Mirga Leads Tchaikovsky – LA Philharmonic – Los Angeles Walt Disney Concert Hall

It was an unexpected privilege to witness the performance of the outstanding Moldovan Violinist, now in her early forties, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto under the baton of the Lithuanian Conductor, Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla.  They played together like a matching glove, always outstandingly in time and complete with their musical colour, but it was Kopatchinskaja’s night.   

The barefooted Violinist, with torn dress and eccentric mannerisms, provided a performance to cherish with this masterpiece Concerto.  Her incredible cadenza sweeps and unique interpretation of the music’s basic rhythm and structure were a revelation, but perhaps it was the speed and pace with which she played the first movement triplets – almost too fast – as well as the finale that left the audience in awe.  You couldn’t take your eyes off her as she moved around the stage, facing all aspects of the auditorium and delighting the audience with every move.  Of course she had the beauty of tone, but the whole piece was played with extraordinary energy and vitality.  It was a fire and brimstone performance like no other and in the end left the audience standing and shouting for more.