Daniil Trifonov: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Jan. 12, 2018 | Tom Huizenga -- When we invited Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov to play a Tiny Desk concert, we rolled out the big guns. In place of the trusty upright, we wedged a 7-foot grand piano behind Bob Boilen's desk in preparation for the artist who The Times of London called "without question the most astounding pianist of our age."

That's a pretty lofty claim, but watch and judge for yourself. His performance here is extraordinary. Still in his 20s, Trifonov seems to have it all: jaw-dropping technique and interpretive skills beyond his age. He's also a composer — the night before his NPR visit, he played his own knuckle-twisting piano concerto at the Kennedy Center here in Washington, D.C.

But for his Tiny Desk show, Trifonov focused on Chopin, beginning with the mercurial "Fantaisie-Impromptu" in C-sharp minor, a work that mixes sweeping melody, turbulent passion and wistful repose. Hunching close over the keyboard with feline agility, Trifonov's slender fingers glide effortlessly. He coaxes the instrument to sing tenderly in the slow central section.

Trifonov follows with a pair of short tributes to Chopin by his peers. Robert Schumann's "Chopin" accentuates the lyrical side of Chopin, filtered through the German composer's forward-looking harmonies, while Edvard Grieg's "Hommage à Chopin" offers volatility, lovingly rendered.

The smartly programmed set is capped with more Chopin, but with a nod to Mozart: the finale from a set of variations based on an aria from Don Giovanni. It gives Trifonov a chance to display his lightness of touch, plus a few pianistic fireworks. Smiling, he treats the tricky filigreed runs and hand crossings as if it were a child's game. Look closely and you can see the piano shake.

(Daniil Trifonov appears courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GmbH.)

Set List*

Chopin: "Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 66"

Schumann: "Chopin. Agitato" (from Carnaval)

Grieg: "Hommage à Chopin, Op. 73, No. 5"

Chopin: "Variations on 'Là ci darem la mano' (from Mozart's Don Giovanni) - Coda. Alla Polacca"

*(Selections found on the album Chopin Evocations.)

MUSICIAN
Daniil Trifonov (piano)

CREDITS
Producers: Tom Huizenga, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Alyse Young; Assistant Editor: Alyse Young; Photo: Jenna Sterner/NPR

For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast.

[bifeldman]

Aren’t we fortunate to have a musician of this caliber alive in our lifetime?

[travisyeung]

jesus, please give a great applause to the sound engineer

[hanawana]

You can really tell that he’s in love with the piano. It’s beautiful.

[jorgegonzalezgonzalez]

I just fold in love with the idea of sharing also classical music through this channel

[BNE]

Daniil Trifonov - the most modest person you'll ever meet, but what a genius! I was lucky to meet him at a performance he gave in a small church in Israel shortly after winning the Rubinstein piano competition. At that time you could see that the publicity and adoration he was receiving from the Israeli audience still left him a bit shell shocked. He is the type of artist who appears once in a hundred years.

[jsphotos]

00:00 Chopin: "Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 66
06:49 Schumann: "Chopin. Agitato" (from Carnaval)
08:27 Grieg: "Hommage à Chopin, Op. 73, No. 5
11:47 Chopin: "Variations on 'Là ci darem la mano' (from Mozart's Don Giovanni) - Coda. Alla Polacca"

[user]

I'm addicted to his playing, and I don't know why, I'm just drawn into every single performance he gives. Loved this setting.

[НатальяГорюнова-бш]

Даниил Трифонов помешался на классической музыке, а я помешалась на Данииле Трифонове!! Слушаю его каждый божий день! Не перестаю им восхищаться!! Браво, маэстро!!!

[justinereveuse]

Divine concentration...de ces doigts qui virevoltent.
Echo céleste.
Mon écoute seule est bousculée.
Mon âme s'indicipline prennant le chemin de l'enchantement des sens.
Merci.
Christiane

[casanovafrankenstein]

This man doesn't just play the piano, he makes love to the piano and it's beautiful to listen to.

[jude]

Credit to the producers of the Tiny Desk concerts to feature classical music.

[lucileartaud]

Puissiez-vous conserver cette fraicheur et cette modestie M.Trifonov.Vous êtes un véritable génie de la musique. Votre amour pour elle est incontestable.Quelle grace de pouvoir vous ecouter...merci pour ce partage.

[Quotenwagnerianer]

Every generation only one true great pianist is born. Daniil is that pianist.

[rosagomez]

I saw Daniil live last month at the Walt Disney. He is the best of the best. He is so talented and he kept playing songs after he finished because the crowd didn’t want him to leave. He was so gracious and sweet to play like 4 extra songs. One of my favs

[bjturcotte]

Amazing to see Daniil here! I had the privilege of attending the Cleveland Institute of Music at the same time as him and I even had the opportunity to record him a few times too - WOW has his career exploded! Congrats Daniil!

[GraceCanadaful]

He becomes the music he is playing. Daniil Trifonov is a genius musician. Definitely the best of his generation - I love him. He should get an insurance for his beautiful hands... ❤

[judithbraun]

The recipe to the best interpretation of Schumanns Chopin: ignore the forte, ignore that it’s called agitato. This is hands down the best interpretation in my book. He truly evokes Chopin with that piece.

[JulieDeuxFois]

WOW! This guy's fingers are moving as elegantly as ballerinas. Out of this world! I've never experienced such a visually pleasing piano performance.

[duncanbrode]

I just saw him last night @ Disney Concert Hall. Played Brahms. Absolutely stunned by the performance and my arms are sore from all the applause which was/is well deserved. Very highly recommended if you have the opportunity to see a concert pianist of this caliber! 👍👍 BRAVO!!

[PolterabendForNC]

He plays the remembrance of a long lost soul. I feel my face change in accordance with his expressions. What an astonishing thing a living human life can be.