Geneva Lewis - Press Reviews

Barber • Zorn • Glass
Geneva Lewis violin
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Gemma New conductor

Geneva Lewis approaches this repertoire with the versatility the works demand. In Barber, she finds the ‘cantabile’ sound and expansive phrasing suited to a piece firmly rooted in the 19th-century tradition; in Glass, the rhythmic precision and ability to blend into the orchestra’s hypnotic motion; and in Zorn, an approach that is far more physical, incisive, sharp, and daring. Yet it all seems to flow effortlessly from her bow. It is a truly exciting debut, bolstered by the superb BBC Scottish Symphony and the baton of another young New Zealander, Gemma New (Wellington, 1986)—who, like the violinist, demonstrates the flexibility required for a repertoire that showcases the vast possibilities of the modern violin.

Pablo J Vayón, Diario de Cadiz, 11 October 2026

Lewis plays with great virtuosity, stylistic assurance, and versatility. Her tone burns with intensity yet never sounds harsh or forced. The interpretations breathe, despite their driving, kinetic energy. One senses a personal connection to the pieces and the spirit of new beginnings that shaped the album… A superb debut CD that demonstrates that Geneva Lewis is not only one of today’s most exciting young violinists but also an artist with a distinctive, unmistakable fire of her own. You listen—and remain captivated long after the final note has faded away.

Dirk Schauß, klassik-begeistert.de / klassik-begeistert.at, 8 October 2026

Lewis’s tone is warm and full of feeling, aching in the allegro and andante [Barber], feisty and folkish in the finale… Lewis’s virtuosity is on full display with laser-focused double stopping and filigree pianissimos at the very top of the instrument [Zorn]… [Gemma] New leads an exhilarating account and Lewis’s silvery tone is especially haunting in the pensive slow movement [Glass].

Clive Paget, The Guardian, 2 October 2026