Twitter is here.
Nice MSO reviews here and here.
Hal Leonard releases Samuel Barber music for violin and piano.
Here’s a review of the last CD. More here.
Recent press for Frankly Music here.
Big violin news here.
Ojai Festival here and here.
Nondivisi.com is here.
American Record Guide names our CD Best of 2007!
Here’s an interview in Tokafi
“I am deeply impressed by this duo’s musicianship and artistry. Almond and Wolfram are vastly superior artists to most of the big classical stars before the public today and pushed by the big record labels. I can think of a half dozen violinists who record for major labels whose musicianship can’t hold a candle to Almond and Wolfram.”
– American Record Guide May/June 2007 – full review here»
“Almond played introspectively but with an intense focus that pulled in the ear.”
– Tom Strini, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 2/09/07 – full review here»
“Sometimes a critic just wants to say Wow! This was a stunning artistic success, splendid and exquisite. Violinist Frank Almond assembled a group of MSO players that showed that the sky
is the limit in sophisticated music-making in Milwaukee.”
– Rick Walters, Shephard Express 1/25/07 – full review here»
“…the players were exceptionally well-matched, tossing dizzying passages back and forth while playing off each other in phrasing and nuance and dynamics.”
– Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 10/03/06 – full review here»
A few years ago I did an interview with the Partial Observer. Read it here»
Here are two articles about the Brahms CD:
Source: American Record Guide
CD Review: Brahms: The Complete Sonatas for Violin and Piano
Format: PDF File (2MB)Source: BBC Magazine
CD Review: Brahms: The Complete Sonatas for Violin and Piano
Format: JPEG File (220 KB)
More words:
“Frank Almond… was the afternoon’s excellent soloist, providing a performance of the Glazunov violin concerto that was distinguished by fluid phrasing and a vigorous, singing tone.”
– The New York Times
“Intoxicating brilliance and immense panache.”
– The Strad
“A young violinist with a razor-sharp memory and bow technique.”
– Washington Post“What is special about these interpretations is their perfect balancing of ear, head, and heart. Certainly they are musicians of rare taste and intelligence who have gauged the emotional content of each sonata to perfection. Despite valuable achievements by more famous duos in this music, this is easily the greatest Brahms I have ever heard. Almond and Wolfram tower above giants.” (Brahms Sonatas)
– American Record Guide
“Intense, extended applause greeted Frank Almond before he played a note of Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto Friday night; His solo appearances with the orchestra have been memorable occasions. Almond’s line glided, soared, darted and hovered upon and amid the shining or stormy energy of the orchestra. Conductor Andreas Delfs and the orchestral players shaped the sound around the solo line with command and the utmost sensitivity to the ever-changing textures as voices rose to sing in brief duets with the soloist, blended into distinct choirs, or merged into a single unified, atmospheric sound.”
– Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Almond…. produced his winning performance by emphasizing the songlike, vocal qualities of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. The piece’s pyrotechnics were in place and on target but, for Almond, showiness took second place to the work’s enticing melodicism.
– Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“After a luminous slow movement, the disc ends with an explosive finale which reaffirms the players’ unassailable techncal mastery and absolute temperamental harmonisation. Some sort of standard is offered by Perlman and Ashkenazy; Almond and Wolfram are not out of place in such company.” (Brahms Sonatas)
-BBC Music Magazine
“He demonstrated a lyrical gift, solid intonation and a confident sense of the drama of the work.”
– Dallas Morning News
“Classical music in Milwaukee has improved considerably in the last 10 years. There have been many contributing factors, including the redesign of Uihlein Hall and the new Schwan Concert Hall at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Not far below them in importance was the appointment of Frank Almond as concertmaster of Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He has uplifted the top-level music-making in this city more than any other one person. Almond was leader and featured soloist at Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra’s first concert of the season last Thursday at Schwan Hall. We all have learned to expect beautiful violin playing from him: a strong and singing tone, a flawless sense of pitch, energetic rhythm and an elegant ease of phrasing.”
– Shepherd-Express (Milwaukee)
“Almond’s singing tone and stylish phrasing were a constant pleasure in the Mozart Divertimento No. 15 (K. 287), which is practically a mini-violin concerto. Almond skittered playfully through some very intricate lines, then played a heartfelt, time-stopping adagio.”
– Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel“… interpretive awareness and refined technique at a high level of attainment . . . a fine singing tone and the ability to sustain a long singing line . . .the technical brilliance of a young virtuoso.”
– The San Diego Union