The Week in Reviews, Op. 235: Elizabeth Pitcairn; Itzhak Perlman; Alina Ibragimova
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.
Elizabeth Pitcairn performed "The Red Violin" with Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.
- Cincinnati Business Courier: "Pitcairn and her violin made a stunning case for the beauty of this score, with haunting themes that echo the moodiness of the tale. An accomplished artist, she navigated formidable technical feats with ease. It was a treat to hear the violin’s exquisite, sweet tone communicated in her long, lyrical phrases."
Elizabeth Pitcairn. Photo by Joy Strotz.
Itzhak Perlman performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
- Los Angeles Times: "As the performance progressed Perlman loosened up, and despite the now reedy tone and effortful intonation, you could sense the Perlman of legend. He also seemed to hit it off with Dudamel, who posted a charming video on Twitter of the two clowning around at the morning rehearsal, with Dudamel playing the opening of the concerto and Perlman conducting."
Alina Ibragimova premiered Rolf Wallin’s "Whirld" with the Bergen Philharmonic.
- The Guardian: "Wallin’s Whirld is a more conventional violin concerto, and much more musically substantial....it is the perfect vehicle for Alina Ibragimova's special brand of virtuosity. It is hard to imagine another soloist presenting the concerto with the intensity and commitment she brought to it here."
- Evening Standard: "The soloist, Alina Ibragimova, whirling like a dervish, dazzlingly dispatched more semiquavers than she will have to all season."
- musicOMH: "Alina Ibragimova took the solo, representing the dove, and gave a dazzling account of the challenging violin part, which ranged from mournful, squeaky glissandi through occasional chirpings, to some mind-bogglingly busy fluttering passages, during which smoke surely rose from the strings."
Pekka Kuusisto premiered Philip Venables’ Violin Concerto, "Venables Plays Bartok," with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
- The Guardian: "In a sense, it is more musical documentary than concerto, charting Botta’s struggles against the Nazis and the subsequent Soviet regime. But it is a showcase for the soloist, Pekka Kuusisto, too, exploiting both his breathtaking technique and the intrinsic winsomeness of his onstage performances/"
- Sequenza 21: "Pekka Kuusisto, the soloist, was also a sort of master of ceremonies and guide through the piece, introducing and explaining it at the beginning and announcing each of the Bartok pieces as they appeared. His playing was pretty much perfect."
Augustin Hadelich performed Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
- The Strait Times: "Hadelich's playing provided much to admire - great fluency, a sweet and musical vibrato and a sense of ease throughout."
Please support music in your community by attending a concert or recital whenever you can!
You might also like:
- Elizabeth Pitcairn Plays Fine Violins for Violin Makers
- Inside 'Itzhak’: Interview with Alison Chernick about Her Documentary on Itzhak Perlman
- Violinist.com Interview with Augustin Hadelich: Beethoven, Strads and the Virtues of Practicing Slowly
Replies
I noticed that as well. I seem to be drawn more to violins than the violinist and while admiring her violin saw the lack of a fine tuner.
Her letter to Wittner inspired me to switch to Finetune pegs. I'm never going back to the old way.
Clearly, it hampers her tone and keeps her from reaching her full potential :)
I love that she has those pegs, I want to get them on my Gagliano!
Laurie,
It's worth it. Less wear on the pegbox, no fine tuners. My violin is always 1-5 cents in tune every time I take it out of its case, no matter the weather. The Wittners are a joy to use.
I've tried all three major brands of gear peg. In terms of function, the Wittner Finetune peg is the winner, hands down. If one wants both function and the authentic look of wooden pegs, then I recommend PegHeds. The whole thing will cost under $200. Not just less stress on your pegbox but less stress on your hands too. I have them on my 2006 Topa violin, on my daughter's 1895 Jaas violin, and on my 2016 MJZ Viola. When my other daughter gets a new cello, we will have gear pegs put in even before bringing it home from the shop.
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August 28, 2018 at 11:53 PM · Ms. Pitcairn's violin has gear pegs. Just saying.