The Week in Reviews, Op. 304: Midori, Julian Rachlin; Kathryn Eberle

January 7, 2020, 4:17 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 Midori Goto. Photo by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

Midori Goto and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet performed an all-Beethoven recital at the Kravis Center in Palm Beach, Fla.

Palm Beach Daily News: "Throughout the first part of the program, Midori and Thibaudet displayed their solid individual techniques and, most importantly, total artistic agreement in tackling the early Beethoven works."
South Florida Classical Review: "Midori gave a stately and resonant account of the chords that open the Kreutzer sonata. After the piano joined in, the two launched into a vicious and dramatic performance of the ensuing Presto."

Julian Rachlin performed Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Los Angeles Times: "...violinist Julian Rachlin’s rendition of the Violin Concerto No. 3 was the most persuasive in the songful stretches of the slow movement....Rachlin followed Mozart with Fritz Kreisler’s “Schön Rosmarin” (with (conductor Zubin) Mehta playfully plucking the last chord on Rachlin’s violin himself) and the Sarabande from Bach’s Partita in D minor."

Kathryn Eberle performed Edgar Meyer’s Violin Concerto with the Utah Symphony.

Utah Arts Review: "Cast in two movements, the concerto reflects Meyer’s upbringing in Tennessee and blends traditional classical style with his knowledge of bluegrass music—as both a double-bass player and composer....(Eberle) played Meyer’s distinct and lush phrases with pliant sensitivity and one savored the dialogic quality of the composition, with the violinist underlining the score’s intimate, conversational qualities."

Janusz Wawrowski performed Ludomir Rózycki's long-forgotten Violin Concerto with Szczecin’s Symphony Orchestra.

The Guardian: "Wawrowski’s Stradivarius appeared to want to take flight as the musician, dressed in a turquoise silk shirt, lifted and dipped his toes, mastering the many double stops and chords of a piece with hints of everything from ragtime to polonaise. It was, critics said, reminiscent of Stravinsky or Brahms, with whom Rózycki in his heyday was often compared."

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