IVCI Laureate Series: Simone Lamsma

Last Tuesday we had the first U.S. concert appearance by International Competition of Indianapolis’ 2006 silver medalist Simone Lamsma of Holland since the event itself. Accompanied by Ms. Chih-Yi Chen on piano, Lamsma offered five pieces, four of which were late-Romantic fare. She opened with Mozart’s early Adagio in E, K. 261 — sometimes subbed for the slow movement of his Fifth Violin Concerto. Though tuneful and pleasant, Lamsma’s playing seemed a little tight and forceful. Then came Ravel’s late Violin Sonata in G (1927), with its notable “blues” second movement. This was better played, the final movement taken as “fast as hell.” The Grieg Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Minor followed, with Lamsma displaying some nervous bowing in the Scherzo movement and some wobble in the final movement; otherwise it was enjoyable. Lamsma reserved her best playing for the Eugène Ysaÿe Solo Violin Sonata in E Minor; she gave it lots of “hair” plus her best tonal characteristics and an excellent command of its passage-work difficulties. Her concluding piece was the Violin Sonata No. 1 in A by Gabriel Fauré — played with less tonal perfection but with lots of “flair.” Chen provided masterful accompaniment throughout. —TA