The Week in Reviews, Op. 486: Anne Akiko Meyers; Maxim Venerov; Augustin Hadelich

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. Click on the highlighted links to read the entire reviews. Anne Akiko Meyers performed Arturo Márquez’s "Fandango" for Violin and Orchestra with the Sarasota Orchestra and Giancarlo Guerrero.

• Observer: "Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers’ stunning virtuosity in Arturo Márquez’s Fandango for Violin and Orchestra combined with the all-out commitment of musicians and conductor splashed all the treasures of music before us. Everyone begged for more. "

Maxim Vengerov performed Brahms' Violin Concerto with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Myung-whun Chung at Carnegie Hall.

• Bach Track: "Vengerov’s bravura performance of Brahms’ sole Violin Concerto was distinguished by his remarkable technical prowess and appealing sense of spontaneity and excitement."

Augustin Hadelich performed Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto with Peter Oundjian and the Yale Philharmonia.

• New York Classical Review: "Soloist Hadelich, whose residency at Yale includes giving private violin lessons and master classes, turned in an exemplary performance, long-breathed in the opening Andante con moto, focused and intense as the music picked up speed, without losing a certain playfulness."

Denise Dillenbeck performed the premiere of Nancy Ives’ Immortal Beloved Concerto for Violin and Orchestra with Northwest Sinfonietta.

• Oregon Artswatch: "Images of the women with their names were projected onto a large screen behind the orchestra – a deft touch to help concertgoers keep track. Also projected were parts of Beethoven’s famous letter (in English), and that set a somber and tragic tone at the outset of the concerto. Dillenbeck stirred up things with agitated phrases that may have reflected Brentano’s feelings, but there were also calm passages that suggested a tranquility in her relationship with Beethoven."

Isabelle Faust performed concertos from Vivaldi's "L'estro armonico" with l Giardino Armonico and Giovanni Antonini.

• Bach Track: "Faust was masterful. She could find a hundred colours and shapes for a simple set of four notes while keeping the fundamental rhythmic pulse absolutely intact. It was an extraordinary demonstration not only of control but of basic musical instinct. Each decoration or subtlety of phrasing seemed perfectly appropriate to the moment – even when, in the closing concerto of the evening, she was pulling the rhythm around quite shamelessly."

The Dudok Quartet Amsterdam performed in recital at Northwestern University's Winter Chamber Music Festival.

• Chicago Classical Review: "It’s not very often that a string quartet offers music from five centuries on one program; still less so when they perform each period with consistently artful precision, attentive listening, and a yearning spirit."

Augustin Hadelich performed the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Fabio Luisi.

• Texas Classical Review: "The compact dynamism inherent in the Brahms concerto was given a boost by the equally compelling dynamism of guest soloist Augustin Hadelich....Hadelich showed why he is described as one of the greatest violinists of our time."

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

• The Week in Reviews, Op. 485: Midori, Giora Schmidt, Yoonshin Song
• The Week in Reviews, Op. 484: Geneva Lewis; Augustin Hadelich; Leila Josefowicz
• The Week in Reviews, Op. 483: Joshua Bell; Augustin Hadelich; Ray Chen

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