The Week in Reviews, Op. 346: Augustin Hadelich; Jennifer Koh; Houston Symphony

March 29, 2022, 5:22 PM · 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 Augustin Hadelich in Utah. Photo by Suxiao Yang.

Augustin Hadelich performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Utah Symphony.

Utah Arts Review: "Aside from its technical difficulty, the piece’s most distinguishing feature is its relentless emotional intensity, which Hadelich matched with severe attacks, precise articulation, and a plaintive tone that vibrated with passion."

Jennifer Koh performed Lisa Bielawa's violin concerto "Sanctuary" with the American Composers Orchestra.

New York Classical Review: "In Koh’s agile but never showy rendering, the first movement, titled 'Speak,' outlined the quest for a safe place, with the soloist in dialogue with a sympathetic orchestra, or running hither and thither, and often playing alone."

The Houston Symphony performed Kyle Rivera’s "Bridgetower Variations," a tribute to tribute to Afro-British violinist and composer George Bridgetower.

Preview: "Divided into three sections labeled 'Extortion,' 'Exclusion' and 'Revival,' Rivera’s piece opened sharply but gave way immediately to an eerie whooshing sound, like restless ghosts swirling around the stage."

Five string players from the Kharkiv Music Fest performed a concert in a Kharkiv subway shelter.

Washington Post: "The program included the music of Bach, Dvorak and other composers, as well as arrangements of Ukrainian folk songs. Hundreds of all ages watched, sometimes holding one another."

Paul Huang performed Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.

Green Valley News: "The soloist long-awaited for nearly three years was violinist Paul Huang whose playing...was flawless with extreme virtuosity no more evident than in the exhaustingly long, musically nearly impossible cadenza near the end of the piece. Huang gave a new definition to tour de force."

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