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Schubert Fantasy in C Major
Strings Sessions: Benjamin Beilman Performs Ysaÿe and Bach Sonatas

“Every once in a while, a performance has such finesse, such je ne sais quoi, that it far exceeds the sum of its parts. Beilman’s Barber was one of them… for its many bravura moments, the essence of Barber’s concerto lies in its introspection, its subtle soulfulness. Beilman seized on that captivatingly, his interpretation searching and yearning.”

Chicago Tribune

“Poised and monstrously talented”

Philadelphia Inquirer

“Playing with rich sound and plenty of brilliance, Mr. Beilman conveyed both dreamy lyricism and heated intensity.”

Critic’s Pick - The New York Times

“The part that will linger longest in a listener’s memory — was Jennifer Higdon’s wonderful Violin Concerto, with the talented young American violinist Benjamin Beilman as the soloist. This was a seemingly perfect combination of material and performers.”

San Francisco Chronicle

“Arguably the finest performance was that of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Violin Concerto by the American composer Jennifer Higdon…Above all, the concerto is a virtuoso showpiece, and proved a magnificent vehicle for the young American violinist Benjamin Beilman. His playing was accurate (in the many difficult fast passages), exciting, astonishing in fact, deeply affecting in the second movement, Chaconni, and exhilarating in the moto perpetuo finale, Fly Forward. It is rare for me to feel the urge to hear the same program for a second time, but I would in this case. Beilman is a star and we will hear more from him. 4.5 stars.”

Limelight

“A world premiere is always exciting, and a substantial one – Chris Rogerson’s Violin Concerto no. 1, “The Little Prince” (2022) clocks in at 25 minutes – particularly so. The composer, who was present for this Kansas City Symphony concert, was in the happy position of hearing the dedicatee, the exceptionally talented Benjamin Beilman, perform his work with an artistry and an emotional authenticity that movingly depicted a fraught journey of the soul.”

Bachtrack

“He’s a remarkable talent, delivering playing of rare insight and generosity, as captivating as it is gloriously entertaining.”

The Scotsman

Benjamin Beilman… brought emotional complexity and depth, not to mention a fetching, full-bodied sound, to his playing, capturing the sense of longing and wonder in this music and nailing all its technical demands.. a powerful performance that reinforced the case for this work as one of the great violin concertos.”

Chicago Sun-Times

“Mr. Beilman’s handsome technique, burnished sound and quiet confidence showed why he has come so far so fast.”

The New York Times

“Beilman stunned the house with brilliant artistry, instantly joining [Music@Menlo] festival favorites … His violin entered almost imperceptibly, with quiet, intimate singing of such beauty that can make listeners cry.”

San Francisco Classical Voice

“Beilman showed himself equal to the challenges, including the frequent excursions to the very top of the violinist’s register, where his tone shimmered attractively. Beilman also used his violin, the “Ysaÿe” Guarneri del Gesù, to make some beautiful woody sounds, perfectly suited to these ardent melodies; Beilman controlled his vibrato and paced his solos to wring every drop of expression from this music.”

Washington Classical Review

“Brilliant performances…Beilman may be young in years, but he plays with the technique, tone and musicality of a completely seasoned virtuoso.”

Sarasota Observer

Benjamin Beilman is one of the leading violinists of his generation. He has won international praise for his passionate performances and deep rich tone which The New York Times described as “muscular with a glint of violence”, and the Strad described as “pure poetry.“ Le Monde has described him as “a prodigious artist, who combines the gift of utmost sound perfection and a deep, delicate, intense, simmering sensitivity”.

Benjamin’s 2024/25 season includes his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic and Kirill Petrenko on tour in the US, as well as returns to the Chicago Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and Antwerp Symphony. He also makes his debut with the Belgian National Orchestra in a performance of Stravinsky’s concerto, and with the Tokyo Metropolitain Symphony performing Korngold. In the US, he also embarks on a recital tour with pianist Steven Osborne.

Last season included Benjamin’s subscription debut with the Chicago Symphony with Semyon Bychkov, and six weeks of performances in Europe, including concerts with the SWR Symphonieorchester Stuttgart alongside Elim Chan, a return to the Kölner Philharmonie with the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken, and appearances at the Grafenegg Festival, Festpielhaus St. Pölten, and the Musikverein in Vienna with the Tonkünstler Orchester and Tabita Berglund. He also returned to play-direct the London Chamber Orchestra, and re-united with Ryan Bancroft for his debut with BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Meanwhile, performances in the US included his debut with the St Louis Symphony under Cristian Macelaru, as well as returns to the Minnesota Orchestra with Elim Chan.

In past seasons, Benjamin has performed with many major orchestras worldwide including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Trondheim Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic, Taipei Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Zurich Tonhalle, Sydney Symphony, and Houston Symphony. He has also extensively toured Australia in recital under Musica Aviva, and in 2022, became one of the youngest artists to be appointed to the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music.

In recent seasons Beilman’s commitment to and passion for contemporary music has led to new works written for him by Frederic Rzewski (commissioned by Music Accord), and Gabriella Smith (commissioned by the Schubert Club in St. Paul, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music). He has also given multiple performances of Jennifer Higdon’s violin concerto, and recorded Thomas Larcher’s concerto with Hannu Lintu and the Tonkünstler Orchester, as well as premiered Chris Rogerson’s Violin Concerto (“The Little Prince”) with the Kansas City Symphony and Gemma New.

Conductors with whom he works include Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Cristian Măcelaru, Lahav Shani, Krzysztof Urbański, Ryan Bancroft, Matthias Pintscher, Gemma New, Karina Canellakis, Jonathon Heyward, Juraj Valčuha, Han-Na Chang, Elim Chan, Roderick Cox, Rafael Payare, Osmo Vänskä, and Giancarlo Guerrero.

Beilman studied at the Curtis Institute of Music with Ida Kavafian and Pamela Frank, and with Christian Tetzlaff at the Kronberg Academy, and has received many prestigious accolades including a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, an Avery Fisher Career Grant and a London Music Masters Award. He has also recorded works by Stravinsky, Janáček and Schubert for Warner Classics. He performs with the ex-Balaković F. X. Tourte bow (c. 1820), and plays the “Ysaÿe” Guarneri del Gesù from 1740, generously on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation.

SEPTEMBER 2024