Torke’s Violin concerto ‘Last’ - A Balm for the Soul
“Kim’s playing is rich with emotion without tipping into sentimentality… His bow control is extraordinary.”
Writing for violinist.com, Diana Skinner reviewed Michael Torke’s Last under the headline “A Balm for the Soul.”
Last is twelve miniature slow movements for solo violin and string orchestra, each flowing into the next: Torke describes them as slow movements from violin concertos he never wrote. Siwoo Kim recorded it with the East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO) on 1 May 2025, in the Concert Hall at Drew University.
Kim’s playing is rich with emotion without tipping into sentimentality. He doles out his beautiful vibrato in restrained portions, making it all the sweeter when it comes. His bow control is extraordinary. And his elegant, understated stage presence allows full access to the beauty of Torke’s music without any distractions.
It was a reunion: Siwoo had led the strings on Torke’s 2024 recording UNSEEN, also with ECCO. Last came out on Ecstatic Records in November 2025.
Listen
LastMichael Torke · Siwoo Kim, violin · East Coast Chamber OrchestraSpotifyApple Music
