Classic Britten and Beethoven from James Ehnes and Stéphane Denève with the Toronto Symphony

October 12, 2013. Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto. If there were a Nobel Prize for Violin, I would nominate James Ehnes. His playing of Britten’s Violin Concerto with the Toronto Symphony was drenched with emotions—pathos, irony, lamentation, sarcasm, tenderness and bliss—displayed and at the same time bounded by the discipline of his virtuosity, that like a diamond, radiated brilliance without attracting attention to itself. Ehnes’ recent recording for Onyx of Britten’s Concerto, Op.15  with the Bournemouth Symphony conducted by Kirill Karabits was rightly celebrated, but last night’s performance with the TSO guest-conducted by Stéphane Denève surpassed it in my opinion. READ ON