Mikhail Ovrutsky (excuse the spelling)

May 28, 2004 at 01:36 AM · A wonderfully nice guy and a wonderful violinist! When he played at the Tchaik competition in Moscow in '02 with his sister, the duo partnership was just remarkable. She is certainly his peer and together they are a coherent, collective, sensitive musical entity. His ranking in the competition was, I think, entirely unjustified. He deserved a far better placement.

Certainly a violinist to watch.

May 28, 2004 at 09:34 AM · Your spelling was perfect ;)

I had the pleasure to watch Mikhail Ovrutsky in Cape Town when he performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. It was incredibly good and he is certainly a great violinist. Really fine technique, and a great musicality.

He won the Unisa International Strings competition in Pretoria a couple of years ago. This concert was part of his prize, I think.

Tia, what did he play? My parents were at that concert and loved it too!

May 29, 2004 at 10:15 PM · I heard him playing an audition for concertmaster of my orchestra. I would have taken him in a second despite his young age. I'll never forget his Mozart D-major concerto from behind the screen. There was a lot of great players, but he stood out from the first note. I love those screens in auditions! It's all about sound, musicality, the real thing. He has the real thing. Then the Tchaik. was great in a totally different way. He's got potential. I heard he won the next audition he took, at the Beethoven Orchester Bonn. I haven't heard if he's going to work there or if he's already found something better.

He is the kind of player who can help you play better just by watching him. He plays effortlessly and expressively.

Chris