The Week in Reviews, Op. 492: Leonidas Kavakos, Ray Chen, Midori, Augustin Hadelich

March 18, 2025, 6:48 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 Leonidas Kavakos.

Leonidas Kavakos performed Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 2 with the National Symphony Orchestra and Gianandrea Noseda, following an audience uproar over the appearance of U.S Vice President J.D. Vance in the audience.

Washington Classical Review: "...the Greek violinist gave a burning, even vitriolic rendition of (Shostakovich's) Violin Concerto No. 2, the last concerto Shostakovich completed, from 1967."
The Washington Post: "Noseda and his orchestra sustained a tension that commanded attention, impossibly flipping the energy of the room. Kavakos played a big part in this feat, giving an athletic, acidic performance of Shostakovich’s second violin concerto....Kavakos on Thursday sounded preternaturally suited to its demands: rapid-fire double stops, sudden changes of character, barely a break."

Ray Chen performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Teddy Abrams.

The Arts Fuse: "His performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto blazed with exhilarating passion and sizzled with emotional tension — without tipping into excess. And, given the nature of this high-flying music, his flirting with the edges fit perfectly."
Boston Classical Review: "It’s easy to see what makes Chen a star. He’s electrifying onstage and has technique to burn. But for all the flashiness of his playing, he’s no dilettante: Thursday’s Tchaikovsky was consistently well-directed and brilliantly projected."
Boston Musical Intelligencer: "The soloist’s affinity for this piece showed virtually constantly on his face as well as in his playing, with the first movement reflecting exhilaration, passion, playfulness, freedom, and even a hint of humor in the passages of overt display in the cadenza."

Midori performed in recital with pianist Özgür Aydin at Los Angeles' Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Violinist.com: "And then the highlight - Ravel's "Tzigane." - a master class of impeccable timing and technique....Every gesture was sculpted to perfection, and the end was faster then I've ever heard it played - flying past the speed limit of sound, without missing a note."

Augustin Hadelich performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Joana Mallwitz.

Violinist.com: "...he joyously asserted his own interpretation, releasing entrenched practices without a hint of inhibition."

Simone Lamsma performed Erich Korngold's Violin Concerto with the Houston Symphony.

EarRelevant: "Violinist Simone Lamsma transported us to that time with a performance of uncommon sensitivity and virtuosity."

Frank Peter Zimmermann performed Berg's Violin Concerto "To the Memory of an Angel" with the Orchestre National de Lyon and David Afkham.

Bach Track: "In the hands of Frank Peter Zimmermann...the solo violin painted the most delicate portrait of Manon (Gropius). Long-held high harmonics depicted ethereal grace; rapid passagework swooped into the instrument’s lowest register to show more anguished times. "

Pekka Kuusisto performed Thomas Adès "Märchentänze" for violin and orchestra with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Bach Track: "A final blistering fiddle performance from Kuusisto clashed with vivid looping orchestral interruptions in rhythms so complicated that you wanted to tap your feet, but couldn’t."

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 492: Leonidas Kavakos, Ray Chen, Midori, Augustin Hadelich

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