Augustin Hadelich plays Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso

Camille Saint-Saëns - Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso

Augustin Hadelich - violin, piano

Recorded at home in June 2020 during Covid19 hiatus

[hakajiru]

It's so weird listening to a world-class violin performance without the thunderous applause at the end. But they were there, inside my head.

[alexsaldarriaga]

What we have witnessed here is a living testament as to why Mr Hadelich is unique among the elite violin artists in the world today. Many play this often-heard standard of the violin repertoire, but very few “move the needle” and bring new insights, colors, or phrasing. Mr Hadelich’s avoids the cliches that have accumulated over time and brings us back to the original Gallic charm, grace, and sparkle of this piece. Hats off again to Mr Hadelich! Thank you!

[jimdunleavypiano]

Clicking 'like' somehow doesn't seem enough.

[delanemarshall]

he literally makes the most difficult passages look so fluid and relaxed. i would kill to have his technique.

[the.violin.noobie]

Can we enjoy the fact we can have such quality content for free? Thanks to the great Hadelich for sharing his music to the world!

[randomcubing]

He deserves much more attention. This man is a ling ling who had a depressing injury in the past. RESPECT

[jeff]

oh my god his tone and musicality are so good on top of the technical precision

[dominicsalvati]

His playing is so clean,
I’m not an emotional person but it makes me tear up how delicate and beautiful he can play

[bybrillylili]

Hadelich has one of the most beautiful violin sound amongst world class violinists. So much respect!

[Jamesi]

When you need to social distance so you accompany yourself

[kevinhart]

33 dislikes are envious of this level of musicality, talent, virtuosity, and excellence. This performance is absolute perfection.

[ny]

Brilliant as always! Augustin's interpretations will go down in history.

[danielfb]

I admire Augustin. I am always mesmerized watching his extreme delicacy holding the bow. It feels like if he was holding a feather, yet he plays every single passage with the required strength. Similar also, moving fingers up and down over finger board, how gracile! No one else can play so elegant.

[ChadPeiper]

Augustin is the "Mozart" of violin performance today. Technique - check. Sound quality - check. Musicality - second to none. Honestly, its Hilary Hahn and Augustin Hadelich for me.

[susius]

The way Hadelich finds musical insights is amazing. During some pieces, he finds areas in which to alter certain bowings or fingerings from the norm that leads to an effect that strays from convention, but offers this innovative approach that enhances the effect of the passage. In this performance, he replaces some of the articulated up eighth strokes that recite the main motif into slurred ones, but only on the ones toward the diminishing phrase. The result is this elegance and dying off effect that is otherworldly in sound, producing an interpretation, just by that alone, that is instantly recognizable. But, you don’t even need to get to that part to recognize that it's Hadelich playing. His vibrato on the first note alone tells you boldly who it is. All of this happens before you get to the piu allegro part, slash the dreaded last two pages… Insane in difficulty and speed, these pages reign in their infamy among the showpieces in the violin repertoire. Ok, they are not that bad, but try to play them with Hadelich’s tempo and clarity!

[angelul]

this is the intonation i have in my dreams. ive never heard someone play 7:43 so clear! amazing performance

[johnalexander]

Such beautiful and controlled bowing. I am always impressed by Augustin’s mastery and yet he seems so humble and generous. A true role model in today’s world. I wish more people had appreciation for such fine character and talent.

[lucia]

Augustine is underrated. He is an outstanding violinist.

[pippobaudo]

I think I’ve never listened to a more beautiful version of rondeau capriccioso. That’s simply awesome. The sound is perfect and I think that Augustin has maybe the best left hand technique of all the violinists all over the world. He actually played it a bit faster than usual. That really impressed me. BEAUTIFUL

[chriscovell]

Wow, as a violinist just discovered Augustin! What a phenomenal recording.