Stefan Jackiw took California by storm, playing Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto with the Russian National Orchestra under Mikhail Pletnev in Berkeley, Davis, and Cerritos. Throughout the tour, Jackiw received ecstatic reviews from a variety of publications. The Los Angeles Times reported, “He has a striking, percussive technique. He could be a rock star. And he tears into Tchaikovsky like a rock star might if a rock star could. Jackiw’s was a fascinating, impressive and often riveting performance. Jackiw made each phrase an individual and excitable event. There can’t be much doubt that Jackiw’s star will continue to rise.”
San Jose Mercury News described Jackiw’s performance as “sumptuous and astonishing. Violinist Stefan Jackiw shows astonishing ability to communicate with listeners. He owns a turbo-technique that allows him to cleanly mow down the most demanding passages. Unlike most soloists in any age group, Jackiw seems tapped into the very source from which the music flows. Jackiw turned phrases with remarkable honesty and sweetness and put his personal stamp all over the performance” (read the review). The Orange County Register declared, “I can’t remember hearing a better performance of this work live. Jackiw would appear to have it all – a commanding technique, taste, intelligence and, best of all, real feeling. He unwound the thing lyrically, taking his time and listening to the line to make sure it made sense and flowed in a dramatic narrative. It was like a great speech, a listener hanging on every word” (read the review).
