“But the most moving use of a “Hope” violin Sunday came courtesy of star violinist Shlomo Mintz, a co-founder of the project. With Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, on an instrument rescued from unspeakable tragedy, he produced 30 minutes of musical joy, a half-hour of melting beauty, heartfelt lyricism, and playful virtuosity.
That the instrument wasn’t up to every task was only fitting. Like the “Violins of Hope” themselves and all who transcended the Holocaust, Mintz overcame obstacles.
He also offered an encore: the “Nigun” from Bloch’s “Baal Shem: Three Pictures of Hasidic Life.” Just when the audience had accepted Mintz’s departure after the Mendelssohn, the violinist returned to widespread delight and joined the orchestra in a gritty, molten rhapsody.”
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