performances

This has to be one of the best versions of the famous Csárdás. Enjoy!

One of my favourite violinists is Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, known for her fearless interpretations and passionate, electrifying performances. One of my favourite authors is Tom Robbins, known for his off-beat, highly original writing. When I came across this piece -- by Tom Robbins on Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg -- I knew that it has to be something special. You be the judge...

(This appeared in Wild Ducks Flying Backward, as well as Esquire, 1989)

One of the most interesting violinists currently is the jazz/hip hop phenomenon called Paul Dateh. He was planning to enrol in the violin performance programme at the Southern California Thornton School of Music, but switched to the Jazz course on his first day. He hasn't looked back - his youtube videos have drawn millions of views. Enjoy!

Here is a wondeful video of Sarah Chang playin the famous Mendelssohn concerto. If you feel brave you can get the sheet music at the link below. Enjoy!

F.Mendelssohn: Concerto in E minor Op.64 for violin & piano 

Yura Lee and Georgi Anichenko won the violin and cello categories respectively at the Unisa International String Competition in Pretoria, South Africa. The 24-year-old Lee, from South Korea, played the Tchaikovsky Concerto in the final. Anichenko, also 24, from Belarus, won with his performance of the Dvorák Cello Concerto. Each winner was awarded a first prize of R200,000 (£16,500).

In 1917, the sixteen-year-old violin prodigy Jascha Heifetz made his American debut at Carnegie Hall. Among the luminaries in attendance were fellow violinist Mischa Elman and the pianist Leopold Godowsky.

Here is a video of Heifetz playing the first movement of the Tchaikovsky concerto. He is often criticised for playing 'unmusically', but I think that is ludicrous. He was not the world's most expressive player in terms of facial expressions and body movements, but there is an intensity there that defies belief. Enjoy!

Check out this incredible 'duet' by Handel-Halvorsen performed on cello and violin . You can buy the sheet music for this here. Enjoy!