Reviews - The Irish Times June '04

 
Irish violinist Elizabeth Cooney, now based in London, joined the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and played Mozart's Violin Concerto No.5 with the same calm assurance that she had demonstrated at the RTÉ finals in 2000. What has matured most noticeably since then is the quality of her tone. She has a fine instrument - a Nicolaus Gagliano on loan to her from the Royal College of Music - but the deft control of phrasing and articulation are her own.

Her best playing came in the song-like Adagio, in which her response seemed at its most relaxed and open-hearted. She played the fast outer movements with grace and lively agility while appearing to exercise a degree of deferential restraint.

Michael Dungan