The Week in Reviews, Op. 145: Joshua Bell, Pekka Kuusisto, Christian Tetzlaff

August 22, 2016, 10:53 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.

Joshua Bell performed Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 at the Mostly Mozart Festival.

The New York Times: "Dull and mild are never qualities one would attach to Mr. Bell. His tone is glossy; his playing animated and free.... The one signal that did come through was that here was a star soloist leaving everyone else in the dust."

Christian Tetzlaff performed the Mendelssohn with the Grant Park Orchestra.

Chicago Classical Review: "Tetzlaff’s performance was fresh, committed and largely compelling, the soloist individual in his phrasing and quirky in his interpretive choices. The concerto was most successful in the Andante, with the soloist bringing a sweet tone and nostalgic ache to the music and exploring a wide range of dynamic nuance."

Pekka Kuusisto performed Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto with the Minnesota Orchestra.

St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Kuusisto emphasized hairpin mood swings throughout, as when a sauntering quality reminiscent of the same composer’s “Peter and the Wolf” in the opening Andantino gave way to a transfixing high, quiet section.... His lyrical, melancholy solos on the finale were full of palpable longing."
Minneapolis Star Tribune: "The elfin violinist... adopted an airy touch, limp attacks and an almost vibrato-free tone in the first two movements, an approach that undercut the work's intense lyricism. If the attempt was to underline the music's occasionally ironic flavor, it seemed instead cavalier and blasé."

Noah Bendix-Balgley performed Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

New Zealand Herald: "Deft at tracing a shapely line along with the many twists and turns of the mercurial finale, Bendix-Balgley seemed to be conspiring with [conductor Eckehard] Stier to dispense stylish and guilt-free pleasure. The violinist's numerous original cadenzas were charmingly apt, with poignant double-stopping in the Andante cantabile."

Finally, Violinist.com editor Laurie Niles is on her way to Shanghai for the first Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition, where she will be covering the semi-final and final rounds over the next two weeks. Please follow Violinist.com, here on the website, on Twitter and on Facebook for her coverage of the competition... and her trip to China.

And in the meantime, please support music in your community by attending a concert or recital whenever you can!