The Week in Reviews, Op. 310: Melissa White; Renaud Capucon, Lisa Batiashvili; Joshua Bell

February 25, 2020, 3:21 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 Melissa White.

Melissa White performed Florence Price's Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major with the National Philharmonic.

MD Theatre Guide: "White’s playing was absolutely breathtaking. I have no other words for the grace, precision, and warmth she brought to the stage."

Renaud Capuçon performed Dvorak’s Violin Concerto with Budapest Festival Orchestra.

New York Times: "Renaud Capuçon was a riveting soloist in Dvorak’s Violin Concerto. The violin essentially leads the orchestra through the rhapsodic first movement, playing restless lines that shift from searching lyricism to impetuous brilliance. Mr. Capuçon and the orchestra were inspired in the Finale, a dancing, sometimes impish movement full of sudden, startling dark bursts."
New York Classical Review: "The Finale was the most convincing of the three movements, thanks to his bounding heroic spirit, though the folk dance in the development section was too poised and straight-laced to have much of a rustic feel."

Lisa Batiashvili performed the Berg Violin Concerto with the London Symphony.

Deutsche Welle: "Berg's violin concert has plenty of depth; what the London musicians add is extreme clarity and transparence. Their glass-clear sound uncovers entire strata of Berg's multilayered concerto that this listener had never heard quite that way before. Added to that: an emotionally gripping rendition by the soloist"

Joshua Bell performed Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

Palm Beach Daily News: "Although Bell has performed several times at the Kravis Center, this was the first time he played such shameless, flashy repertoire. And he did so with such ease and flair that he prompted the audience to jump on their feet for an extended standing ovation after the first movement. "

Bella Hristova performed Florence Price’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Arts Knoxville: "Not only was Hristova’s lusciously romantic rendering a model of that charm and sophistication, it was a virtuosic example of creating atmosphere with string textures."

Pinchas Zukerman performed and conducted Mozart's Concerto No. 3 in G major with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Boston Musical Intelligencer: "Zukerman’s strength in these passages came from his contrasts in articulation. Breaking out of the classical mold, the cadenza displayed romantic virtuosity, with double stops and ricochet bowing that reminded this author of Wieniawski and Sarasate show pieces."

Stefan Jackiw performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the San Diego Symphony.

The San Diego Union Tribune: "The soloist was Stefan Jackiw, whose sweet tone and agile runs were admirably suited to Beethoven’s concerto."

Violins of Hope visited the Oakland Symphony.

Datebook: "There was a Baroque concerto. There was a ballet. There was a focus on the instruments being played, as well as the music they were playing."

Noa Wildschut performed Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

The Scotsman: "Dutch violinist Noa Wildschut, in her RSNO debut, brought refreshing insight, electrifying precision and melting expressive tone to Bruch’s Violin Concerto. A warhorse with a welcome makeover."
Edinburgh Guide: "We were privileged to have 18 year old Noa Wildschut from the Netherlands give us her awe inspiring interpretation. Young may she be, but Noa Wildschut is a rising star if ever there was one."

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

You might also like: