Esther Yoo’s new Deutsche Grammophon album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Vasily Petrenko, released on January 26, was selected by The Sunday Times as one of the “best albums of 2023 so far.” The Sunday Times writes, “The American violinist produces tones of breathtaking beauty in the Bruch adagio and the Barber andante…an excellent account of both pieces, full of empathy and innate musicality.”

Featuring works that have been formative to Esther’s artistic journey, the album was also reviewed by Ken Walton at The Scotsman: “There’s no doubting the passion and certitude that lights up these solo performances by violinist Esther Yoo.” Remy Franck at Pizzicato writes, “The fact that Esther Yoo also knows how to skillfully use this aspect without being a tedious show-off proves the maturity she has reached.”

The album includes two iconic concertos: Bruch’s Violin Concerto in G minor and Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto. Also on the album is Bruch’s Adagio Appassionato and Vieuxtemps’ Souvenir d’Amerique, Op.17 “Yankee Doodle”. It was recorded in November 2021 at Henry Wood Hall and at the Watford Colosseum, and produced by multiple Grammy Award winner Christopher Alder.

Read the full review in The Scotsman here.

Read the full review in Pizzicato here.