Performer: Midori

A refined but unromantic rendition of Brahms' Violin Concerto by Midori following compelling account of Anna Clyne's This Midnight Hour and Debussy's La Mer. 

It is not often that a United Nations Messenger of Peace gives a concert in Sydney. Yet this is what happened on Sunday when violinist Midori Gotō played a recital with pianist Özgür Aydin. 

Billed as “Midori performs Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto”, this Orchestre symphonique de Montréal concert conducted by James Colon was notable for a blazing performance of Zemlinsky's symphonic poem Die Seejungfrau.

Style, technique, an original approach, a brilliant discography, even an exemplary profile offstage – Midori has it all. What impresses in live performances is her intelligence, her deep understanding of the material and ability to articulate a wide range of visions and voices. 

The most memorable thing about this concert for me was the sheer glory of the Philharmonia’s playing. Whether it was in the winning, sprightly Mozart overture, or in all the glinting colours of Peter Eötvös’ new work, or in the full and rich late-Romantic orchestral tones of the Bruckner, these musicians, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, were magnificent.