The Week in Reviews, Op. 450: Andrew Sords, Madeline Adkins, Joshua Bell

May 21, 2024, 11:24 AM · 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 Andrew Sords.

Andrew Sords performed Bruch's "Scottish Fantasy" with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra.

Cultural Voice of North Carolina: "His playing throughout the work was a delight to hear....The opening movement is primarily plaintive, and Sords’ affecting playing of the gorgeous melodies, often soaring into the stratosphere, was a perfect match."

Concertmaster Madeline Adkins performed the solos in Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherezade" with the Utah Symphony. The future of their concert hall has been called into question by a planned development and patrons wore "Save Abravanel Hall" badges.

Utah Arts Review: "Concertmaster Madeline Adkins did stellar work with the beguiling storyteller violin theme that ties the suite together, but several of her colleagues also delivered world-class solo turns, from Hammond, Smith and Vickerman to clarinetist Tad Calcara, bassoonist Lori Wike and the entire trombone section."

Joshua Bell performed Vieuxtemps' Violin Concerto No. 5 and Kevin Puts’s "Earth" with the San Francisco Symphony.

San Francisco Classical Voice: "Bell played so fluidly that even the rote passagework felt capricious. Not every note spoke fully, but it all tumbled out with the kind of excitement you would have talking to the person you’d been waiting for your whole life."

Randall Goosby performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Thomas Wilkins and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Washington Classical Review: "Goosby’s virtuosic take on the standard cadenza proved the highlight of the first movement, including the throaty tone on the lowest string."

Cellist Inbal Segev performed Anna Clyne’s "Dance" with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra.

Washington Classical Review: " The British composer based the five-movement piece on a poem by Rumi, each line of which begins with the word 'Dance.' Segev’s tone on the A string hovered limpidly in the opening movement, shadowed by wisps of bowed vibraphone..."

Mycelium Quartet performed music by Mozart and Mendelssohn for the Music Monday series at the Scandinavian Center of Newton.

The Boston Musical Intelligencer: "Influenced by an array of nonmusical (biochemistry, math, coding, AI, and puzzles) and musical (piano, organ, harp, guitar, voice and songwriting) talents beyond their primary instruments, the Mycelium Quartet interpreted both of today’s works with vigor and sensitivity."

Julia Fischer performed Daniel Kidane’s violin concerto with London’s Royal Festival Hall (in March).

The Strad: " On the strength of this assured first performance, Aloud is that rare event among new violin concertos, staging an often violent and unpredictable battle between soloist and ensemble, in which neither side is cowed by the other....Julia Fischer brought her trademark poise and even tone to a richly varied solo part, testing of technique, varied in dialogue with a large orchestra, and developing fragments of the folksong with a refreshing clarity of purpose."

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