Janine Jansen and the Junge Deutsch Phil.

April 6, 2006 at 10:02 PM

The verdict is: Janine is not only pretty, but she also has substance.

She played the Prokofiev concerto with the German "youth" orchestra (which wasn't really a youth orchestra; most members looked to be in their twenties). Janine walked onto the stage with the conductor adorned in a bright red gown. The rest of the orchestra was clad in black. The concerto started out with the violin playing solo. She seemed to have some trouble projecting at first, but in the second and third movements, no such difficulties lingered. What I noticed most about Janine is her ability to have absolute control. Her bow arm was especially amazing. She could create a sad reminiscence or an obsessive battle-like fury. In the sensational third movement, there was some mad pizz-ing going on during which Janine stooped quite low; her head was barely over the 1st violin's stand and stared fiecely at them. If I were them, I would've been deathly afraid of "dream girl" Janine, but luckily, they remained composed. She had some very interesting stances while playing including: leaning way back (as if sitting), hunching way over (it looked like she was whispering to the conductor), and she also bobbed her head a lot while conquering tricky left-hand passages. The concerto ended very nicely and she had at least five curtain calls, but we couldn't coax her to play an encore.

All in all the concert was a success and I hope to see more of this virtuosic young violinist.

From Natasha Marsalli
Posted on April 6, 2006 at 10:22 PM

Yay! Great review, Syd.

From Colleen Russo
Posted on April 7, 2006 at 12:58 AM

Haha natasha's and sydney's reviews = amazing intelligent writing styles
my reviews= OMG IT WAS SOOO COOL!!! ;)

Sounds great though Syd!

From Karin Lin
Posted on April 7, 2006 at 6:10 AM

Ha ha, you should have said that! (Umm, maybe not, then all those Germans would have rolled their eyes at "the crazy American" ;) )

From Bram Heemskerk
Posted on April 7, 2006 at 7:58 AM

She moves her upperbody a lot, but more important is that she moves you with her tone and music and playing. At the end of his live Isaac Stern gives her some lessons and made remarks about it and she didn't like that. I also played the 2th(?) Prokoviev with a girl-friend of her, who is playing with the brother of Janine, who plays cello, and a pianist in a trio (violin/cello/piano). I don't know whether her brother is also a "head- and body-shaker" during his playing. Did you talk to her after the concert , did you get a autograph, did you make some pictures, did you do greetings to her from me, Sydney?

From parmeeta bhogal
Posted on April 7, 2006 at 8:10 AM

Nic ereview!!
Most "Youth Orchestras" here in Spain would be for people up to their mid-twenties or so- usually who have finished their equivalent of secondary/high school music education can apply. In fact, here in Spain, you don't even have to be Spanish for the Spanish National Youth Orchestra, as any student resident here is also eligible. My local town Youth Orchestra is from about 16-25 year olds (current and ex-students of our Concervatory).

From Sydney Menees
Posted on April 8, 2006 at 10:43 AM

Unfortunately, she didn't make an appearance after the concert :-( I would've definitely said hi for you, Bram.

From Bram Heemskerk
Posted on April 10, 2006 at 8:59 AM

Sometimes violinists give an official autographsession behind a table after the concert near the cloak-room, like Janine did in the Concertgebouw and Repin. Hilary Hahn did that in the Rotterdam concerthal. But Joshua in Arnhem didn't do that. But it was possible to go to his dressing room and talk to him, ask his autograph and give him rare cd's. There were more people who did that. So next time you easily can go backstage. I also did that in the concerthal in Utrecht and found the dressing room of Gidon Kremer. Another violinfan, a girl of 12 yaers old, who later wants to go the conservatotory did that and got like me an autograph of Gidon Kremer. Perhaps after 10 years she is also a big star on her violin and perhaps I will ask her her autograph?

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Janine Jansen and the Junge Deutsch Phil.

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