The Week in Reviews, Op. 365: Gil Shaham; Tessa Lark; Bella Hristova; Joshua Bell

August 9, 2022, 3:12 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 Gil Shaham. Photo by Chris Lee.

Gil Shaham performed Tchaikovsky's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major with the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap.

The Washington Post: "Perhaps most stunning about Shaham’s approach is its variety — and the variety of that variety. It’s not just Shaham’s feats of tonal derring-do and idiosyncratic color that distinguish his take, it’s the exquisite lyricism he brings to it."

Tessa Lark performed several concerts at the Festival Napa Valley.

Napa Valley Register: "Tessa Lark...began effortlessly with Bach, continued with a dizzying, Roma-inspired piece by Ravel, and finished with Gershwin’s 'Summertime,' which included an improvised interlude that ripped a hole in the spacetime continuum."

Bella Hristova performed in recital with pianist Shai Wosner at Music@Menlo.

The Daily Journal: "Hristova played with a sweet and graceful sound, especially when coming off of appoggiatura grace notes. The players’ exchange of roles was perfectly balanced and excellently judged, a delight to hear."

Joshua Bell performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

The Boston Musical Intelligencer: "(Bell) seemed fully immersed into the score, shining with beautiful, silky tone, articulation, dynamic variation, while fully articulating every detail."

Hilary Hahn performed a series of concerts with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Gemma New.

Stuff: "Hilary Hahn is one of those players who, even in the stormiest moments, seems to carry around with her a little pocket of stillness. She has the technique of a virtuoso, but none of the bluster. Instead, she uses technique to make technique almost disappear, playing with such clarity and seriousness as to give every note its absolute due – and to make you forget that the hard passages might even be hard."

Patricia Kopatchinskaja performed Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No 1 in A minor with the Aurora Orchestra at the BBC Proms.

The Guardian: "Kopatchinskaja metaphorically risks life and limb in every performance she gives. This was no exception."

Timothy Ridout performed Bartok's Viola Concerto with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

The Courier: "His performance was superb, making this little-known work immediately attractive and the audience lapped up what seems likely to have been the Concerto’s first performance in these parts."

Joshua Bell performed Henri Vieuxtemps' Concerto No. 5 with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra.

Financial Times: "An outlet for Bell’s best singing tone, here lavishly produced, the concerto is also replete with technical hurdles, which were deftly surmounted. Alertly partnered by Heyward and the orchestra, Bell made the concerto rewarding listening."

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

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 365: Gil Shaham; Tessa Lark; Bella Hristova; Joshua Bell

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