"It was a fabulous performance from a violinist who gave the [Tchaikovsky] concerto an individual interpretation that involved much thought, skill and sensitivity. The crowd loved it and gave a roar of approval, whistles, cheers and a standing ovation." —Geraldine Freeman, The Daily Gazette (Saratoga Springs, NY), reviewing The Philadelphia ...
Geraldine FreemanThe Daily Gazette
"Conductor Louis Scaglione and the musicians of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (ages 15–22) welcomed David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, to perform the complete Mendelssohn concerto. Among many virtues, Kim demonstrated that some expert team players can switch gears and morph into expert soloists and, even in the midst ...
Bruce HodgesStrad Magazine
"The Benedictus, especially the violin solo, is Beethoven at his most eloquent, hopeful and prayerful. Concertmaster David Kim captured all of these feelings with scintillating, silken tone. It was indisputably a star turn, but conductor and violinist strove to make the solo line an integral component of the orchestra texture, ...
Rick PerdianNew York Classical Review
"One key moment in the performance was concertmaster David Kim's treatment of the famous violin solo during the 'Benedictus.' This wasn't some consoling voice from on high but a plea for humanity, very much of the earth, and was some of the most eloquent playing I have yet heard from ...
David Patrick StearnsPhiladelphia Inquirer
"Just as extraordinary was the orchestra’s dramatic rendering of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. I have never heard a better performance. So many fine solo passages, but none so unforgettable as the violin of concertmaster David Kim: exquisite, original, transcendent." —Linda Holt, Bachtrack
Linda HoltBachtrack
"Concertmaster David Kim played the violin solo in the aria 'Un pensiero voli in ciel' ('Let a thought fly up to heaven') with unparalleled virtuosity, his nimble fingers working at double speed." —Cameron Kelsall, Parterre Box
Cameron KelsallParterre Box
"At times, concertmaster Kim had as much to do as the soprano, and when the two voices merged as in the recitative and aria, 'Let a thought fly up to heaven,' it was a kind of musical paradise." —Linda Holt, Broad Street Review
Linda HoltBroad Street Review
"Kim (played with) rich tone and technical artistry, leading the other players in thrilling tempos and textures that are vividly baroque." —Lew J. Whittington, Huffington Post, reviewing Bach's Violin Concerto No. 2 with the Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Lew J. WhittingtonHuffington Post
"Next, Kim offered a truly virtuosic performance of the Tchaikovsky, receiving a standing ovation after the first movement. Kim played with a dynamic energy. His playing struck a balance between swimming with the orchestra and bursting forth. His solos soared with a mix of sultry sizzle, angelic high notes and ...
Dana OlandIdaho Statesman
"Concertmaster and violin soloist David Kim movingly portrayed Scheherazade the storyteller with a sweet, tender cascade of triplets. Near the end the solo violin declaimed in fierce double stops, and at times the audience was so quiet you could hear Kim’s fingers tap the fingerboard." —Alexis Alrich, South China Morning ...
Alexis AlrichSouth China Morning Post (Hong Kong)