EASTERN PROGRAM, STUNNING VIOLINIST
An all-Eastern-European program added variety to the S.F. Symphony’s current-season offerings, focusing on suppressed music of the century 1850-1950. The three works could hardly have been less alike. At the center-point stood the Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1, with a dazzling performance by violinist Karen Gomyo of Berlin. Despite her stunning evening gown, I couldn’t take my ears off her performance as she played virtually nonstop 40 minutes in the highly challenging opus from 1948. The high virtuosity and limited…