The Week in Reviews, Op. 332: Martin Chalifour, Christian Tetzlaff, Ray Chen

December 7, 2021, 2:05 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 Martin Chalifour, Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Martin Chalifour performed the world premiere of Julia Adolphe's violin concerto "Woven Loom, Silver Spindle" with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Violinist.com: "Performed by concertmaster Chalifour, the violin part unfolded in well-executed fragments of sound, with the violin being a primary element in a texture largely composed of arhythmic sound-weaving."
San Francisco Classical Voice: "The overall sonic picture is peaceful yet quizzical at first, growing more anguished and dissonant in the second movement, returning to something resembling the earlier state before subsiding to an unaccompanied solo violin....Chalifour’s playing gleamed brightly in the Walt Disney Concert Hall acoustic; you could say that his tone was silvery, apropos Adolphe’s title."
LA Times: "Adolphe has the perfect protagonist in Chalifour. He makes 'silver spindle' audible, gleaming through an orchestra that has long known him and he, it."

Christian Tetzlaff performed the Elgar Violin Concerto with the San Francisco Symphony.

San Francisco Chronicle Datebook: "Christian Tetzlaff('s)...ferocious, fine account of Elgar’s Violin Concerto occupied the evening’s first half....This is a tricky work to pull off, not only for its technical challenges but because of its blend of old-fashioned stylistic choices and emotional rawness. (Its) mixture of prickly pride, mournful insistence and expressive clarity is a characteristic Elgar mood, and Tetzlaff and Young collaborated to catch it perfectly"

Ray Chen performed Lalo’s "Symphonie Espagnole" with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Chicago Classical Review: "Chen was the ideal solo protagonist, possessed of a stainless-steel technique and the personality and exuberance to make the strongest possible case for Lalo’s confection. Though the tone of his 1715 "Joachim" Stradivarius, is not large, Chen played with acutely focused tone and seamless virtuosity, sailing through all the technical landmines with winning charm and panache. "

Randall Goosby performed in recital with pianist Zhu Wang in Great Barrington, Mass.

Times-Union: "The 25-year old violinist Randall Goosby with pianist Zhu Wang gave a brilliant recital that was presented by Clarion Concerts..."

Augustin Hadelich performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

The Dallas Morning News: "He took a suitably romantic approach to the Mendelssohn concerto, often pushing ahead or stretching the tempo for dramatic effect. His tone ranged from gritty down low to sweet and searing up high. Virtuosic passagework had purpose and a direction. "

Blake Pouliot performed the Barber Violin Concerto with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Winnipeg Free Press: "His passion ensured he left nothing behind onstage, including delivering an enthralling, full-throttle Presto in moto perpetuo finale driven by lightning speed triplets and performed like a blazing banshee on his 1729 Guarneri del Gesu violin, on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank."

Inmo Yang performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Utah Symphony.

Utah Arts Review: "From his first entrance, Yang played with authoritative passion....He infused the infectious melody of the first movement with an energy that was both intensely personal and drew the audience in with widely varied tones and dynamic levels."

James Ehnes performed the Barber Violin Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "James Ehnes’ interpretation of Barber’s Violin Concerto was handsome and warm, a brilliant display of the soloist’s mastery. The end of the second movement in particular breathed with poignancy, a triumph of lyrical playing and balance with Honeck and the orchestra."

Alexandra Osborne performed Alexandra Gardner’s "Electric Blue Pantsuit" in a concert with the 21st Century Consort.

Washington Classical Review: "Firebrand violinist Alexandra Osborne next stormed her way through Alexandra Gardner’s Electric Blue Pantsuit, a vivid piece in which the violin’s quicksilver flourishes are answered by electronic scratches and noises."

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 332: Martin Chalifour, Christian Tetzlaff, Ray Chen

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