Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Sonata for Solo Violin in D major, Op.115

From Isolation Rag to Bach, Tanglewood veteran Gil Shaham delights even on video.

Widmann, Mendelssohn and Beethoven draw a full house to the Ulster Hall. Rafael Payare leads the Ulster Orchestra confidently, but Veronika Eberle steals the show.

The highlight of the Dresden Philharmonic's evening in Birmingham was Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, with Arabella Steinbacher's performance a joy to experience. 

“The name Stradivarius had an air of magic to me.” Virtuoso violinist James Ehnes’ statement manages to capture the air of reverence which underpinned Friday’s Music at Oxford concert. The gala marked the opening of the UK’s first Stradivarius exhibition at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, and two violins from the exhibition were on temporary release for the evening.

The solo violin repertoire is rich; from Bach to Bartók and beyond, the instrument has an enviable catalogue of impressive works. Prokofiev’s principal contribution to the solo violinist’s career consists of two sonatas (one also favoured amongst flautists), and two concerti. However, in 1947, Prokofiev was commissioned to write a piece for 20 or 30 talented student violinists playing in unison.