Augustin Hadelich: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

This performance was recorded on Feb. 4, 2020. We will continue releasing Tiny Desk videos of shows that had already been taped. In light of current events, NPR is postponing new live tapings of Tiny Desk Concerts. In the meantime, check out Tiny Desk (home) concerts! They’re recorded by the artists in their home. It’s the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

May 11, 2020 | Tom Huizenga -- Violinists have special relationships with their instruments, almost like marriages. And so it was that when the Grammy-winning fiddler Augustin Hadelich came to play his Tiny Desk concert, he brought with him the equivalent of a new significant other.

Unpacking his beautiful Guarneri del Gesù, built around 1744, Hadelich admitted that he had played this extraordinary violin for only about a month. But when he began to make music on the instrument, it was clear that these two are perfectly matched. The violin, once owned by the famed virtuoso Henryk Szeryng, has been called one of the finest concert violins in the world.

And Hadelich has been called one of the finest concert violinists in the world. Born in Italy to German parents, he studied at Juilliard in New York. His sweep of the top awards at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis in 2006 launched his career.

With his discerning pianist Kuang-Hao, Hadelich put the 276-year-old del Gesù through its paces in the propulsive "40% Swing" from John Adams' Road Movies. He made the instrument croon sweetly in Dvořák's "Humoresque," a chestnut of old world charm, especially in violinist Fritz Kreisler's beloved arrangement. And a burst of energy returned to round out the set with the bustling "Burlesca," by Czech composer Josef Suk, a favorite pupil of Dvořák who later became his son-in-law.

Hadelich and his fiddle might still be in that honeymoon period, but for his sake – and ours – let's hope they remain the best of friends.

SET LIST
Adams: Road Movies, III. "40% Swing"
Dvořák: Humoresque in G-flat (arr. Kreisler)
Suk: 4 Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 17: IV. Burleska

MUSICIANS
Augustin Hadelich: violin; Kuang-Hao Huang: piano

CREDITS
Producers: Tom Huizenga, Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern; Creative director: Bob Boilen; Audio engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Maia Stern, Melany Rochester: Editor: Melany Rochester; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Production Assistant: Shanti Hands; Executive producer: Lauren Onkey; VP, programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Kisha Ravi/NPR

[bixby]

Imagine having him as your neighbour. I'd never complain.

[kilsoo]

This guy is world class.. arguably one of the best living violinists of our lifetime

[PentameronSV]

0:00 - *John Coolidge Adams: Road Movies, **_III. 40% Swing_* (4:56 / 5:20)
6:11 - *Antonín Dvořák: Humoresque in G-flat (arr. Fritz Kreisler)* (10:04 / 10:12)
10:29 - *Josef Suk: 4 Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op.17, **_IV. Burleska_* (13:28)

[allisonquinn]

So this is how classical musicians with perfect skills sound like

[wladekwloszcz]

Brilliant! More classical soliosts, please, NPR.

[rebeccasm]

Sometimes I think about how difficult the violin is to play - No frets, little wiggle room with the fingers, the intensity of bow technique. Yet it seems like every incredible violinist becomes one with their instrument, like its just another limb of their bodies.

[richardcranium]

I love when people are beautiful. He may be soft spoken but don't let it deceive you. The musical voice is resonant.

[martinbarton]

As a czech native, I really like, when people say our difficult names properly. And how Augustin says Dvořák is incredibly precise, as his music is. Chapeau mate and thank you!

[datanoster]

reluctantly clicked on violin pic. entered a vortex. life adjusted forever.

[ececec]

those are the cleanest double stops I've ever heard

[livrosetudomais]

I just can't explain how much I love to listen to this man playing and speaking about music.

[eliasmartinez]

They played Dvořák's "Humoresque" so beautifully. Lowkey shed a tear for this one.

[Missingo]

Absolutely phenomenal; it's always a pleasure to watch a musician such as Hadelich, and I'm ecstatic that he had an opportunity to play. He's among the greatest living violinists, and I hope he'll be more widely recognized as such. As an (admittedly) much-too-infrequent listener of NPR, I'm not sure how common it is to invite artists back more than once for a Tiny Desk Concert or other feature, but almost anything Hadelich performs is absolutely enrapturing; even well-known masterworks are revived with refreshing and usually extremely enlightening interpretations. I would love to see him return at some point, and based on other artists' concerts I've seen so far, the channel's earned another well-deserved sub.
Also, major props to the accompanist, Kuang-Hao! The Adams is VERY easy to disconnect and fall apart, yet was held together by the both of them; and he also was equally sensitive to Hadelich's rubato in the other pieces (particularly the less-familiar and less-predictable Suk). Bravo to all involved, and I look forward to seeing more great music!

[heymambo]

His pianist is just on 🔥 these are not easy pieces to play together!

[Mariposamoonshine]

I saw him perform in stl. During his solo the lady next to me passed away. I’ll never forget that night.

[elskerbuller]

i saw him live in copenhagen last year, we had front row seats, and it was intense to say the least

[Kishabeautifys]

Augustin plays the violin with such enthusiasm and vigor. great way to start a good morning!!!:)

[yjhong]

Augustin, many thanks. Your humoresque gave me nostalgic memories, tearing up.

[travese]

This violinist is incredibly moving. My eyes watered. Thanks for introducing me to him tiny desk

[Mabusesato]

actually he is one the few really gifted violinist in the violin history