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The Week in Reviews, Op. 230: Vilde Frang; Joshua Bell; Igudesman and Joo

July 16, 2018, 4:33 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.

Vilde Frang performed the Britten Violin Concerto with the Cleveland Orchestra.

• Cleveland.com: "On her Cleveland debut, the Norwegian violinist made a deep impression with a searing, thoughtful account of a work that's only been played here by one other. Not every violinist, frankly, is equal to Britten. It's a daunting, quasi-ritualistic work that lingers long in a stratospheric register and seems to unfold eternally, like a single, 30-minute breath. Frang, though, was very much up to the task. Her tone was slight but piercing, her upper register a realm to die for."

Joshua Bell performed the Bernstein "Serenade" with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

• Chicago Tribune: "Bell’s account was tonally radiant, profoundly lyrical and unflagging in emotional intensity...Ultimately, this reading was about contour and content rather than Paganini-like hypervirtuosity."

Alexey Igudesman and pianist Hyung-ki Joo performed their classical comedy routine "And Now Mozart" at the Rockport Chamber Music Festival.

• The Boston Musical Intelligencer: "Igudesman and Joo’s irreverence punctures the stiff formality of the classical concert, and the mingling of pop songs reminds us that many melodies share common rhythms and harmonies and can be swapped with amusing results. Their creative comic talent, breadth of musical knowledge, and brilliant technique creates a unique performance that deserves the rousing standing ovation it received that night."

Kolja Blacher performed Carl Nielsen's Violin Concerto with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

• New Zealand Herald: "...one of the standout performances of this season. Nielsen's harmonic writing can be a minefield for intonation but Blacher was unflinchingly on the note. A Largo, with the subtlest of orchestral tinting, led into a rousing Allegro cavalleresco of chivalric power, with full-booted orchestra and fierce fiddling, so infectious it drew spontaneous applause."

Eva Wetzel performed Ravel's "Tzigane" with the Eastern Festival Orchestra

• Greensboro News & Record: "Eva Wetzel, a student at the UNC School of the Arts and winner of the 2017 Rosen-Schaffel Concerto Competition was the excellent soloist, thrilling the audience with her gorgeous tone and passionate vibrato, especially in the long opening, played all on the G string."

In other news:

Timothy Lees is stepping down as concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, after 20 years.

• Cincinnati.com: " A nerve injury affecting the fingers of his left hand has kept him on the sidelines since December 2017...He will become concertmaster emeritus in September, remaining a member of the orchestra's first violin section. 'I continue to work hard, receive treatments and remain committed to my craft, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the community we serve,' Lees said in a statement. 'While the timeline for my complete recovery is undetermined at this point, I look forward to returning to the Music Hall stage as a member of the CSO’s first-violin section in the future.'"

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

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