Last night, Peabody Conservatory's relatively intimate Griswold Hall provided a showcase for violinist Netanel Draiblate, who tackled the noble Violin Concerto by Brahms with an orchestra of fellow students. Draiblate has generated a good deal of local attention while at Peabody, and he already has management, a key step in establishing a career.

It was fun hearing the Brahms played in such a compact space with a full orchestra -- imagine cranking up your home sound system to neighbors-calling-the-police levels, and you'll have an idea what the aural experience was like. It may not have been the best condition for the violinist to work in -- he seemed to be pushing his tone at times to be heard over the lively student orchestra -- but it was certainly easy to appreciate Draiblate's talent for passionate musical communication. There was an intensity in his phrasing from the start, a sense of digging into the most soulful elements of Brahms. His handling of the hefty virtuoso side of the score, especially in the cadenza, was not always effortless or spot-on, and the violinist occasionally strayed rhythmically. But this was, on balance, an admirable statement of talent and potential.

The same could be said for conductor Vladimir Kulenovic, who is completing his graduate studies at Peabody. He revealed more than a grasp of the notes, effectively shaping the orchestral side of the concerto. He also led a bold account of Beethoven's Egmont Overture to start the evening. The ensemble, put together for the occasion, encountered some rough patches, but got the job done with a lot of spirit and character.

PHOTO courtesy of netaneldraiblate.com