By TADAO KOISHI

...[Midori] took command of the sensitive but powerful orchestra and beautifully shaped melody with strength and flexibility. Right from the opening of the first movement [of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1], her music had a cursive style of Japanese calligraphy, with a strong backbone and rich and elaborate contrast of light and shadow, abundantly bringing out the work's lyricism. In fact, what was so impressive was that Midori was able to reveal that there is a romantic passion hidden in this music. She seemed to have approached the work from an angle never taken by past masters, and from here, fresh music flowed. Especially in the finale, rich emotion swelled like waves that climbed to a sublime ending, creating a dream-like world...