The Week in Reviews, Op. 227: Nicola Benedetti; James Ehnes; Leila Josefowicz

April 23, 2018, 1:15 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.

Nicola Benedetti performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Benedetti has a crisp, centered violin tone that shines in the high register, and she fearlessly navigates to the top of the instrument’s range, hitting stratospheric notes with authority and swaggering vibrato."
Arts ATL: "There was an underlying energy in the music’s softest and most lyrical passages, almost as if she were hoping for more notes to play than the score afforded."

Nicola Benedetti. Photo by Simon Fowler.

James Ehnes performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "His finale...finished with a spectacular final punch."

Leila Josefowicz performed the Stravinsky Violin Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Washington Post: "Josefowicz now specializes in contemporary music to such a degree that Stravinsky is a veritable Old Master for her, and she made him sound that way: closer to the tradition he was breaking away from in 1931 than to the years of experimentation that came after."

Vadim Repin stood in for Hilary Hahn, performing Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The Inquirer: "His playing of the concerto’s opening pages — among Prokofiev’s most magical — was a pretty special moment. From there, Repin was gentlemanly, observing the piece with respect rather than intense engagement."

Richard O'Neill performed the world premiere of 24 Preludes for Viola and Piano by Lera Auerbach.

Violinist.com: "O'Neill gave an absolutely committed and thoughtful performance throughout this long series of pieces that demanded pinpoint control as well as a variety of techniques..."

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

Replies

Christopher Walker

April 24, 2018 at 12:31 AM · I saw Ms Benedetti in Atlanta on Saturday and I would suggest that the reviewers underrated her playing. The word that comes to my mind is glorious.

Laurie Niles

April 25, 2018 at 01:13 PM · Wow, Christopher, that sounds like an amazing concert!

Isaac See

April 28, 2018 at 01:44 PM · I second Christopher! "Glorious" is a great word to describe the performance.

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