The Week in Reviews, Op. 361: Esther Yoo; Randall Goosby; Aisha Orazbayeva

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.Esther Yoo performed in recital with pianist Zee Zee at the Aspen Music Festival.

• The Aspen Times: "The American violinist Esther Yoo made a memorable Aspen recital debut Tuesday...applying bravura technique with the clear purpose of delivering the music’s message rather than showing off. The music seemed to reach directly from Yoo’s heart to the audience’s."

Randall Goosby performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Aspen Chamber Orchestra.

• The Aspen Times: "His oh-so-understated reading of the well-known violin concerto stripped away many of the bravura gestures that now seem baked into nearly every violinist’s approach. His admirable effort, deftly executed, fell prey to an uncharacteristically bombastic reading from McGegan."

Aisha Orazbayeva performed 15 of Heinrich Biber’s "Mystery Sonatas" in recital with harpsichordist Prach Boondiskulchok at Spitalfields Music Festival.

• The Guardian: "Orazbayeva and Boondiskulchok approached this as a marathon, not a sprint, and offered sustained attention to expressive detail without lavishing it on individual moments."

Catherine French and violist Mary Ferillo performed string duos by Martinu and Peter Child at Tanglewood's Prelude concert.

• Boston Musical Intelligencer: "Martinu’s Three Madrigals for violin and viola has become a fairly well-known piece, a welcome one for the lively interplay possible between two players as beautifully matched as French and Ferillo, who tossed the rhythmic and thematic ideas back and forth with abandon."

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

• The Week in Reviews, Op. 360: Chad Hoopes; Aisslinn Nosky
• The Week in Reviews, Op. 359: Richard Lin; Simone Lamsma; Pekka Kuusisto
• The Week in Reviews, Op. 358: Anne-Sophie Mutter; Augustin Hadelich; Black Violin