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The Week in Reviews, Op. 458: Nathan Cole, Augustin Hadelich, Njioma Grevious
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 Nathan Cole. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
Nathan Cole performed in his first official concert as Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, playing the solos in "Scheherazade."
- Bach Track: "His solo moments, representing Scheherazade narrating her captivating tales, were handled with elegance and great dignity, eschewing unnecessary sweetness and effusiveness. "
- The Boston Musical Intelligencer: "Cole conveyed the storyteller Scheherazade’s voice and spirit with rich melodies and mastery—auguring for brilliant tenure as the BSO concertmaster."
Augustin Hadelich performed Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
- Violinist.com: "Hadelich's sensitivity to sound and expression, paired with his astonishing technical control made this piece especially well-suited for him."
- San Francisco Classical Voice: "Violinist Augustin Hadelich, playing the opening notes of Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with exquisite phrasing and a pure, full, beautifully projected tone, let us know we were in good hands from the outset. "
Njioma Grevious performed Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap.
- Washington Classical Review: "Grevious won the Sphinx Competition last year playing the Coleridge-Taylor concerto, and on Friday she presented it like someone who has told a great story many times and can’t wait to tell it again. Every detail sounded spontaneous yet thoroughly considered, like the way she subtly emphasized the blue notes when she took up the march theme."
Anne Akiko Meyers performed in recital with pianist Max Levinson at Newport Breakers Mansion.
- The Boston Musical Intelligencer: "The radiance of her long gown matched the glowing resonance and warmth... and glorious tone of her famous Guarneri del Gesù, which once belonged to violinist and composer Henri Vieuxtemps. Together the duo danced and romanced an enthusiastic audience through four centuries of enchanting and enticing musical selections."
Noa Wildschut performed Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Orchestre National de Lille at the Concertgebouw.(replacing Esther Yoo, who was recovering from whiplash following a car accident).
- Bach Track: "After a rather nervy start, Wildschut rose to the challenge. Her confidence grew, her tone was sweet and intense, and the return of the opening theme seemed much more expressive. "
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center performed works by Dvorák, Puccini, Mozart and Brahms.
- New York Classical Review: "Playing with impeccable ensemble and energy, the mixed cast of veteran and younger players achieved a seamless meeting of the minds throughout the evening."
Ravinia Steans Music Institute Faculty Chamber Players (Midori, Mihaela Martin, Kim Kashkashian, Frans Helmerson, Clive Greensmith and Marc-Andre Hamelin) performed in recital at The Ravinia Festival.
- Splash Magazines: "Together, these artists gave a penetrating presentation of memorable sound."
Please support music in your community by attending a concert or recital whenever you can!
You might also like:
- Nathan Cole Named Concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- The Week in Reviews, Op. 457: Anne Akiko Meyers, Gil Shaham, Augustin Hadelich
- The Week in Reviews, Op. 456: Augustin Hadelich; James Ehnes; Francesca Dego
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July 16, 2024 at 08:26 PM · I saw Vadim Gluzman play Prokofiev 2 last week on Thursday with the Colorado Music Festival orchestra. It was a frustrating performance, but Gluzman did about as well as he could. There was really something up with the orchestra, where they could not get in sync with the tempo he was clearly playing in. I recall a clarinet entrance in the 1st movement on quaaludes that seemed to drag the tempo down to almost half tempo, and he gamely matched the distortion. The performance finally came together, but the orchestra really seemed out to lunch, like it just wasn't listening. I don't get it - usually this group is really tight, and Peter Oundjian is a consistently good conductor, but this was quite the off night. In the second half, the orchestra proceeded to play a very good Rite of Spring, so I don't know if the Prokofiev was not their focus in rehearsal, or what.
Gluzman is great and worth seeing. Always a great sound. The encore was a very charming rendition of the Gavotte from Leclair's 5th sonata for two violins, between Gluzman and the concertmaster, where Gluzman would walk around one side of the music stand and the two of them would seamlessly switch parts throughout. It was pretty fun.