The Week in Reviews, Op. 49: Joshua Bell, Midori, Pinchas Zukerman in concert

Written by Robert Niles
Published: September 23, 2014 at 6:05 PM [UTC]

In an effort to promote the coverage of live music, each week Violinist.com brings you links to reviews of notable violin performances from around the world.

Joshua Bell performed the Bruch with the Richmond Symphony

• Richmond Times-Dispatch: "He plays with an infectious passion that always serves the music and, even as he displayed his own fabulous technique, he was a true partner with the orchestra."

Christina Astrand performed the Gade with the Chicago Philharmonic

• Chicago Tribune: "Gade's Violin Concerto (1880) makes no secret of its musical debt to the composer's mentor and colleague, Felix Mendelssohn, although this melodic, well-made piece also breathes the robust romanticism of Max Bruch. The soloist plays virtually nonstop, and the gifted Danish violinist Christina Astrand addressed its lyrical bravura with full-blooded dedication and sensitivity."
• Chicago Classical Review: "Christina Åstrand has won plaudits for her recording of her countryman Gade’s concerto, yet the Danish violinist’s performance overall proved more competent than inspiring."

Pinchas Zukerman performed the Beethoven with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

• Baltimore Sun: "The poker-faced Zukerman has a way of establishing musical authority right from the first notes. That he did here. He produced a big, even muscular tone that easily filled the space. There was occasional grittiness in that sound, but it never interfered with Zukerman’s communicative, seemingly spontaneous phrasing, his ability to bring out the concerto’s noble character."
• The Washington Post: "... rather than coasting on the hum-along melodies, Zukerman offered an introspective reading, allying a sense of rapt concentration with innately musical phrasing. At times, the violinist’s inward approach and exploration of subtle nuances came at the cost of rhythmic tension and continuity. The rewards, however, were considerable, particularly in the poignant contrast between the playful and elegiac strains of the score."

Rachel Barton Pine performed the Barber with the West Virginia Symphony

• The Charleston Gazette: "Barton Pine was excellent at balancing the romantic impulses of opulent melody with the modernist strokes that subvert them. She also had blazing technique in the fiery, yet opulently colored finale."

Midori performed the Brahms with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

• Democrat & Chronicle: "...the celebrated violinist Midori gave a performance that was completely devoid of ego and self-promotion, instead tapping into the inherent genius of the composer's engaging themes and mining the virtuosity that is so prevalent in the music itself. It was as if Midori had found a safe haven of creative expression within the voice of her violin and was able to communicate most honestly and earnestly."
• Rochester City Newspaper: "Midori often seemed hardly like a star soloist at all, and in this work that's a compliment."

Alissa Margulis performed the Brahms with the Royal Northern Sinfonia

• The Journal: "The piece kicked off as it meant to go on, full of fizz and fire, and Margulis delivered a performance full of energy and confidence."

Not every performance takes place in a concert hall. Augustin Hadelich performed "America the Beautiful" in Manhattan Federal Court last week, as he and 80 others were sworn in as U.S. citizens. Congratulations, Augustin!

• Classicalite: "'Augustin's rendition was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes,' said Robert Katzmann, the U.S. Circuit Court judge who conducted the ceremony."

Finally, in case you missed it, Violinist.com editor Laurie Niles was in Indianapolis last week and reviewed all the final performances in the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, as well as a performance by 2010 IVCI Gold Medalist Clara-Jumi Kang:

• Review: 2010 IVCI Gold Medalist Clara-Jumi Kang plays with the East Coast Chamber Orchestra
• Classical Concerto Finals: Playing Conductorless with ECCO
• Classical Concerto Finals, Night 2: More Mozart and New Cadenzas
• Review: IVCI Finals Begin with Tessa Lark, Jinjoo Cho and Ji Yoon Lee
• IVCI Finals Conclude with Ji Young Lim, Yoo Jin Jang and Dami Kim; Medalists Named

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

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