Here are some inspiring clips featuring the great Russian violinist, Maxim Vengerov.
In the first video, Vengerov performs the Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). The Chicago Symphony accompanies, conducted by Daniel Barenboim. The concerto is followed by two encores: The Sarabanda from J.S. Bach’s Partita No. 2 for Solo Violin (0:35:31) and Eugene Ysaye’s Ballad (0:40:06).
Polish violinist and composer Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880) contributed greatly to the development of the violin. Here, Vengerov talks about Wieniawski and plays the dazzling Variations, Op. 15:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9vkzqSc4fA
The final clip is a movie entitled Playing by Heart that features Vengerov’s life as a concert violinist. At 4:20 you will briefly hear some of the Vivaldi A Minor Concerto from Suzuki Book 4:
I certainly enjoyed hearing Vengerov, but his friend (they both studied with the same teacher) Vadim Repin is truly unbelievable. I heard him playing the Franck sonata, in the finale, he broke a string and the pianist stopped. Repin was so mad because he wanted to keep playing with 3 strings! Now that’s a violinist! There was a beautiful video on youtube of Repin having a lesson with his teacher-also Vengerov’s teacher. It’s in black and white and at one point, a bird flies in and goes to a sink for a drink of water. It was a bit odd but also very magical !
I know the Vengerov/Barenboim recording of Sibelius, really one of the best performances available.
Thanks Timothy for sharing.
Hans van Eck