The Week in Reviews, Op. 307: Pinchas Zukerman; Itamar Zorman; Patricia Kopatchinskaja

February 5, 2020, 5:28 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.

Pinchas Zukerman. Photo by Cheryl Mazak.

Pinchas Zukerman performed Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Berkeley, Calif.

San Francisco Classical Voice: "A reduced orchestra was nicely balanced with the soloist, whose sound was dazzlingly clear and whose playing simmers with controlled energy. Zukerman’s cadenzas were both witty and lyrical."
The Daily Californian: "Zukerman played his violin with painless benevolence, evoking a naturally regal sentiment. Many passages presented themselves with delicate upstrokes followed by vigorous runs. The first and third parts of the concerto were the most memorable, as Zukerman found his footing in faster passages."

Itamar Zorman performed Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: "He is an exceptional violinist with broad depth to his sound. Zorman hurdled the tricky intervals and complex language of the concerto with ease and a scintillating musicality."

Patricia Kopatchinskaja performed in recital with cellist Jay Campbell at Hahn Hall in Montecito, Calif.

Los Angeles Times: "It is the character of a great virtuoso to make the instrument become an extension of the player. Kopatchinskaja, though, is the violin. She plays in a state of astonishment and the violin becomes her."
LA Weekly: "...the seamless way Campbell and Kopatchinskaja wove their parts together made it seem at times as if they were playing a pump organ, harmonica and accordion, and their instrumental arrangement was simultaneously pastoral and haunting."

Daniel Hope performed in, and led, a Beethoven 250 celebration concert with the New Century Chamber Orchestra.

San Francisco Classical Voice: "Hope’s presence, playing, and leadership vouchsafed the authenticity of the performance; one of the world’s most prolific performance and recording artists, the music director of numerous ensembles is now also president of Beethoven-Haus Bonn, the organization dedicated to the composer, and located in Beethoven’s birthplace."

Bomsori Kim performed Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic at Stanford Live.

San Francisco Classical Voice: "This Korean violinist brought an eager, fresh-feeling air to the concerto. Her tone was mostly light, especially at the beginning, where a chirping, bird-like quality was almost reminiscent of Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending."

Eldbjorg Hemsing performed Hjalmar Borgstrom's Violin Concerto with Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.

Calgary Herald: "Playing with remarkable lyricism and eloquence, Hemsing was the perfect advocate for this concerto, a work of late-romanticism tinged, here and there, with the harmonic colour of the era of Richard Strauss and Debussy."

Itzhak Perlman shared "Stories of His Life and Career" as well as musical selections with pianist Rohan De Silva.

Noozhawk: "The evening featured spirited anecdotes, illustrated with images and video, from his parents opening a barbershop in Tel Aviv to his legendary appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' at age 13."

Sarah Chang performed Dvorak’s Violin Concerto with the Sarasota Orchestra.

The Herald-Tribune: "From where I was sitting — and the Van Wezel is known for inconsistent spots in the hall — Chang’s sound was not big, but it did have a beautiful shimmer and spin. When she laid into the lines there was that tough, sinewy strength that brings with it great character."

Elina Vähälä performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Minnesota Orchestra.

The Michigan Daily: "From her first entrance, Vähälä’s sound was as commanding as her presence was unassuming. Unlike many concerto soloists, she didn’t use physical gestures to emphasize her performance abilities. She made her part look easy, almost effortless at times."

Stefan Jackiw performed Stravinsky's Violin Concerto with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Daily Echo: "Moving lightly on his feet, the young American talent seemed almost to hang off his instrument like a marionette, playing with precision and elegance but also a sharp-as-a-razor bite that captured the music's edge."

Tessa Lark performed Michael Torke's "Sky" Violin Concerto with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

The Scotsman: "Torke’s Sky was a blast for the entire ensemble, Lark’s foot-stomping opening like an incendiary wake-up call to conductor Teddy Abrams and the RSNO, whose hot-blooded rhythmic interaction lit up every seething moment. There were gorgeous sultry moments, too, in a work that gave everyone on stage the opportunity to shine."

Grace Park performed in recital with pianist Peter Dugan at the University of Illinois.

The News-Gazette: "Park captured the easygoing rapture of the opening movement (of Beethoven's 'Spring" Sonata) with beautiful playing, and Dugan played with convincing command the sometimes rough and ready piano part that Beethoven had written for himself."

Itzhak Perlman shared "Stories of His Life and Career" as well as musical selections with pianist Rohan De Silva.

Noozhawk: "The evening featured spirited anecdotes, illustrated with images and video, from his parents opening a barbershop in Tel Aviv to his legendary appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' at age 13."

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