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Press Reviews

For the latest reviews, please scroll down
'Madeleine Mitchell is not only a violinist of great virtuosity but of a very special poetic character…an independent pioneering figure, Madeleine brought her visionary imagination to the founding of her Red Violin festival and succeeded in creating a unique series...a tremendous inspiration.' 
Helen Wallace, Editor BBC Music Magazine & Times critic in her nomination of Madeleine Mitchell for a Creative Briton Award 
'Madeleine Mitchell is one of these extraordinary, indispensable creatures who do so much to keep the culture of 'classical' music alive and kicking'  
Ivan Hewett (critic Daily Telegraph) 
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Concert Reviews

For album reviews see the Recordings page

The Recordings
'Madeleine Mitchell is an uncommonly intelligent and accomplished musician...her own highly effective arrangement of Gershwin's An American in Paris' (Recital)
The Times 
'One of Britain's liveliest musical forces, the indefatigably adventurous violinist Madeleine Mitchell..a striking Nigel Osborne solo violin piece..which she did superbly' 
Richard Morrison, The Times 
‘A world class violinist’ 
Hessische Allgemeine (Brahms Violin Concerto Germany)
'Madeleine Mitchell is one of the UK's foremost violinists' 
The Times 
'Madeleine Mitchell is a violinist in a million..a staggering display of virtuosity and unparalleled musicianship..her amazing, big-toned, sweetly lyrical and vibrantly intense playing is unmistakable..virile Elgar, exuberant Mozart, breathtakingly rumbustuous Dvorak..spellbinding performance of MacMillan, written for her, Mitchell's gleaming tone was heartwrenching..a barnstorming display of elan and technical mastery..a tour de force of a recital'  
5 stars Michael Tumelty, Chief Music Critic, The Herald (Glasgow) 
‘Recitals don’t get any better than this. Madeleine Mitchell’s musical appetite taking her from the splendours of the Baroque era through to the many works that have been specially composed for her. 
An uncommonly affectionate account of Prokofiev’s Cinq Melodies was a stepping stone to Janacek’s troubled Sonata…Mitchell captured these often abrupt mood changes to perfection.' 
David Denton, Yorkshire Post
'The consummate violinist Madeleine Mitchell' 
BBC Radio 3 In Tune (Ravel & Franck violin sonatas)
'This highly imaginative artist...charismatic playing and musical personality'
Rian Evans, Musical Opinion
'Long regarded as one of Britain's leading violinists'
Classical Music Magazine (cover feature)
'She's riveting' 
Norman Lebrecht 
'When the highly personable Madeleine Mitchell launched into pieces written for her she had her audience tamed...(Brahms was) musically involving enough to prompt two encores.' (Wigmore Hall recital)
Rob Cowan, The Independent
‘With the help of (Norbert Brainin’s) friends…this was the new generation such as violinist Madeleine Mitchell and cellist Robert Cohen to whom the torch is passed’ 
Hilary Finch, The Times - Norbert Brainin 80th birthday concert, Wigmore Hall Schubert Quintet
Proms Chamber Music ‘The final concert secured a larger audience than usual…Echoing Messiaen’s use of instruments that happened to be available for his quartet, the arrangement of Bach’s unfinished Contrapunctus (done by Madeleine Mitchell and Joanna MacGregor) introduces some unconventional sonorities and here ran without a break into the Messiaen…The solo movements for cello and violin were rapt in their concentration, and the cumulative sense of apocalyptic introspection was palpable’ 
Geoffrey Norris, The Daily Telegraph 
‘David Matthews premiere for violin and orchestra called Romanza addressed an issue I’d never given much thought to before – which is that no one writes concert music in triple time. Rising to the challenge, Matthews’ Romanza has a central waltz that sounds like a ghost from the past, albeit with a touch of Walton-esque mischief in the presentation. Deftly written, it was eloquently played by Madeleine Mitchell, who persuaded me that this was music worth hearing again.'
Michael White, Telegraph Blog – William Alwyn Festival, Blythburgh
'A breathtaking performance from these world class players (Dvorak with Imogen Cooper, Nathalie Klein etc)...Mitchell followed it by a dazzling reading'  
Leicester Mercury, Leicester International Festival
'Eclectic virtuoso of the violin, Madeleine Mitchell directs Vivaldi with her group the London Chamber Ensemble, plays Elgar for us live..and has inspired living composers to a staggering degree'  
BBC Radio 3 In Tune
‘Commitment, sweep and an uncommon sensitivity’ 
Sydney Morning Herald (Recital Sydney Opera House)
'The dynamically talented Madeleine Mitchell'  
Barry Millington, Evening Standard 
(Wigmore Concert)
‘The festival excels in intimate recitals and one of the most enjoyable was Madeleine Mitchell and Andrew Ball’s fastidious and original programme’ 
Paul Driver, Sunday Times
‘Played with passion’ 
Geoffrey Norris, The Daily Telegraph 
Recital Wigmore Hall, Delius Violin Sonata
'A fascinating programme, the focus being three works in which the talents ofMadeleine Mitchell were pitted against the might of the choir. Mitchell herself was the instigator of the project and..it is typical of this highly imaginative artist to have conceived so fertile a collaboration. Her charismatic playing and musical personality were surely pivotal in inspiring the three composers, Roxanna Panufnik, Jonathan Harvey and
Thierry Pecou.' 
Rian Evans, Musical Opinion 
'We were all utterly thrilled with your concert..several Vivaldi Seasons fanatics in the audience said yours was the best live performance they'd ever heard.' 
Director of Mercia Arts on London Chamber Ensemble concert directed by Madeleine Mitchell - Heather Festival 
'Madeleine Mitchell gave a performance of the Bruch Violin Concerto that seemed powered by an almost daemonic intensity – totally bewitching. She has a full rich tone that sang strongly through the large church acoustic. A great performance of this romantic warhorse.'
Bachtrack - Edinburgh Festival

'An intensely poetic performance from Madeleine Mitchell of 'and told her in words that have no sound'. Mitchell overcame its virtuosic requirements with ease, expertly navigating the assortment of extended techniques that dot Silvina Milstein's score'...'The enigmatically titled 'Even it is only a whisper' for two violins by Effy Efthimiou was conveyed heroically.'
Take7
'This enormously varied concert was a marvellously rich celebration...vibrant rendition...Mitchell expressed (this) with alert rhythmic dynamism.'
A Century of Music by U.K. Women’ (1921-2021) directed by Madeleine Mitchell The Strad May 2021  - Read full review here
'Programme thoughtfully compiled by Madeleine Mitchell...unfailingly eloquent reading...deeply affecting in Madeleine Mitchell's emotionally committed performance.'
(A Century of Music by UK Women 1921-2021) Musical Opinion July-December 2021 - Read full review here
'Mitchell, as one might expect, proved to be a superlative soloist'
 Seen and Heard International, Grace Williams Violin Concerto with BBC National Orchestra of Wales Nov 2021 - Read full review here
 ‘An evening of superb chamber-music-making of which Horovitz would certainly have approved’.
Musical Opinion Jan-Mar ‘23 - Read full review here
'In this satisfying and enjoyable recital, consummate musicianship was placed entirely at the service of wide-ranging and stimulating repertoire'.
Musical Opinion 2024 - Read full review here

Recital by Madeleine Mitchell and Nigel Clayton. St Andrew’s Church, Sheffield


A highlight of the 2023 St Andrew’s Music Festival was a concert given by violinist Madeleine Mitchell and pianist Nigel Clayton on 25 November which took place in St Andrew’s Church, Sheffield. The enticing programme consisted of two major violin sonatas from the late nineteenth century framing works by contemporary, Sheffield-based composers.

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Articles

Click below to view or download the articles

Scotsman profile

2024

2023

BBC Music Magazine Rewind July 2023 - ‘Great artists talk about their past recordings’

Madeleine Mitchell (violinist)

San Francisco Chronicle

Madeleine Mitchell (violinist)

2021

2020

2019

2018

Jonathan Heaton (Classical Events) interviews Madeleine Mitchell (violinist)

BBC Music Magazine

Madeleine Mitchell (violinist)

2017