The Week in Reviews, Op. 252: Robyn Bollinger; Andre Rieu; Nicola Benedetti

December 27, 2018, 4:40 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.

Robyn Bollinger performed an all-Bach recital with pianist Sergey Schepkin at First Church Boston.

Boston Musical Intelligencer: "At times, Bollinger’s violin spoke like a limpid and pure flute. At other times, it mourned as a cello. Schepkin’s piano, in turn, sparkled, brooded, laughed, wept, sang, provoked, coaxed and consoled. The two musicians set aside questions of historical (period) interpretation (we heard no harpsichord or gut viol) in order to focus on interpreting the vertiginous complexity of the score."

Robyn Bollinger.

Andre Rieu performed an arena concert in Manchester.

Manchester Evening News: "Throughout the performance Rieu radiates ebullient warmth - a beaming tailcoated radiator - and knows exactly the right thing to say and do to encourage his loyal legion....Andre Rieu is an absolute master in giving the audience what they want. The show has more cheese than the entire chilled section of your nearest big Sainsburys - but his fans love him all the more for it. He's sold 40m CDs and DVDs - outselling the likes of Rihanna, regularly packs out arenas and lives in a medieval castle. Obviously he's doing something right."

Nicola Benedetti performed the Bruch Violin Concerto with the Dundee Symphony Orchestra for its 125th anniversary.

The Courier: "Against the rich orchestral background Nicola Benedetti displayed warmth and ability to soar – just right for this most Romantic of concertos. Heart and spirit flowed through the gorgeous tunes of the Adagio and the virtuoso finale sparkled with grand full tone."

Benjamin Marquise Gilmore performed and conducted Bach’s E major Violin Concerto with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

The Scotsman: "SCO concertmaster Benjamin Marquise Gilmore directed Bach’s E major Violin Concerto from his instrument in a remarkably fresh, fluid account, the startling rhythmic freedom of his solo line contrasting tellingly with the strict tempos of the orchestra. There was almost something rhapsodic about his nimbly articulated reading – it was quite a personal perspective on the well-known piece, perhaps, but no less convincing for that."
The Herald: "There was a complete absence of cliched phrasing in his playing of Bach’s Violin Concerto in E and the propulsive sensation of the soloist pulling the ensemble through the work"

Sergey Dogadin performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra.