The Week in Reviews, Op. 9: Benjamin Beilman, Pinchas Zukerman, Philippe Quint in concert

Written by Robert Niles
Published: November 19, 2013 at 4:44 PM [UTC]

Benjamin Beilman performed David Ludwig's "Swan Song," Stravinsky's Divertimento and Brahms's Violin Sonata No. 3, with pianist Yekwon Sunwoo at Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York

• New York Times: "Mr. Beilman, a passionate performer with a deep, rich tone, played the opening melody beautifully as it unfolded over the enigmatic piano motifs."

Leonidas Kavakos performed Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra

• The Boston Globe: "The Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos is one of the most comprehensively gifted instrumentalists of his time. His playing combines a sweet, singing tone with virtuoso technique and penetrating intelligence."

Pinchas Zukerman performed the Bruch with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra

• Sydney Morning Herald: "…one only need hear the first darkly stirring notes of the G minor arpeggio at the opening of Bruch's Violin Concerto No.1 in G minor, Opus 26, to recapture in full what is special about (Zukerman's) playing – the breadth of sound, the warmth of the vibrato, the powerful bow arm technique and the capacity, through nuance and sheer musicianship, to unfold the melody endlessly, like a great river that never ceases."

Philippe Quint

Philippe Quint performed the Korngold with the [Syracuse, NY] Symphoria

• The Post-Standard: "Quint was more than simply a replacement violinist, he was a brilliant performer, one who was nominated for a Grammy for his 2009 recording of the piece."

Joshua Bell performed sonatas by Beethoven and Tartini, with pianist Sam Haywood at Symphony Hall in Boston.

• Boston Classical Review: "The second movement (of 'The Devil's Trill') featured Bell in furious cascades of notes, which he unleashed with seemingly effortless polish."

Christian Tetzlaff performed sonatas by Bartok, Mozart and Brahms, with pianist Lars Vogt at Orchestra Hall in Chicago.

• Chicago Tribune: "The Bartok could scarcely have been played better. Its personal mix of Schoenberg, Debussy and Magyar barbarity was realized to the full in Tetzlaff and Vogt's mastery of tension and release."

Karen Gomyo performed Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 2 with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra

• The Post and Courier: "Gomyo exhibited impeccable technique and musical smarts that made this interpretation a particularly thrilling joy ride. And when the slow second movement arrived, she proved she could play a long, ringing phrase with refined ardor and sweep."

Chen Xiang also performed Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 2, with the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra

• What's On Xiamen: "The most striking aspect of listening to a violin master like Chen is how the music takes on a richer, deeper meaning – sounds that you never noticed on your favourite recording suddenly jump out in the live performance and the buzz of hearing something brilliant for the first time kicks it once again."

Miriam Fried performed sonatas by Janacek, Schumann and Beethoven, with her son, pianist Jonathan Biss, at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington in Rockville, MD.

• Washington Post: "She remains a true artist who spins out phrases with clear expressive design, logic and beauty."

Augustin Hadelich performed Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole with the Madison Symphony Orchestra

• The Daily Page: "...his technical brilliance is undeniable, and the key to his success is his absolute identity with the score's rhythmic vitality."

Dmitry Sitkovetsky performed Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

• The Star-Ledger: "Sitkovetsky demonstrated a command of the florid writing, with streamlined, unforced tone in duet-like passages that leapt across the instrument and suaveness in a cadenza — his own — with double-stops complementing a modest melody."

Arabella Steinbacher performed the Brahms with the Dallas Symphony

• Dallas Morning News: "The magic in the Violin Concerto happened in the slow movement, with German violinist Arabella Steinbacher savoring the lyricism and soaring sweetly."
• Theater Jones: "The Brahms Violin Concerto was another matter. Van Zweden started out too loud and remained there throughout....forcing German violinist Arabella Steinbacher to overplay."

The San Francisco Symphony toured NY, IL and MI, with Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 3; Steven Mackey’s Eating Greens; Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503 with Jeremy Denk; and Aaron Copland’s Symphonic Ode. Michael Tilson Thomas conducted.

• Review by V.com member Terez Mertes of the CA concert that kicked off the tour: "Clever programming with a good balance of flavors."

What do you think of these reviews? Did you attend a concert this week? We'd love to hear about it in the comments.