The Honolulu Star Bulletin, October 9, 2000

Bernstein celebrated

Violinist Lara St. John makes quite an impression on stage, but her music makes an even greater impression. Commemorating the 10th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein's death with Maestro Samuel Wong and the Honolulu Symphony, St. John performed Serenade, one of Bernstein's finest works.

Serenade began quietly with solo violin, and at first, St. John's stature (just under 6 feet) overshadowed her playing. That soon changed. Aggressive and committed, St. John was as physical in her performance as Bernstein once was conducting. Shifting her balance like a fighter, lunging into fortissiomo endings, swaying through lyrical passages, St. John seemed to sing; the music seemed to rise from deep inside her and through the violin.