The Week in Reviews, Op. 306: Anne-Sophie Mutter; Sergey Khachatryan; Christian Tetzlaff

January 28, 2020, 12:45 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 Anne-Sophie Mutter. Photo by the Japan Art Association/Sankei Shimbun.

Anne-Sophie Mutter performed Beethoven sonatas with pianist Lambert Orkis in Chicago's Orchestra Hall.

Chicago Tribune: "Mutter and Orkis saw symphonic dimensions in this piece, not in sonic scope, of course, but in breadth of expression and depth of thought. From the dramatic opening phrase – which Mutter dispatched via grand gesture – there was no doubt that this was going to be a 'Kreutzer' Sonata of vast ambition."

Sergey Khachatryan performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the San Francisco Symphony.

Datebook: "...the orchestra play(ed) the initial accompaniment at the very edge of inaudibility and the solo violin seem(ed) to emerge like a will-o’-the-wisp out of the mists. Khachatryan made good use of his freedom in the middle movement as well, shaping the solo lines with rhapsodic urgency."

Christian Tetzlaff performed Dvorak’s Violin Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra.

The Washington Post: "...most interesting was the restless edge in much of the virtuoso passagework, as if Tetzlaff was impatient to discharge the fireworks and get back to weaving lyrical lines in and out of the orchestra. Those stretches of ad hoc chamber music were the concerto’s high points."

Karen Gomyo performed Mozart's Violin Concerto in G Major with the Rhode Island Philharmonic.

Providence Journal: "Gomyo brought the light touch to the evening, with sweet silvery playing that made me wonder why I haven’t paid more attention to this heavenly little concerto. This was a performance that was all about the music, all about the genius of Mozart, and never showy, even in Gomyo’s occasional solos."

Shannon Lee performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, replacing Leila Josefowicz.

The Times Argus: "From her opening phrases in the Allegro moderato, it was clear that this was going to be a very personal interpretation."

Nicola Benedetti performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

The Herald Scotland: "As Scotland’s RSNO became the last British orchestra to perform in the European Union before the Brexit process begins on January 31, the Scottish Government issued an uncompromising statement demanding that cultural links with Europe be maintained and the needs of artists made a priority in negotiations about immigration and mobility."

Stefan Jackiw performed in recital with harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani at San Francisco's PIVOT Festival.

San Francisco Chronicle: "...can (the harpsichord) make productive forays into the 20th century and beyond? ...yes. The point was neatly driven home on Thursday, Jan. 23, in a swift, enjoyable joint recital by harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani and violinist Stefan Jackiw."

Patricia Kopatchinskaja performed with cellist Jay Campbell in a recital at the Kennedy Center.

The Washington Post: "The styles varied, but the approach was uniform. If music is a language, Kopatchinskaja’s and Campbell’s playing was all adverbs, all underscored. Every detail, every mood was highlighted and amplified. Fast music was bruisingly vigorous and slow music breathlessly still. Accents were slashed; soft passages courted inaudibility."

Jennifer Koh performed at San Francisco's PIVOT Festival with Vijay Iyer and .

San Francisco Classical Voice: "...rather than exploring tempo and rhythm, the program offered an extended investigation into the power of extremely quiet dynamics."

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

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 306: Anne-Sophie Mutter; Sergey Khachatryan; Christian Tetzlaff

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