Power player
Reviewer Bob Waters credited Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg with "sizzling virtuosity and emotionally engaging musicianship" but added she "appeared at times somewhat restless" during her performance Saturday at the Eastern Music Festival.
I'd call her athletic. She looked to me like a tennis player, only delivering blows with a violin instead of a racket.
Salerno-Sonnenberg was featured soloist for Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto. The Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra was conducted by Gerard Schwarz. Dana Auditorium at Guilford College was full. It was a great show.
I understand Waters' impression of restlessness but I envisioned a tennis player preparing to receive a serve and then explode into action. Waiting for her entrances, Salerno-Sonnenberg shifted her weight from foot to foot, rubbed her instrument, set and pounced into the music. It was amazing how much energy she could propel into her racket ... I mean violin.