Midori's intimate artistry wins over audience
By JAMES BASH

Midori [.] came to the Oregon Bach Festival on Tuesday and flat out wowed everyone with an incredibly beautiful and spellbinding interpretation of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. [.]

When Midori stepped out onto the stage, the orchestra members snapped to attention, and you knew that you were going to hear something special. From the first few notes she played, she seemed to take us into the heart of Mendelssohn's masterpiece. The orchestra, tuned into her presence, seemed to channel her every nuance, and that heightened the performance.

Like many other high-caliber artists, each note was impeccably played, but Midori led us into the music by making it more intimate. She made ultra high notes vanish into thin air. She effortlessly varied the speed and texture of each phrase. She didn't try to bowl us over with a loud sound or with needless flamboyance; she just caressed the music.

It's all the more incredible to think that Midori has probably performed this concerto over a thousand times, and yet she can still get into a zone and deliver a rich and beautiful performance. I have heard this concerto played by top-tier artists many times, but I think that Midori's playing took the music to an even higher level. The audience responded with a standing ovation that brought her back to center stage several times.