Violin soloist Elizabeth Cooney was undoubtedly the star
in Meldelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, the solo part starting almost immediately. However against the solo, was some of the quietest, most delicate playing that I have heard from an orchestra for a long time, it was barely audible, but just right to give the soloist the immediate impact that Mendelssohn obviously intended and the required sense of proportion. Cooney’s playing was light, with a real sense of line, her phrasing, emphasis and accentuation providing as much colour to the performance as the music itself. The orchestra were perfectly balanced allowing the solo part to breathe and to be fully appreciated.
The beautiful tunes of this romantic sounding piece were a delight to listen to; one theme seemed to melt effortlessly into the next and the overall effect was simply beautiful from start to finish.