The Week in Reviews, Op. 202: Jennifer Frautschi; Sarah Chang; Ray Chen

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.Jennifer Frautschi performed Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 in the final performance of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra.

• Noozhawk: On the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra disbanding after 40 years: "A bright light in Santa Barbara’s artistic firmament went dark last Monday..." On the performance itself: "Every detail of Frautschi’s straightforward but detailed interpretation filled the room with pure, clean, sometimes adventurous, always smart sound."

Sarah Chang performed Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the National Philharmonic.

• The Washington Post: "Sarah Chang played the heck out of the Bruch Violin Concerto No 1; Chang tends to play the heck out of everything."

Ray Chen performed Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Violinist Ray Chen delivered his solos with a taught tone, brimming with energy and quivering with passion."

Kristof Barati performed Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

• The Herald: "...there was a highly refreshing rigour about the technical mastery that Barati brought to such very familiar music."
• The Scotsman: "The glorious sound from Baráti’s Stradivarius was viscerally penetrating....Then there was the sheer command and presence of the man. Baráti has the build and physicality of a sportsman, which translated into a performance of immaculate discipline and razor sharp rhythmic precision."

James Ehnes performed the Beethoven with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

• Edinburgh Guide: "There can be no doubt that Canadian James Ehnes on his violin was the star of the night. The audience was delighted."

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