The Week in Reviews, Op. 432: Hilary Hahn, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Chloe Hanslip

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 Hilary Hahn, performing with the New York Philharmonic and conductor Jakub Hrusa. Photo by Chris Lee.

Hilary Hahn performed Prokofievs First Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic at a concert after which she was also awarded the Avery Fisher Prize.

New York Times: "Her account of Prokofievs First Violin Concerto exemplified the golden-age richness and astonishing technique that have long made her a standout in a crowded field. She handles her instrument like a great soprano handles her voice, with muscular lyricism and a luminously penetrating sound capable of reaching the farthest seats at a whisper."
New York Classical Review: "She delivered handsomelyfast or humorous when called for, but always with an eye on the concertos essentially lyrical spirit."

Anne-Sophie Mutter performed the U.K. premiere of John Williams' Violin Concerto No. 2 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Guardian: "Played by violinist extraordinaire Anne-Sophie Mutter (for whom it was written), the concerto was compelling enough but with her astonishing technical control and absolute musical drive, Mutter could, I suspect, make pretty much anything sound irresistible."

Chloë Hanslip performed in recital with pianist Danny Driver at Wigmore Hall in London.

iNews: "(Stravinskys Divertimento from "The Fairy's Kiss") was a brilliant, wayward, multi-coloured piece which Hanslip and Driver a long-established duo delivered brilliantly, right down to the irresistibly jazzy finale."
The Guardian: "They negotiated the unsettling ambiguities of the first movement (of the Ravel Sonata) with graceful ease, Hanslip making the most of the cantabile moments, her tone effortlessly strong and sweet."

The Los Angeles Philharmonic performed Mahler's Symphony No. 6 with conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

Violinist.com: "Gustavo Dudamel led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a stunning, sold-out performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 6 - the "Tragic Symphony" at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Moving through the joy and bluster, the heartache and redemption in this symphony, with one man wielding the power of 100 musicians - it had the epic feel of a milestone concert."

The Calder Quartet performed music of Beethoven, Shaw, Adès and Debussy at Northwestern University's Winter Chamber Music Festival in Evanston.

Chicago Classical Review: "It was good to have the Los Angeles-based Calder ensemble back on the festival roster, in top form technically and musically, presenting a stylistically wide-ranging agenda that reflected a deep commitment to contemporary works....Calder played with absolute technical precision and a musical conviction that made you hold your breath for fear of missing anything."

The Dover Quartet performed music of Price, Shostakovich and Schubert at Northwestern University's Winter Chamber Music Festival in Evanston.

Chicago Classical Review: "...the Dover Quartet delivered a remarkable performance, one of the finest chamber events heard in recent years...The Dover musician brought complete sympathy to Prices 1929 quartet, their blend of burnished warmth and acute focus bringing out the relaxed lyricism of the first movement while skirting excess sentiment. "

Pinchas Zukerman performed Tchaikovskys Sérénade Mélancolique and Mélodie and Mozart's Concerto No. 3 with the Palm Beach Symphony.

South Florida Classical Review: "He opened with Tchaikovskys Sérénade Mélancolique, drawing a rich tone from the violins lowest string over a glowing accompaniment from the orchestra conducted by Gerard Schwarz."

Augustin Hadelich performed Beethovens Violin Concerto with the New Jersey Symphony.

NJ.com: "As with his previous appearances, the much-awarded virtuoso wowed the audience with his dexterous, fluid fiddle technique. His encore, a fun riff on the 'Wild Fiddlers Rag,' showed how he can shrewdly connect music as diverse as baroque, European gavottes and American Grand Ol Opry tunes."

Shuxiang Yang performed in recital with pianist Esther Ning Yau at Music at the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill, MA.

Boston Musical Intelligencer: "Yangs expressive playing, mirrored with fine balance by Yau, did justice to (Strausss Sonata for violin and piano)."

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