By JIM SHERTZER

Midori captures skill, emotion of violin concerto

Midori triumphed . in her debut at the Eastern Music Festival at Guilford College. The capacity audience hung on every glorious note. . At 36, her technique is as formidable as ever and she has interpretative skills to match. Her phrasing and musicianship are impeccable, and her playing leaves even overridden war horses fresh on the ear.

The technical glitter, though, was a minor attraction in the vast mine of riches the [Brahms Violin] concerto offers and her playing explored. She was sensitively backed by guest conductor David Lockington and a supple orchestra [Eastern Music Festival Orchestra] that sounded extremely good in its first outing of the season.

The audience seemed engaged and enchanted. During the nearly four-minute cadenza climaxing the opening movement, nothing jarred the yin-yang of soothing and stormy emanations from her 1734 Guarnerius del Gesu violin.

Midori brought [off the cadenza] with transporting brilliance and intelligence, digging into the muscular, masculine side and balancing it with the ethereal, feminine element. Midori's notes seemed to come from, hang in and disappear into thin air. When she came to the cadenza's end and the orchestra joined her, the effect was magical.