"The musicians I admire most tend to be selfless types for whom razzle-dazzle is clearly anathema; for them, the composer always comes first. Mark Kaplan is exactly that kind of violinist...a gripping performance of ever-increasing lyrical intensity."
The Strad

"The rhythm and colors brought out by the conductor were equaled only by the surpassing musicality and the beautiful technique of soloist Mark Kaplan." [Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Orchestre National de Lyon]
Figaro Lyon

"Kaplan made his case throughout with a rich, luminous tone quality that hung resonantly in the air; near-perfect intonation, even in the most treacherous multiple-stopped chords; expressive rubatos in the slower dances; sufficiently graceful rhythm in others. He could dig trenchantly into the Sonata No 2's great Fuga, finding the climaxes and crunching them with satisfying, robust attacks...these were formidable performances" [Bach: Solo Sonatas and Partitas]
Los Angeles Times

"The man of the moment (Schwarz in his first concerts with the RLPO since appointment was announced) was almost upstaged however in the second piece by violin maestro Mark Kaplan and his dazzling interpretation of one of the great violin pieces - Sibelius' violin concerto in D minor. It comes with the reputation of being a finger breaker but Kaplan's scintillating virtuosity gave us a real performance to remember. His technique was matched only by the crisp vivid resonate tones of his Stradivari violin in a performance of passion which drew gasps from the listeners." [Sibelius Violin Concerto, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gerard Schwarz]
Lancashire Evening Post

"The playing is splendid throughout, technically brilliant, musically expressive, full of variety, character, and idiomatic flair. Its high quality, together with the innovative pairing, gives this disc unusual interest." [Dohnanyi Violin Concerto No 2, Bartók Violin Concerto No 2, Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona conducted by Foster Koch]
Strings Magazine

"Kaplan is as equally adept at premiering concertos by Elliott Carter and Marc Neikrug as performing standard repertoire and his understanding of stylistic subtleties underpinned his exciting yet ultimately moving playing. Being a formidable baritone inspired many of Barber’s elegant, elongated phrases and Kaplan’s attention to the weight and dynamics of each of them was impressive, as was his exquisite Bach encore."
Belfast Telegraph

"Mark Kaplan was one of the orchestra's major finds, weaving through Bartok's Second Violin Concerto. Kaplan's pliant, free-ranging lines were a unifying force through a diverse score. Whether in tranquil duet with the woodwinds or moving from mysterious quarter-tones to blazing cadenza, this soloist could not be fazed...A winning encore of Bach's Gavotte en Rondeau, immaculately styled, was a refreshing sorbet after such a testing and rewarding main course."
New Zealand Herald

"he evidenced quiet mastery, steadily projecting emotion"
Classical Sonoma

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"Mark Kaplan was one of the orchestra's major finds, weaving through Bartok's Second Violin Concerto. Kaplan's pliant, free-ranging lines were a unifying force through a diverse score. Whether in tranquil duet with the woodwinds or moving from mysterious quarter-tones to blazing cadenza, this soloist could not be fazed...A winning encore of Bach's Gavotte en Rondeau, immaculately styled, was a refreshing sorbet after such a testing and rewarding main course."
New Zealand Herald