Music Reviews

“Verve and temperament, beautiful, expressive tone…inner tension merged with passionate expression imbued his large-scale interpretation [Tchaikovsky Concerto.] Pester Lloyd, Budapest, 1943 

ENESCU-BANAT SONATA RECITAL
A rare event that should have been witnessed by the entire musical world…reminiscent of the Maestro playing for Jacques Thibaud or, reversing roles, with Béla Bartók.“ Semnalul, Bucharest, 1945

“POISE, ASSURANCE AND THE ABILITY TO CONTROL AN AUDIENCE –ALWAYS BACKED WITH THE FORCE OF FEELING.” R.P., New York Times (Carnegie Hall, 1956) (Click for full review) |

 “HIS TONE PRESENTS A FASCINATING COMBINATION OF COMPACTNESS, WARMTH, TENSILE STRENGTH AND PROJECTIVE FORCE, AN ATMOSPHERE OF EXCITEMENT…. AN EVENING OF MAJOR MUSICAL INTEREST.” L.T., New York Herald Tribune (Carnegie Hall, 1956) (Click for full review) |

“WE HAVEN’T HEARD A VIOLINIST OF HIS STATURE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT IN MANY A YEAR, INCLUDING SOME OF THE CURRENT GREATS OF THE CONCERT STAGE.” .” K.H., Musical Courier (Carnegie Hall, 1956) (Click for full review) |

“…AN ARTISTRY THAT HELD THE AUDIENCE VIRTUALLY SPELLBOUND..” C.L.S. (Bartok Concerto, Unknown Publication, 1960) (Click for full review) |

“ OF THE FIRST RANK” (Headline) MUSICAL AMERICA

“BANAT IS BRILLIANT (Headline) We heard the greatest violinist since Heifetz.”  Press-Telegram, Long Beach, California

“…with the Bartók sonata, Mr. Banat rose to his full stature. This was a performance in a thousand.” The Times, London (Click for full review)

“Banat’s performance of Bartók’s sonata put him in the very front rank of technicians and interpreters.” DAILY TELEGRAPH, LONDON (Click for full review)

Beautiful tone and brilliant technique… fiery temperament and lofty musicianship.” Aftenposten, Oslo

“VITAL VIOLINIST” (Headline) “A FINISHED ARTIST, A BORN MUSICIAN, THE MASTER OF HIS INSTRUMENT AND HIS MEANS OF EXPRESSION.”  Svenska Dagbladet, Stockholm

“Beethoven’s ‘Kreutzer’ sonata in an ethereal and beautiful interpretation, was an inspired fanfare for a brighter and more hopeful future.”  Stockholms Tidningen

“One of the most explosive talents to appear on Sophia-hall’s stage in recent times.” Suddeutsche Zeitung, Munich

“…a violinist par excellence.” Hamburger Kultur-Echo

“The sparkling tone of his Stradivarius, a sheer delight, left us with intense admiration for his artistry.”  Haagsche Courant, The Hague

What virtuoso playing, what uninhibited, temperamental musicianship!” Nieuwe Haagsche Courant, The Hague

“Mr. Banat is a master of the violin. Only one who deeply understands Baroque music can achieve such a persuasive performance.” Ongaku Geijutsu, Tokyo

“Gabriel Banat, the discoverer of the original manuscripts of Mozart’s violin concertos, performed them eloquently in two concerts with the Academica Ensemble at Bunka Kaikan Hall.  Ongaku-no-Tomo, Tokyo 1989

RECORD REVIEWS
In the slow movements (of the Bartók Sonatas) Banat rises to perfection…he is superb. Audio Magazine, Jan. 1972 (Click for full review)

“Violin Showpieces” Decca, London
prodigious technique…violin playing well worth the showing off”
The Gramophone, July, 1964 (Click for full review)