The Week in Reviews, Op. 153: Julian Rachlin, Karen Gomyo, Joshua Bell

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. Julian Rachlin performed Mozart's 3rd Violin Concerto with the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

• The Westmorland Gazette: "Throughout, he enjoyed a perfect, infectious alliance with his colleagues who, in every aspect, were the most responsive and sensitive of partners. Together they presented sheer beauty, sparkle, happiness, drama and, occasionally, a rustic, humorous charm for our enjoyment. Mozart’s genius was revealed in all its true glory."

Karen Gomyo performed the Berg with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

• Vancouver Sun: "(Conductor Karina) Canellakis created a transparent web of orchestral textures that complemented Gomyo’s fine solo work; the pair had the confidence to let the music speak with plenty of style. Gomyo’s playing was technically assured and emotionally generous."

Joshua Bell performed the Brahms with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

• Violinist.com: "It was downright mesmerizing. The audience stood immediately afterwards and called Bell back to the stage four times..."
• Los Angeles Times: "...for all of Bell’s extroverted physical crouching and bending — even more so than usual for him — and Dudamel’s alert accompaniment, this was not an emotionally involving performance."

Gil Shaham performed the Mendelssohn with the San Diego Symphony.

• The San Diego Union-Tribune: "Gil Shaham’s collaboration with the San Diego Symphony in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto needs only two words: pure magic."

Frank Peter Zimmermann performed the Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

• The Boston Musical Intelligencer: "There is razzle-dazzle aplenty in the solo part, and Zimmermann gave it the full measure of brilliance and, where required, grit."
• Boston Globe: "Zimmermann’s tone was ascetic and his approach at times fraught in an interpretation that leaned to the composer’s modernist side."

Augustin Hadelich performed the Bruch with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

• The Dallas Morning News: "I was surprised how much I noticed Augustin Hadelich's vibrato--faster and more intense than I remembered from past performances. But he remains one of the best violinists out there, with technical finesse--those crystal-clear runs!--allied to generous expressivity."

Philippe Quint performed the Korngold with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra.

• The San Francisco Chronicle: "He’s a fervidly expressive player in a Romantic vein, with a nimble technique that always makes room for whatever fluctuations in tempo may be necessary. His sound is full and dark-hued, with a tremulous catch to it that would do credit to an operatic tenor."
• East Bay Times: "The three-movement concerto revels in Romantic excess – music so sweet it nearly makes your teeth hurt – and, despite the best efforts of Outwater and the energetic Quint, it came across sounding fairly aimless."

Stefan Milenkovich performed the Sibelius with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra.

• Chicago Classical Review: " Milenkovich brought icy stoicism to the opening of the Allegro moderato, and poignant ardor to the movement’s second theme. His commanding technique was on display throughout, especially in his idiosyncratically inflected cadenza and searing delivery of the coda."

Efi Christodoulou performed the Busoni with the Slaithwaite Philharmonic.

• The Huddersfield Daily Examiner: "Christodoulou stole the show with incredulously fast finger-gymnastics and exquisite melodies."

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