The Week in Reviews, Op. 456: Augustin Hadelich; James Ehnes; Francesca Dego

July 3, 2024, 3:36 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 Augustin Hadelich. Photo by Suxiao Yang.

Augustin Hadelich performed Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and conductor Gemma New.

Vancouver Sun: "Hadelich doesn’t so much play the thing as live it, his obvious belief that this is great music is completely convincing. How one wishes the composer could have heard of what Hadelich makes of his problem child opus."

James Ehnes and friends performed J.S. Bach's six Brandenburg Concertos at the Montréal Chamber Music Festival.

Bach Track: "This camaraderie reminded me of Petruchio and his troupe of traveling players from Kiss Me Kate, only here it was Bach and the kind of free-lancers ensemble who would have been called upon, probably at a moment's notice, to play them all for the Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt – which they never did – which Bach hoped would land him a job – which it never did."

Francesca Dego performed Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Limelight: "Dego’s skills are truly astonishing, and her flights up and down the many daredevil runs in the piece were incredible. Her entrance, too, had a lovely evocative shape to its long-breathed phrases."

Emily Sun performed Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

In Review: "Violinist Emily Sun, the ASO’s artist in association, communicated its solo part with directness and melodic conviction – qualities it absolutely needs. Others give it a more singing line, but Sun’s playing was admirably full of tone."

Bomsori Kim performed Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Bach Track: "...it was refreshing to hear Bomsori Kim taking heed of the composer’s molto appassionato marking in the first movement. There was plenty of youthful passion, urgency even, with a fearless attack in the cadenza."

The New Hollywood String Quartet and friends performed a recital in its "Summer of Bohemia" series at Los Angeles' Doheny Mansion..

San Francisco Classical Voice: "The concluding performance of Smetana’s quartet, performed by the NHSQ, captured perfectly the composer’s sense of regret intermingled with lamenting whisps of memories from more joyful times — loves won and lost and dances danced."

The Aspen Music Festival marks its 75th anniversary season this summer.

Classical Voice North America: Check out this article for a wonderful history of the Aspen Music Festival - "What sets the annual event apart from the dozens of others in the U.S. and beyond is its size, longevity, and unparalleled educational mission..... 'Aspen continues to be a remarkable place,' said conductor Leonard Slatkin."

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

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 456: Augustin Hadelich; James Ehnes; Francesca Dego

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