The Week in Reviews, Op. 221: Anne-Sophie Mutter; Leonidas Kavakos; James Ehnes; Stefan Milenkovich

March 12, 2018, 10:33 AM · 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.

Anne-Sophie Mutter premiered a new work by André Previn in recital with pianist Lambert Orkis.

The Classical Review: "The headline event of the afternoon was supposed to have been a new work by one of America’s grand old men of music....But it was when Mutter walked onstage by herself and performed Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D minor for Unaccompanied Violin, with its colossal concluding Chaconne, that the doors blew off."

Anne-Sophie Mutter.

Leonidas Kavakos performed Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Chicago Classical Review: "...in his remarkable performance of this fascinating work, the Greek violinist served up a highlight of the current season."
Chicago Tribune: "Every modern virtuoso who takes up this work toils in the long shadow of the great Russian violinist David Oistrakh, for whom it was written and whose definitive interpretation has stood the test of time. Thursday’s soloist, the formidable Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos...found his own way into this ferociously demanding music. With him, uncanny technical perfection and immaculate control of the music’s long, enfolding lines took precedence."

James Ehnes performed Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3 with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "This isn’t the flashiest concerto in the world, but it does require a virtuoso who can handle its challenges, and Ehnes has technique to burn."

Stefan Milenkovich performed the Mendelssohn with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony.

The News-Gazette: "With super tone and a firm command of the technical challenges involved, Milenkovich was strong in the dramatic segments and meltingly persuasive in the songful middle movement."

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

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100.15.190.209

March 16, 2018 at 12:30 AM · Wow! what an exciting week!

Paul Deck

March 16, 2018 at 06:15 PM · I'm kind of surprised Mutter would upstage Previn's composition with the Bach D Minor. Nothing can compete with that. Was it deliberate?

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 221: Anne-Sophie Mutter; Leonidas Kavakos; James Ehnes; Stefan Milenkovich

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