The Week in Reviews, Op. 521: Renaud Capuçon, Aubree Oliverson, Daniel Lozakovich
October 14, 2025, 10:32 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. Click on the highlighted links to read the entire reviews.
Violinist Renaud Capuçon. Photo by Simon Fowler.Renaud Capuçon performed Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra and Hans Graf.
- Washington Classical Review: "The satisfying heart of the evening, Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto, came with another welcome return, the extraordinary French violinist Renaud Capuçon.... Capuçon brought poetic beauty to this often astringent score."
Aubree Oliverson performed Mieczyslaw Weinberg's Concertino for Violin and Strings, Op. 42 with Kontrapunktus.
Daniel Lozakovich performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Tarmo Peltokosk.
- Bach Track: "Daniel Lozakovich’s mesmerising technique in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major was the highlight of the evening. The real powerhouse is his bow arm, frequently used to deadly effect and allowing playing of great delicacy particularly in the higher register. In many ways his playing, with its focus and clarity, harks back to a bygone era."
Gil Shaham performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Kwamé Ryan.
- EarRelevant: "Shaham’s technique is a marvel. In the thrilling performance at Charlotte’s Belk Theater, the violinist negotiated the concerto with chiseled clarity and precision, with no sacrifice of heart-on-the-sleeve romanticism."
James Ehnes performed the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.
- WBOI News: "Ehnes was quite intense and energetic throughout the first movement, showcasing great ability, particularly in the more delicate moments."
William Hagen performed Vaughan Williams' "The Lark Ascending" with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra.
- Washington Classical Review: "In Hagen’s hands, the (1732 'Arkwright Lady Rebecca Sylvan' Stradivarius violin) sang with a limpid tone in the opening cadenza, taken freely and with avian-like twittering motifs. In later sections, Hagen gave virtuosic flourish to the octaves and double-stops, at one point playing deftly to the accompaniment of soft triangle and woodwind solos."
Augustin Hadelich performed Dvorák’s Violin Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Philippe Jordan.
- Chicago Classical Review: "Hadelich was clearly in synch with the sweet-sad qualities of Dvorák. The violinist was at his best in the Adagio, bringing great sensitivity and nuanced dynamics and expression to the slow movement’s main theme—one of the composer’s most ineffably beautiful inspirations."
Martin Beaver joined the New World Symphony's orchestra fellows for a chamber music concerto in Miami Beach.
- South Florida Classical Review: "Beaver’s silken tone and strong leadership commanded a well-coordinated reading of Schubert’s Quartet in C minor (“Quartettsatz”). The main theme of the single movement vignette was phrased with broad eloquence but there was an appropriate suggestion of grit in the turbulent episodes. Violinist Janani Sivakumar, violist Michael Ayala and cellist Alexander Wu were Beaver’s excellent colleagues."
Zoe Yost performed Béla Bartók’s Viola Concerto with the with San Francisco Conservatory of Music Orchestra at the SFCM’s Concerto Winners Concert.
- San Francisco Classical Voice: "She attacked all the challenging double-stop passages and tricky shifts with youthful fearlessness. With her willingness to take musical risks, there came the occasional intonation slip in the viola’s higher register, but a compelling and daring live performance with small slips is much better listening than one that is technically flawless while playing it safe."
Daniel Schmitt performed Bartok’s Viola Concerto with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Asher Fisch.
- Bach Track: "The soloist here was Daniel Schmitt, WASO’s Principal Viola, who played with sinewy, committed energy."
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