Concert review: Karen Gomyo (violin) New York Philharmonic/Domingo Hindoyan

The evocative opening in the strings of Allison Loggins-Hull’s Can You See? asked appropriate questions about perception as fragments of The Star-Spangled Banner echoed around the concert hall in the work’s New York premiere at the Philharmonic.

Karen Gomyo took to the stage next for an interpretation of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto unlike any I’ve ever heard. Her opening was quite personal and had an almost period-performance approach – using bow speed and minimal vibrato to pull the sound from her instrument. By contrast, the famous passage in 6ths was almost overly Romantic, as she warmed up the sound with luxurious vibrato and added small glissandos between some of the double-stops. Throughout the movement, Gomyo continued to surprise the listener with dramatic shifts of dynamics and unexpected rubatos. Her Adagio was filled with warmth and the final Allegro was fiery to the max, with an extreme interpretation of dotted rhythms (almost over-dotted), and a dance-like approach to the lyrical material contrasting with explosive runs taken at a breakneck speed. Her unconventional and personal approach to this popular work was refreshing if surprising. She performed Piazzolla’s virtuosic Tango Etude no.3 with flair and charisma as her encore.

Under the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s Domingo Hindoyan, the New York Philharmonic closed the concert with Dvořák’s dramatic Seventh Symphony. From the powerfully and marvellously shaped lower string opening to the tight rhythms of the Vivace, this was a thrilling account.

LEAH HOLLINGSWORTH