Press

Boris Kucharsky is a splendid violinist... His tone is rich, sonorous and beautiful — aided, in part, by his Bergonzi violin, and his approach to the music is direct, straight-forward, and blessedly unhurried, with ample time for loving attention to detail."

World-class chamber music."

"A feast for musical gourmets who are not taken in by superficial gestures and who prefer to find pleasure in an unmannered, noble art of making music."

Sensitive interpretation, brilliant technique."

This is how chamber music should be: intimate and with virtuosity only as a means to an end."

Few musicians are able to risk such an honest approach to Beethoven."

Enraptured applause for a most challenging evening"

What stood out in this recital, in addition to his technical proficiency, was the sheer beauty of his tone. His violin seemed to sing, he was able to hypnotise with long phrases intoned in an astoundingly rich timbre, particularly in the middle register. He seems to have combined the best qualities of singing with those of violin playing…"

Kucharsky's trip through the big first movement cadenza was spectacular. But more telling throughout was his use of vibrato as a tool, not a constant companion. We would love to hear his generous sound again."

Boris Kucharsky is an outstanding violinist. He plays on an exquisite instrument made in the 18th century, in Stradivarius's hometown Cremona. His tone is extraordinarily differentiated, coloured, singing, sweet, energetic, his playing has soul, it is thrilling to listen to, often overwhelmingly beautiful."

Moments of deep, genuine beauty: how Boris Kucharsky and Elizabeth Hopkins make the flowing melody sing, despite the restrained dynamics; with what sensitivity they bring out each change of harmony and notwithstanding the solemn tempo still manage to keep the line of the piece – this is sheer mastery."

An extraordinarily demanding evening that was rewarded with enraptured applause."

Yet again the listeners were given the opportunity to marvel at the enormous variety of finest nuances that the violinist Boris Kucharsky brought to light in the "Spring Sonata". He is no showman, who impresses with mere, if brilliant, virtuosity; his art of music-making goes far beyond astounding technical perfection and reaches into realms of an intense and compelling expressiveness."

Kucharsky has the fascinating talent of being able to immerse himself in the music directly from the beginning - the acoustical sounds are reflected in his body language and facial expression"

Standing ovations."

"The listeners were, once again, filled with wonder – wonder at the richness of finest nuances in colouring and sound that the violinist was able to produce… an intense expressiveness."

"More transparency? Not possible"

"Unbelievably beautiful."

Elizabeth Hopkins is a brilliant pianist and her partner, the Menuhin protégé Boris Kucharsky, equally as good, piano and violin being exceptionally well attuned to each other. Their interpretation of the early Beethoven Sonatas reflects the influence of Mozart and emphasises sparkling brilliance rather than impetuosity. A completely convincing interpretation, the more so for having such a feeling for the sound of the work."

This makes sense too: on an extra CD the Scottish pianist Elizabeth Hopkins introduces Beethoven's Violin Sonatas Op.12, first in German, then in English. The interpretation with her duo partner Boris Kucharsky follows on CD 2. Though the introduction is printed in the booklet, thanks to the musical excerpts it becomes much more understandable. Without question we experience Beethoven's music more consciously and intensively. Here in a profound, well-structured and eloquent interpretation. The musical ideas resulting from the analysis and their realisation become an entity."