The Week in Reviews, Op. 337: Nicola Benedetti; James Ehnes; TwoSet Violin; Xavier Foley

January 18, 2022, 12:49 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 Nicola Benedetti. Photo by Simon Fowler.

Nicola Benedetti performed the U.S. premiere of Mark Simpson’s Violin Concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Cincinnati Business Courier: "Benedetti’s performance was a tour-de-force, both technically and emotionally. Not only was she utterly committed to the music, but she performed with relentless intensity from beginning to end and made it look effortless."

James Ehnes performed the Elgar Violin Concerto with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Texas Classical Review: "Ehnes, poised and self-possesses, entered with a clear, warm violin tone. His technical address of the literature was undeniable—athletic and agile, with an emotional range that was equally delicate as it was virtuosic."
Dallas Morning News: "Stunning."

TwoSet Violin performed their Virtual World Tour on Dec. 28.

Bleeding Cool: "The concert fused classical music education with comedy...The story of the concert focuses around classical music disappearing and leaving only two-chord pop music (oh no!) and in order to save it, Brett and Eddy have to travel back in time by drinking super scientific bubble tea to find the four sacred stones of classical music (baroque, classical, romantic, and 20th century)."

Bassist-composer Xavier Foley performed his own work "For Justice and Peace" with violinist Eunice Kim and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Star Tribune: "On Friday night, (Foley) brought an emotionally eloquent work inspired by the 400th anniversary of the first slave ship landing in North America. A double concerto for violin, bass and strings, 'For Justice and Peace' evokes mourning, menace, striving and struggle. Although the shortest piece on the program, it packs the most power."

Jack Liebeck performed Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

theartsdesk.com: "Jack Liebeck’s vocal pliancy of phrasing, tonal shading and expressive trenchancy offered a conversation piece with conductor, orchestra and audience alike at every turn. It was as though the work was being played for the first time."

Tang Tee Khoon performed all 10 Beethoven Violin and Piano Sonatas with pianist Luca Buratto in Singapore.

The Straits Times: "History was made when Singaporean violinist Tang Tee Khoon and Italian pianist Luca Buratto performed all 10 of Beethoven's violin sonatas in four concerts over two evenings."

COVID-Related Postponements and Cancellations:

Regrettably, the latest COVID surge has caused a number of postponements and cancellations of classical performances during January. Here are some of them:

Augustin Hadelich's performance of Barber’s Violin Concerto with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra - cancelled.
Itzhak Perlman's recital with pianist Rohan De Silva at The Colburn School in Los Angeles - postponed until April 24.
Rachel Barton Pine's performance of Joseph White’s Violin Concerto in F# minowith the Verde Valley Sinfonietta - cancelled.
Shannon Lee's performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra - postponed until April 30-May 1.

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

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 337: Nicola Benedetti; James Ehnes; TwoSet Violin; Xavier Foley

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