"Rachlin lights the holy fire"

Julian Rachlin's recent spate of concerts have been an unprecedented success. His performances of the Stravinksy concerto with the Vienna Philharmonic and Brahms with Mariss Jansons and the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and Tokyo received acclaim from critics and audiences alike as these press quotes testify:

"With a sparkling timbre and a bow stroke which moved with the elegance of the Lippizaners, Rachlin lit the holy fire in the violin concerto of Brahms. The orchestra opted for velvet transparency and excelled in nuanced dialogues with the soloist, who now and again, in his exuberance, chose an extremely high pace. The loveliest notes of the Allegro ma non troppo were sometimes crushed, but this was counteracted by the magical line and movement of Rachlin.

The tug-of-war between the violinist and the conductor was reminiscent of the banter between two friends: sometimes Jansons seemed to answer the dynamic subtleties of Rachlin deliberately with orchestral canon fire, while Rachlin would stubbornly and playfully face the boundaries of the balanced structure in which Jansons wished to contain the arrangement.

Gradually both egos came to an agreement out of respect for Brahms. The brilliant instrumental and musical qualities of Rachlin showed most convincingly in the desolate singing of the Adagio and the wild dancing of the Allegro giocoso. The encore with the Sarabande from Bach's Second Partita for solo violin sounded like a dedication to 'something higher'".
Wenneke Savenije, NRC Handelsblad, 30th October 2008
Mariss Jansons, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Brahms Concerto

"Because of the phenomenal Julian Rachlin, the Vienna Philharmonic played Stravinsky's Violin Concerto with intensive expression."
Die Presse, 26. Oktober 2008
Vienna Philharmonic/HK Gruber, Stravinsky Concerto

"The artist portrays such an entirely humble sensitivity in his service to Stravinsky. Exceptional."
Kurier, 27. Oktober 2008
Vienna Philharmonic/HK Gruber, Stravinsky Concerto

"Rachlin's dexterity and virtuosity takes Stravinky's fireworks, fiery ideas and great passages for brilliant fingers to the highpoint."
Kronen Zeitung, Thomas Gabler, 27. Oktober 2008
Vienna Philharmonic/HK Gruber, Stravinsky Concerto

"Whilst Julian Rachlin bravely tackled the difficult solo part of the Stravinsky Violin concerto Gruber was bravely leading an animated Vienna Philharmoniker through a very stylish adventure."
Wiener Zeitung, 28. Oktober 2008
Vienna Philharmonic/HK Gruber, Stravinsky Concerto

3 December, 2008

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Julian Rachlin

Contact: Jilly Clarke or Catherine Staples