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.![]()
Violinist Pekka Kuusisto. Photo by Maija Tammi.Pekka Kuusisto performed Bryce Dessners Violin Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen.Noa Wildschut performed Mendelssohns Violin Concerto with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.Itzhak Perlman performed Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Violinist Pekka Kuusisto. Photo by Maija Tammi.
- Chicago Classical Review: "...Kuusisto delivered one of the most jaw-dropping exhibitions of solo virtuosity seen on Chicago stages in a long time, soaring through the most impossible hurdles with complete technical security and huge panache."
- Utah Arts Review: "She entered authoritatively, and her opening passage went with an emphatic yet refined quality. This quality permeated the first movement, with the German violinists expressive phrasing, varied articulation, and generous tone giving the virtuosic passages a clear melodic structure."
- The Scotsman: "...stepping into Nicola Benedettis shoes is a tall order...Wildschut...allowed her endearing personality to quietly dominate, each sprightly physical gesture accompanied by instinctive musical thoughts ranging from the tenderest caress to the sparkiest bursts of rhythmic artillery."
- The Times: "Her approach to the violin is more lyrical than demonstrative, but that made Mendelssohns solo line flow and shimmer in a way that made it feel lighter than air."
- Bangkok Post: "...if her interpretation of the Beethoven Violin Concerto...is anything to go by, she is in fact that rarest of musical creatures, blessed with the innate ability to take the mighty warhorse concertos and raise them to the next level for today's audiences."
- Santa Barbara Independent: "Friendly, neighborly stage presence aside, the violinist proved to be 'mean' where it counts, as a deeply musical interpreter and collaborator with impeccable pianist Orion Weiss capable of virtuosic flights when required."
- EarRelevant: "The awaited event of the evening came after intermission: the appearance of super-star violinist Itzhak Perlman as soloist for Bruchs Violin Concerto No. 1, one of the most famous and popular violin concertos in all of the solo violin repertoire."
- TheReviewsHub: "A relatively restrained recital (excepting John Adams pyrotechnics) was given artistic shape by Tai Murray and Martin Roscoes artistry."
- The Guardian: "Even Coleridge-Taylors Violin Concerto, performed in a new edition faithful to Coleridge-Taylors original intentions with Rupert Marshall-Luck as the impressively secure soloist, rather outstays its welcome..."
- The Week in Reviews, Op. 354: María Dueñas; Pekka Kuusisto; Alexi Kenney
- The Week in Reviews, Op. 353: Rachel Barton Pine; Pinchas Zukerman subs for Itzhak Perlman; Daniel Hope & Paul Neubauer
- The Week in Reviews, Op. 352: Gil Shaham; Anne Akiko Meyers; Cho-Liang Lin
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