The Week in Reviews, Op. 395: Gil Shaham, William Shaub, Joshua Bell

April 12, 2023, 11:38 AM · 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 Gil Shaham. Photo by Chris Lee.

Gil Shaham performed Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto in G minor and Dvorak’s Concerto in A minor with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

The Virginia Gazette: "A work of powerful statements, delicate and flowing lines and light-heartedness, Shaham embraced the (Coleridge-Taylor concerto), his virtuoso skills, exquisite tone and artistry on full display. Not surprisingly, his Dvorak was brilliant. It was lyrical, heartfelt, soulful and energetic; the finale was a fireball of excitement."

William Shaub performed in recital with orchestra colleagues for his Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Series.

Arts Knoxville: "Many U.S. orchestras, including the KSO, have taken part over the last few years in rescuing the music of Joseph Bologne from the dusty shelves of music history. While a lot of focus has been on Bologne’s symphonies and concertos, the duo heard here, performed with a lot of energetic charm by Shaub and Pulgar, was a notable example of his chamber works."

Joshua Bell and pianist Daniil Trifonov performed in recital at Symphony Hall in Boston.

The Classical Review: "Bell’s take on the violin writing – singing, impassioned, well-directed, smartly phrased – was a thing unto itself. A few questionable slides notwithstanding, Tuesday’s Franck was tight from start to finish, by turns tempestuous (the stratospheric sul G passagework in the Allegro was thrilling) and dreamlike (textures in the Fantasia were crystalline)."

Leila Josefowicz performed Helen Grime's Violin Concerto with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Ludwig Van Toronto: "Josefowicz, strikingly dressed in Ukrainian colours, played with great passion (and from the music), but I am not sure any application of commitment can make a success of a piece that is so fundamentally unsettled. Even the vestigial cadenza seemed over before it started."

The Hermitage Piano Trio performed in recital for the Chamber Music Society of Williamsburg.

The Virginia Gazette: "The acclaim of this multiple-times nominated Grammy ensemble is well-built on the qualities heard here: warm, rich blended sounds, passion, overflowing technique, sensitivity, lyricism and interpretative abilities. Those qualities have not wavered in the least over the years."

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Replies

Richard Pairaudeau

April 12, 2023 at 06:06 PM · The Ludwig van Toronto comment on Helen Grime's violin concerto is harsh and unfair.

Laurie Niles

April 12, 2023 at 06:43 PM · I rather think the comment on Josh Bell is strange as well - slides are definitely okay in Franck, yes? And the direct line from Bell to Gingold to Ysaye, the dedicatee of the Sonata, makes me feel like if anyone is informed on the matter, he is. No need to question his slides.

Albrecht Zumbrunn

April 12, 2023 at 11:15 PM · Apart from the fact that I fail to find "stratospheric G passage work" in the Franck. Or is there a Franck I am not aware of?

Laurie Niles

April 13, 2023 at 03:53 AM · It does go very high on the G string in the 2nd movement, and that is probably what the "stratospheric G" comment is about. And that is impressive, to make it sound beautiful (and in tune) way up there.

But it's high on the fingerboard, not high actual notes, and the word "stratospheric" makes me think of much higher actual pitches. So it is a little bit of an odd way to say it.

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The Week in Reviews, Op. 395: Gil Shaham, William Shaub, Joshua Bell

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