The Week in Reviews, Op. 427: Isabelle Faust, Bohdan Luts, James Ehnes, Clara-Jumi Kang

November 28, 2023, 12:02 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 Isabelle Faust.

Isabelle Faust performed Bartók's First Violin Concerto and Chausson's "Poème" with the London Symphony Orchestra.

The Guardian: "It was hard to imagine a better, more truthful performance of this rather curious bipartite concerto, which was completed in 1908 but only performed for the first time in 1958, 13 years after Bartók’s death. "
Bachtrack: "Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1 began proceedings, with the intelligent and thoughtful presence of Isabelle Faust trying her considerable best to mould this somewhat unformed work into something convincing."

Bohdan Luts performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto in the final round of the Long-Thibaud International Competition in Paris, France, winning First Prize, the audience prize, the press jury prize and the Prize of the French Republican Guard Orchestra.

The Strad: "Bohdan Luts has previously won the first prize at the 2022 Alberto Lysy International Violin Competition, and joint first prize at the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition the same year. "

James Ehnes performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Philharmonia and conductor Paavo Järvi.

Bachtrack: "Ehnes’ unquestionable virtuosity is such that this performance felt almost understated, in a good way. Nothing appeared to be any effort at all, so even in the craziest runs every note was clearly articulated. While this was astonishing, it never got in the way of Tchaikovsky's melodic shape."

Clara-Jumi Kang performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

NZ Herald: "If the first movement showed her deftly balancing the architectonic and dramatic — her Kreisler cadenza was breathtaking — the following larghetto effortlessly released its poetry, with Kang in rapturous duet with clarinet and bassoon."

Angela Chan performed Arvo Pärt’s "Fratres" for Violin, Strings and Percussion with Musicus Soloists of Hong Kong.

South China Morning Post: "Chan was most convincing as she soared above the ensemble with her fine and focused tone, projecting much detail and clarity in her string crossings. Guest percussionist Alvin Chan’s interjections were spot on in their spookiness as Chan continued to impress with her stylish double-stopping and ringing harmonics, all executed with precision."

Kevin Zhu performed Max Bruch’s "Scottish Fantasy" with the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra.

Arts ATL: "In the hands of Zhu, a recent graduate of Julliard and an emerging violin phenomenon at only 22 years of age, those traditional melodies take on a fresh sense of yearning. His interpretation of the work places a particular emphasis on tone production, to such a degree that the merely melodic becomes angelic."

Members of the Cleveland Orchestra performed Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 9 at the New World Symphony chamber concert.

South Florida Classical Review: "... in more than 35 years of attending the organization’s Sunday chamber programs, this was the finest iteration of a string quartet heard by this listener. In a performance true to the tense, brooding and moody aura of Shostakovich’s musical language, (Cleveland’s assistant concertmaster Stephen) Tavani and (violist Gareth) Zehngut raised the level of music making to a standard that could rival the best professional quartets."

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Jake Watson

November 29, 2023 at 06:30 PM · I went to Isabelle and the LSO at the Barbican. I thought her playing was a bit quiet, but that may have something to do with where I was sat than anything else honestly

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 427: Isabelle Faust, Bohdan Luts, James Ehnes, Clara-Jumi Kang

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