The Week in Reviews, Op. 253: Tessa Lark; James Ehnes; Pinchas Zukerman

By Laurie Niles: 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.Tessa Lark premiered Michael Torke's bluegrass Violin Concerto "Sky" with the Albany Symphony Orchestra.

• Times Union: "In a piece tailored to her strengths, Lark played with apparent ease and unaffected beauty."

James Ehnes performed Shostakovich’s Concerto No. 1 in A minor with the Sarasota Orchestra.

• Herald-Tribune: "Superlatives hardly capture the degree of dramatic intensity, riveting musicality and virtuosic technique that made Ehnes’ performance...hold his audience breathlessly in its command."
• YourObserver.com: "Ehnes is one of the most outstanding violinists I have ever heard. Every note is musical, real and full of meaning. His technique is seemingly flawless, and even in the craggy music of this concerto, he projects warmth and sincerity with a tone that can only be called sumptuous."

Pinchas Zukerman performed the Brahms Concerto, and the Brahms Double with cellist Amanda Forsyth, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

• Los Angeles Times: "As far as the concertos were concerned, Mehta proved a mensch, putting his soloists first. Violinist Pinchas Zukerman was slow to warm up Thursday in the Violin Concerto, with nuance coming more easily than tone quality. He was joined by the impressive cellist Amanda Forsyth on Saturday for a dramatic reading of the Double Concerto..."

Please support music in your community by attending a concert or recital whenever you can! You might also like:

• Violinist.com interview with Tessa Lark: Bluegrass on a Strad
• Joshua Bell, James Ehnes and Christina Day Martinson nominated for 2019 Grammys
• Tessa Lark Receives c. 1600 G.P. Maggini Violin Loan Through the Stradivari Society