By J. SHANE MERCER

Midori delivers ‘stunning' performance

The reserved, understated Midori Goto who gave interviews to the media Friday ...was nowhere to be found at Saturday night's Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra Masterworks concert. In her place was a passionate, evocative, affecting master of the violin and a well of energy. [...] Midori wowed the sold-out crowd ... Midori's navigation of the light-to-the-touch as well as virtuosic passages in Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major was jaw-droppingly good. Not only was Midori's playing deeply musical and widely diverse in its tonal coloration, but she was in utter command of the dynamics emanating from her violin. One particular passage in which she played alone was powerfully evocative. She dug deeply into the strings as if to pull out timbre buried deeply within the instrument. It was as if she was taking it violently by the throat and commanding it to do her bidding. And it did so to wonderful effect. If you are catching today's concert with Midori, first count your blessings and then note the briskness and flavor of her trills and the creamy smoothness of her musicianship. [...] Midori's stage presence was animated. [...]Amid all the virtuosity... there lurked something very connective in Midori's playing. There is a rare emotional conveyance in her work. There is something personal, accessible, almost familiar in the music she makes.