The Week in Reviews, Op. 415: Christian Tetzlaff; Simone Lamsma; Tessa Lark

August 29, 2023, 2:36 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 Christian Tetzlaff. Photo by Giorgia-Bertazzi.

Christian Tetzlaff performed Edward Elgar’s violin concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at BBC Prom 51.

The Guardian: "...it was a masterly performance. The concentrated tension, always the hallmark of Tetzlaff’s playing, never flagged. Control of dynamics was particularly impressive, well matched by a responsive Oramo. Big moments were emphatically but never theatrically done. In the most intimate passages at the heart of Elgar’s concerto, above all in the cadenza near the end, Tetzlaff’s tone was a gossamer whisper."

Simone Lamsma performed Saint-Saens' Violin Concerto No. 3 with the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center.

Cleveland.com: "Lamsma isn’t a showy performer or big personality. Where others move all about and display their virtuosity, she stands largely still, channeling all her abundant talent, focus, and passion into the music. The result Saturday was pure magnetism."

Tessa Lark performed Michael Torke’s "Sky" Violin Concerto with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.

Cincinnati Business Journal: "Torke’s 'Sky' was a scintillating work, and perfectly tailored to Lark’s artistry...Lark tore up the stage with her fiddling and climbed mountains of technical challenges like a breath of fresh air....for an encore, she dazzled even more with an improvisation that she had just invented...a showstopper full of technical feats and bluegrass licks. She called it 'Ysaÿe Shuffle.'"

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein performed Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

WTTW: "Elgar’s 'Cello Concerto,' in a fiery performance by Alisa Weilerstein, begins with the cello sounding an anguished, painful cry, with the soloist then joined by the low strings."

Mandolinist Chris Thile performed his mandolin concerto "Attention! A narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolin and orchestra" with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.

Los Angeles Times: "'Attention!' is not really a concerto. Thile sings much of the time, but this is hardly a formal song cycle either...Call it a ramble. Ramble Thile does. And noodle. And fool around. He makes us laugh. He has a sentimental side, and a snarky one. His narration is all over the map and often incoherent. This is not the Thile who can make Bach arresting on the mandolin but rather turns more to his, and the mandolin’s, bluegrass roots as well as jazz."

Mostly Mozart Festival performed its last-ever concerts at Lincoln Center.

The New Yorker: "It’s especially bizarre that Lincoln Center has put together so few classical events this past year, following Geffen’s reopening after an extensive renovation. The audience is out there: the final two Mostly Mozart concerts were packed."

Leonidas Kavakos performed Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood.

The Berkshire Edge: "It helped that Kavakos fully appreciated the big picture and never stopped the flow to call attention to himself—unless the music actually required that. His demeanor always showed his engagement with what the orchestra was playing, and he handed over the musical line to them visibly, especially when it was taken over by the first violins."

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Richard Pairaudeau

August 30, 2023 at 05:03 AM · Michael Torke's 'Sky' is a very attractive work. It must be exhausting to play in concert: there isn't a moment's rest for the soloist, so congratulations to Tessa Lark. Fascinating concert reports, Laurie.

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 415: Christian Tetzlaff; Simone Lamsma; Tessa Lark

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