The Week in Reviews, Op. 326: Midori; Jennifer Koh; Pekka Kuusisto; Paul Huang

October 26, 2021, 7:45 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 Midori. Photo by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

Midori performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "I have never heard as nuanced and dynamically thrilling a performance of the concerto from the Symphony Hall stage. Midori’s playing combines an assured technique with a rich sonority that seems like it would be impossible to maintain even at the uppermost limits of the violin’s register."

Jennifer Koh performed in recital with pianist-composer Missy Mazzoli at San Francisco Performances’ Pivot Festival.

San Francisco Chronicle Datebook: "Saturday’s joint recital by Koh and Mazzoli played like a tour through an artist’s journal during adversity — a war, a plague, a time of political upheaval...all the pieces gloried, even in necessarily compact form, in Mazzoli’s slightly offbeat harmonic language and her gift for inventive instrumental textures."

Pekka Kuusisto performed the U.S. premiere of Bryce Dessner’s Violin Concerto with the San Francisco Symphony.

San Francisco Chronicle Datebook: "If Niccolò Paganini were to preside at a barn dance, one feels this is what it might sound like. (The fiddling in this case is Finnish rather than American in flavor, but the point still stands.)"

Paul Huang performed Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

ArtsKnoxville: "Huang played the Bruch with stunning precision and control of intricate bow strokes, but what marked the performance was his amazing range of dynamic contrasts within passages, all intelligently and articulately positioned."

Nikki Chooi performed the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Buffalo Rising Digest: "As BPO principal violin Nikki Chooi played the notoriously difficult Brahms violin concerto, I had the feeling that we were watching a 'dueling violins' smackdown. Not that there was another soloist on stage, but it had that same 'You liked that? Watch this!' feeling."

Lisa Batiashvili performed Sibelius' Violin Concerto in D minor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

The Harvard Crimson: "She performed with the confidence of a soloist throughout the entire concerto, skillfully maneuvering the incredibly difficult virtuosic passages."

Gil Shaham performed Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major with the National Philharmonic Orchestra at the newly-opened Capital One Hall in Tysons, Va.

Zebra: "Shaham played so beautifully and looked so relaxed while doing so, I just bathed in the sound of the orchestra and violinist in this magnificent new hall. "

Irene Duval performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Northampton Chronicle: "Despite visiting the concert for other reasons, this violin concerto became an unexpected highlight, allowing me to witness for the first time the extraordinary talent of young violinist Irene Duval. "

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

You might also like:

* * *

We wanted you to read this article before we make our newsletter pitch, unlike so many other websites. If you appreciate that — and our efforts to promote excellence in string playing, teaching, performance and community — please click here to sign up for our free, bi-weekly email newsletter. And if you've already signed up, please invite your friends! Thank you.

Replies

Christian Lesniak

October 27, 2021 at 02:11 AM · Holy crap, the reviewer for the Nikki Chooi performance sure is full of hot air! He doesn't even mention how anyone plays - I learned more about childhood nicknames his family had for composers. What a goofball!