The Week in Reviews, Op. 322: Benjamin Beilman; Augustin Hadelich; Robyn Bollinger

September 28, 2021, 2:11 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 Benjamin Beilman.

Benjamin Beilman performed Jennifer Higdon's Violin Concerto with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Rochester City News: "Higdon’s writing requires athletic playing from the musician, who must traverse dissonant melodies and acrobatic slides up and down the strings. Beilman was always in control...and his precision lost none of the music’s passion in the process."

Augustin Hadelich performed and conducted works by Bach, Shostakovich and Joseph Boulogne with the Houston Symphony.

Texas Classical Review: "...the night was a tour de force for Hadelich: he may not have handled the leadership role as visibly as some instrumentalists do, but he played commandingly and colorfully for 80 minutes virtually nonstop."

Robyn Bollinger performed Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

ArtsKnoxville: "This impressive violinist...brought an intelligent and descriptive phrasing that was supported by a stunningly energetic and accomplished technique. Her beautiful razor’s edge of clarity and precision in fast moving, emphatic sections was contrasted with a gorgeous overall tone."

Joshua Bell performed Max Bruch's "Scottish Fantasy" with the Minnesota Orchestra and Osmo Vänskä.

Pioneer Press: "Bell stood quite close to Vanska. They were constantly checking in with each other, moving in harmony as if in a dance. Bell, for his part, showcased a velvety sound with the scrumptious piece of music, effortlessly jaunting through double stops with spritely vigor."

Pekka Kuusisto performed Magnus Lindberg’s Violin Concerto with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

The Scotsman: "Kuusisto’s poised performance captured the concerto’s weird attractiveness, at times leaning towards ethereal blues, but equally enjoying expansive Sibelian surges."

Randall Goosby performed Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Washington Classical Review: "The young violinist excelled in the slow movement, his sugary, romantic rubato supported with beautiful restraint by the BSO."

Nicola Benedetti performed a solo violin recital the Barbican Hall in London.

The Times: "Nicola Benedetti made 90 minutes, alone, on a stage more usually filled with entire orchestras, look easy. Standing in a large spotlight, she became dazzling virtuoso, folk fiddler, spinner of melody, thoughtful accompanist — not to mention compere, page-turner and technical support when her electronic page-turning pedal gave up."
iNews: "Served up here with impossible polish, this was clever playing, but even better programming – a lecture-recital that didn’t need any words to help join the dots."

Johan Dalene performed in recital with pianist Julien Quentin at the Verbier Festival.

The Strad: "While the piano initially overpowered the violin in the Ravel, things soon settled into performances of glued-together mutual awareness."

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 322: Benjamin Beilman; Augustin Hadelich; Robyn Bollinger

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