The Week in Reviews, Op. 283: Stephen Waarts; Nicola Benedetti; Joshua Bell; Gil Shaham

August 6, 2019, 1:25 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.

Violinist Stephen Waarts. Photo by Benjamin Ealovega

Stephen Waarts performed Khatchaturian’s Violin Concerto in D minor with the Aspen Chamber Orchestra.

The Aspen Times: "The 23-year-old Dutch-American phenom tore into the Armenian-tinged music with gusto, but modulated intensity and dynamics deftly to shape the more lyrical sections."

Nicola Benedetti performed Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Budapest Festival Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl.

Los Angeles Philharmonic: "Bruch’s syrupy Violin Concerto No. 1 was treated with rare nobility by the orchestra and its refined soloist, Nicola Benedetti. Depth was the order of an admirable evening of music making, in which everything was of the highest order."

Joshua Bell performed the Dvorak Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood.

The Berkshire Eagle: "...with his cleanly focused tone, nimble fingers, body gyrations and seemingly infinite variety of personal touches, it was excitable in an exciting way (not always the same thing)."

Gil Shaham performed Prokofiev Violin Concerto No 2 with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra at BBC Prom 17

theartsdesk.com: "The performance last night was remarkable for its agility and lightness."

Pinchas Zukerman performed Avner Dorman's Double Concerto with cellist Amanda Forsyth and the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood.

Boston Globe: "With her robust timbre and earthy accents set against his silvery sound, which was ethereal without being silky, they played with obvious relish, and sounded more at ease with the piece than the orchestra did."

Pekka Kuusisto performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra at BBC Prom 20.

The Guardian: "Kuusisto’s restrained and thoughtful reading, seemed to emerge with infinite gentleness out of a deep pool of shared musical memory."

Kerson Leong performed the Schumann Violin Concerto with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

The Straits Times: "Leong plays on a gloriously warm-sounding Guaneri del Gesu violin and the influence of his mentor Augustin Dumay was clear in his rich tone, fluid bowing and natural lines. At just 22, he displays remarkable mastery of the violin."

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Replies

Elisabeth Matesky

August 7, 2019 at 03:17 AM · Re ~ Dutch Violinist 'tore into the Armenian-tinged with gusto but with . . . ' I would like to hear portions of Violinist, Stephen Waarts' live performance of a Violin Concerto which has more or less been my concert "Calling Card", since my Los Angeles debut in the Khachaturian w/mighty USC Concert Symphony Orchestra with as great as his friend, Sir Georg Solti, Walter Ducloux, conducting on the podium, providing more than an orchestral accompaniment but a symphonic 'Glove' of mirrored intensity & fire yet ever so moving 'Love Themes' by soloists throughout the red-Fushia score of Aram Khachaturian's Violin Concerto Masterpiece!!!

The Aspen Times critique attracts my interest & despite many pupil's having asked me to teach them Aram Khachaturian's Violin Concerto, I never have excepting 1 of my international pupils whom the Conservatory granted a full tuition, room and board scholarship to, so impressed were we all ~

The rare temperament needed to radiate Aram Khachaturian's 'iced fire' passions amid gravely nostalgic emotive themes of near unbearable beauty are the ingredients necessary to carry all eroticism poured into the Violin Concerto with Orchestra of this deeply attractive, mysterious Exotic figure & person who, by the way, composed with Brio in Spades, even attracting the Fame of Hollywood Movie Star-lore ensconced in a Classical Armenian Frame . . .

Hearty compliments to Stephen Waarts of Holland, whom I'd enjoy making his acquaintance ~

The late Conductor, Arthur Fiedler's "Khachaturian Lady", who upon viewing Jascha Heifetz's Violin Master Class Film, JH-7, Khachaturian, (Russian version, Library of Master Performers) engaged me numerous times, never looking back!

Elisabeth Matesky

Peter Williamson

August 7, 2019 at 06:48 AM · The Shaham Prokofiev performance is available for replay on the BBC website for the next 3 weeks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000768d

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