The Week in Reviews, Op. 64: Stephen Waarts in Concert

Written by Robert Niles
Published: January 6, 2015 at 9:42 PM [UTC]

Stephen Waarts performed the Mendelssohn with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra.

• Berkeley Daily Planet: "The shimmering quality of Mendelssohn’s writing for violin was beautifully rendered by Waart(s), who consummately handled the written-out cadenza in this concerto’s first movement. The lilting second movement was also beautifully performed by soloist Waart(s), as he took the lead in unraveling Mendelssohn’s lyricically melodious second movement. The third and final movement followed with ebullient material brilliantly played by both soloist and orchestra, as this New Year’s Eve concert came to a resounding close. What a delightful way to ring in the New Year!"

Cynthia Freivogel performed Haydn's Concerto in F for Violin and Harpsichord with Gwendolyn Toth, founder of the period-instrument ensemble Artek.

• New York Times: "The work is suffused with Haydn’s signature wit, and Ms. Freivogel and Ms. Toth fully brought out the cheek and chirpiness of the laughing grace notes, trills and other ornaments."

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In other news:

Lydia Mordkovitch has died of cancer.

• Obituary in The Guardian: Mordkovitch "took a wealth of musical experience from the former Soviet Union via Israel to Britain, her home for the second half of her life. A strong, charismatic performer and a faithful interpreter of a composer’s wishes, she made more than 60 recordings for the Chandos label, and her native and adopted countries are strongly represented in a wide repertoire that included concertos by Britten, Arthur Bliss, EJ Moeran and Karel Szymanowski, sonatas by Bach, Brahms and Nikolai Medtner, and the Prokofiev concertos and sonatas."

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