The Week in Reviews, Op. 286: Paul Huang; James Ehnes; cellist Alisa Weilerstein

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.Paul Huang performed Mozart Concerto No. 4 with Chamber Music Vienna-Berlin at Bravo! Vail Music Festival.

• The Strad: "...Huang drew an unfailingly attractive, golden and resonant tone from his 1742 ‘Wieniawski’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’. His more expansive bowing and romantic vibrato, in contrast to the sparseness and delicacy preferred by his orchestral collaborators, served as an effective distinction between solo and chamber palettes, particularly on his lower strings."

James Ehnes performed the Barber Violin Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

• San Francisco Classical Voice: "Ehnes played the concerto beautifully, balancing Barber’s unique romanticism with plenty of virtuoso flair. His instrument was also marvelous — the 1715 'Marsick' Stradivarius."

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein performed Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival.

• WTTW: "...in addition to the beauty of the music there was this enduring thought: That the very best way to ease the current East-West tensions would be to send the politicians on both sides packing and let the musicians take over the job."

Nicola Benedetti performed Wynton Marsalis' Concerto in D for Violin and Orchestra with the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra.

• Monterey Herald: "Benedetti’s performance as the violinist bard of the first piece made a stunning impact on the audience."

The World Doctors Orchestra performed in Houston at Rice University.

• TMC News: "The group performed Symphony No. 3 by Johannes Brahms and Piano Concerto No. 1 by Sergei Rachmaninoff...with pianist Mei Rui, D.M.A., a research scientist with the Houston Methodist Center for Performing Arts Medicine. During the Rachmaninoff concerto, synchronized MRI images of Rui’s brain were projected on a screen."

Tyler Butler-Figueroa, age 11, made a return performance on America's Got Talent.

• WRAL.com: For those who follow developments in pop music, this link provides a good summary of the story of this young pop violinist, who learned to play the violin after overcoming early childhood leukemia.

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

• Interview with Violinist Paul Huang: Playing the 'Wieniawski' del Gesù
• Violinist James Ehnes Awarded the Order of Manitoba
• Interview with Composer Qigang Chen: 'La Joie de la souffrance' Violin Concerto