation. The soloist was Steven Copes, who this year celebrates his 20th anniversary as the SPCO’s concertmaster."

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