The Week in Reviews, Op. 384: Nicola Benedetti; Alina Ibragimova; Lisa Batiashvili

January 24, 2023, 8:19 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 Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

The Boston Musical Intelligencer: "The young violinist brought to the 20-minute nonstop concerto a broad sound energy with an intensely opulent vibrato easily reaching the farthest second balcony from the stage."

Alina Ibragimova performed Jörg Widmann's Violin Concerto with the San Francisco Symphony.

San Francisco Chronicle Datebook: "...(no one could) take issue with the efforts of the Russian violinist Alina Ibragimova, who in her debut appearance with the Symphony illuminated Widmann’s wiry musical oratory."
San Francisco Classical Voice: "Ibragimova played throughout with a rich, assertive tone, readily audible at all dynamic levels, and with the concentration, passion, and technical prowess that the work demands."

Lisa Batiashvili performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic.

New York Times: "For the Tchaikovsky, (conductor Dalia Stasevska) was joined by the Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili, in characteristically elegant and modestly electrifying form, with a focused, penetrating sound."

Leonidas Kavakos performed Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the National Symphony Orchestra.

The Washington Post: "Kavakos was the star, offering a sensational, often searing account that felt anchored by a cellular understanding of the concerto’s treacherous terrain"

Randall Goosby performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Cincinnati Business Courier: "He communicated with warmth and beauty of tone from the first notes of Tchaikovsky’s concerto. The violinist’s lyrical themes were deeply expressive, and he dispatched its fireworks without breaking a sweat."

Nancy Zhou performed Zhao Jiping’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the New Jersey Symphony.

NJ.com: "One of the New Jersey Symphony’s strong points is versatility, and they accompanied these soloists...all with assured musicality and a sense of celebratory cheer."

James Ehnes performed Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with the San Francisco Symphony.

San Francisco Classical Voice: "The second movement was especially choice, with the soloist spinning out a quietly ravishing melody over patiently plucked strings. Later on, the violins sang above the soloist, in a tender descant effect. "

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