Wigmore Hall, Solo Recital, July 24, 2000
"truly glorious tone" "She tackled Kodaly's daunting Solo Sonata with a deal of technical
skill" "She plays with a natural lyrical feeling" "Barber proved to be the best performance
of the evening, eloquent, urgent and structurally sound. Kim Cook is certainly a talent to
watch."
Geoffrey Crankshaw, Musical Opinion (London)
"Folk music-most notably from the Americas-was central to this recital by Kim Cook and
Carl Blake, their programme both enterprising and varied." "In a work renowned for its
demanding technical hurdles (Kodaly Sonata for Solo Cello Op. 8) Cook's sense of
impetus and perception of the assimilated Eastern European folk music was vividly
demonstrated." "The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly Barber's Cello Sonata...
a strong performance of a work which is ironically difficult to bring off--the lyricism of the
music suited her style of playing and both artists demonstrated a keen awareness of
line and colour."
Joanne Talbot, The Strad
Carnegie Hall, Solo Recital
"she brought to the fore a wide assortment of ravishing colors and textures"
"This interpretation put a thoughtful new light on Kodaly's challenging, nay, daunting
score"
"songfully and sensitively conveyed" (Brahms, Adagio affettuoso)
"sympathetically and elegantly rendered" (Faure, Ravel)
Harris Goldsmith, New York Concert Review
Cleveland Museum of Art, Solo Recital, premiere of Eberhard Cello Suite
"Dramatic cello suite earns standing ovation" (headline), "won a spontaneous standing
ovation...the piece made a powerful impact....glissandos up and down the strings,
pizzicatos that snap, and timbres that exploit the tone qualities of the cello...created an
expressive palette of sonorities" "Cook's warm tone and singing line suited the
music...gifted with an affinity for contemporary music, Cook rose to another level in her
inspired performance of the Eberhard Suite"
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Artistic Ambassador for the U.S. State Department, Latin American Tours
"extraordinary"
El Occidental (Guadalajara, Mexico)
"splendid"
Ocho Columnas (Guadalajara)
"A 'Wow' was heard from the audienceas they gave their applause to the Piazzolla
Tango." "presented a flawless performance, proving why they are this year's artistic
ambassadors."
El Norte (Monterrey, Mexico)
"Excellent interpretations of sonatas by Cesar Franck and Samuel Barber"..."full and
passionate dramatic touch....executed the piece with authenticity and musicality" "the
excellent performance made the Monterrey audience hungry for knowledge of Barber"
El Diario de Monterrey
"exquisite performance" "The concert carried the senses...I was suspended in a gentle
but deep feeling atmosphere" "performance was simple but 'sharp', like a brand new
blade in its movements and techniques, and like a caring butterfly in its deep feelings"
La Informacion (Santiago, Dominican Republic)
"Flawless performance"
Criação (Manaus, Brazil)
Carnegie Hall, Castalia Trio Recital
"upbeat program, excellently played...cello solos sang with sweetness and light"
New York Concert Review
Stuttgart, Beethoven Triple Concerto
"trio of virtuosos, outstanding interpretation...melodic, colorful tone quality in the Largo,
stimulating rhythmic impulse in the fiery final movement"
Stuttgart Journal
Frankfurt, Haydn Concerto in C Major with the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic
"superb" "clearly defined, energetic line. The cello virtuoso solved all musical and
technical challenges of the three movements with bravura and musical temperament."
Die Rheinpfalz (Frankfurt)
Tour of China; Beijing, Nanjing, Jinan, and Shanghai;
"dazzling...triumphant...the performance captured our hearts."
Daily Xinhua (Nanjing)
"the performance awakened our senses"
Nanjing Daily Journal
Cleveland Museum of Art, premiere of Episodes for Horn and Cello by Jonathan McNair
"beautiful performance from cellist Kim Cook"
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Review of CD of Solo Sonatas by Kodaly, Crumb, and Hindemith,
"a performance of great merit, one that will bear repeated hearings" "The music is
offered with emotion and technical virtuosity". "an accomplished and emotional
performer."
Voices (PA)
Haydn Cello Concerto in D Major, Lincoln Symphony
"decisive and clean...difficult double and triple stops in the high register seemed to flow
from Cook's masterful technique. Patrons immersed themselves in Cook's
playing...alluring slow movement...she flew through triple stopsexact pitch in high
registers...an exciting performanceoutstanding performance"
Lincoln Journal Star
Boccherini Cello Concerto, Pennsylvania Centre Chamber Orchestra
"Breathtakinga virtuoso display of cello technique...poised and elegantoutstanding"
Dvorak Concerto, Penn's Woods Orchestra
"rich, effulgent tone...an ethnic and feeling interpretation worthy of comparison with
Casals and Rostropovich. Her gorgeous tone and superb technique dominated the
concerto. This was an evening to remember"
Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations, Nittany Valley Symphony
"remarkable tone and virtuosity...breathtaking...clear, sweet tone"
Centre Daily Times, University Park, PA
eptember, 1994, Castalia Trio Recital
"Castalia Trio presents strong, sensitive, satisfying concert" (headline) "The
performances were vigorous, yet sensitive and satisfying...The charmed audience
responded with a well-deserved standing ovation." "expressive....the trio seemed to
revel in building a beautiful and elegant performance. The finale was exciting." "The
third movement, (Arensky Trio), an elegy, gave Cook the opportunity to display at length
her beautiful tone"
Centre Daily Times, University Park, PA
June, 1993, Dvorak Concerto, Penn’s Woods Orchestra
"On Saturday night, Cook played one of the most beautiful concerts a Schwab
Auditorium audience has ever heard. It was clear that she was master of the instrument.
she played from within,...a rich, effulgent tone...an ethnic and feeling interpretation
worthy of comparison with Casals and Rostropovich. Her gorgeous tone and superb
technique dominated the concerto. This was an evening to remember"
Centre Daily Times, University Park, PA
May, 1993, Beethoven Triple Concerto
"trio of virtuosos, outstanding interpretation....melodic, colorful tone quality in the Largo,
stimulating rhythmic impulse in the fiery final movement"
Stuttgart Journal
June, 1992, Beethoven Triple Concerto, Penn’s Woods Orchestra
"first theme beautifully played by cellist Cook. Cook established the mood of the
composition positively and definitely. This was virtuoso performing at the highest level."
Centre Daily Times, University Park, PA
July, 1992, Solo Recital at the Cleveland Museum of Art
premiere of Eberhard Cello Suite
"Dramatic cello suite earns standing ovation" (headline), "won a spontaneous standing
ovation...the piece made a powerful impact....glissandos up and down the strings,
pizzicatos that snap, and timbres that exploit the tone qualities of the cello...created an
expressive palette of sonorities" "Cook’s warm tone and singing line suited the
music....gifted with an affinity for contemporary music, Cook rose to another level in her
inspired performance of the Eberhard Suite"
Cleveland Plain Dealer
October, 1992, Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations
"remarkable tone and virtuosity.....breathtaking.....clear, sweet tone"
Centre Daily Times, University Park, PA
April, 1991, premiere of Episodes for Horn and Cello by Jonathan McNair
Cleveland Museum of Art
"beautiful performance from cellist Kim Cook"
Cleveland Plain Dealer