Reviews — Amitai Vardi

“Amitai Vardi was featured in Srul Irving Glick’s The Klezmer’s Wedding, a delightful one-movement piece for clarinet and string orchestra…Vardi soared throughout the range of the clarinet, alternating raucous and syrupy sounds. The final lively and tuneful section increased tempo as Vardi and the Orchestra raced to a rousing close.” - Cleveland Classical

CD Review: “The Performers on the Delos recording seem comfortable in Brahms’s crepuscular world…Clarinetist Amitai Vardi floats the long melodic lines of the Adagio with a liquid legato and digs in to the finale’s rustic rhythms…Sandwiched between the Beethoven and Brahms we have Jan Radzynski’s Concert Duos (2004) for clarinet and cello - five brief, playful melodic movements, including a polonaise and a waltz. The Vardis, pere et fils, play it with charming panache.” - gramophone.co.uk

CD Review: “Soulmates has my favorite late Brahms piece in a very soulful performance, never heard it played better. I was moved by the way the father and son played together, and of course very affected by rehearing that piece which contains both warmth and Brahms testiness about again and the passage of time.” - Written by world-renowned American composer John Harbison

CD Review: “The first movement of the Beethoven is marked by lush, sparkling playing from each musician…Amitai Vardi’s sweet, playful tone is on full display through the entire work…(In) the Brahms trio….Amitai performs the melody with refinement…The last movement showcases great phrasing from Amitai…The trio expertly draws out the dramatic moments and intense emotions resulting in a multifaceted interpretation.” - Cleveland Classical

“Playing the Mozart (concerto), Vardi managed to create a dialogue within a single line. With clearly delineated phrasing and abundant control, he jumped across wide intervals to form a wonderfully engaging conversation. Playing with dark, silken tone, he brought a roundness to his articulations - there were no sharp edges. In his gentle, personal interpretation of the concerto, the Orchestra became lighter and more cohesive in its role as collaborator. With seamless elegance, Vardi brought his colleagues to a whisper in the recapitulation of the alluring second movement.” - Cleveland Classical

“Cleveland Orchestra with Gianandrea Noseda and Violinist Leonidas Kavakos…Noseda was an attentive collaborator, and the Orchestra played splendidly off Kavakos’s cues. Notable soloists included Mary Kay Fink (piccolo), Amitai Vardi (bass clarinet).” - Cleveland Classical

“The Cleveland Orchestra/Franz Welser-Most at Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami…After intermission came a luminous reading of Shostakovich’s Sixth Symphony…a fine solo by Amitai Vardi on bass clarinet just before the movement’s quiet ending.” – Classical Source Miami

“The Cleveland Orchestra: Disney Fantasia Live In Concert…Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite from 1940 was another point of excellence from the orchestra. Bass clarinetist Amitai Vardi made the most of the sighing little runs in 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' with long, expressive stretches on the first notes.” – Cleveland Classical

“A dramatic orchestral introduction sets the stage for the soloist’s entrance in Weber’s Concertino… Amitai Vardi reached the highs and lows and everything in between with aplomb. Details of articulation and phrasing, plus exciting dynamics and expressive nuances gave shape and meaning to phrases. Deeper emotions and darker colors were effective in the slower section, which featured nicely shaded pianissimos by both soloist and orchestra… Vardi ended the piece brilliantly with a virtuosic series of figurations, arpeggios and a final scale rocketing to a high note.” – Cleveland Classical

“A couple of star turns followed… principal clarinetist Amitai Vardi played Weber’s short but sweet Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra.... Vardi was fluent in Weber’s tricky passagework and full of feeling in the slower sections that delved briefly into darker emotions.” – The Cleveland Plain Dealer

“The afternoon ended with a rich course, Brahms’ Quintet for Clarinet and Strings…The performance was anchored by the fluent, poetic playing of clarinetist Amitai Vardi, who paid scrupulous attention to expressive details” – The Cleveland Plain Dealer

“…The hit of the concert was Mozart’s beloved Clarinet Concerto, with featured soloist Amitai Vardi. The orchestra was warmly brilliant, and Vardi’s playing hit it all: dulcet tone, touching musicianship, and glittering passagework.” – Charleston Post and Courier

“…Clarinet Soloist Amitai Vardi played flawlessly… Vardi is certainly one soloist to watch.” – Charleston City Paper