Violinist entertains music aficionados

Islamabad
Cultural activities, both indigenous and from abroad, are keeping residents of the capital entertained these days and the latest event, featuring well-known violinist Vadim Tchijik was another addition. Hosted by the Ambassador of France Martine Dorance at the Nazara Lounge, Serena Hotel, needless to say the concert was a ‘house full’ affair attended by excited classical music aficionados both local and expatriate.
After welcoming the audience, Ambassador Dorance introduced Vadim saying, “We are very lucky tonight because we have Vadim Tchijik performing for us this evening. He has already been to Karachi and will leave for Lahore tomorrow. You will soon see hear why he is an internationally acclaimed artiste,” she said and gave a brief account of his accomplishments. She concluded by thanking the CEO, Serena Hotels, Aziz Boolani and his staff for their support in organising the event and hoped everyone would enjoy the evening.
The artiste began by explaining that he had chosen a repertoire of music by composers who were violinists and began with Bach’s 1st Sonata in G minor, playing both the adagio and the fugue. He then went on to play four of the 24 Caprices for Solo Violin by Nicolo Paganini, continuing with Kreisler’s only composition for the solo violin, the Recitativo and Scherzo, Op. 6 and Ysaye’s Sonata No. 3 Ballade, which was followed by the last movement of Bach’s Chaconna from the 2nd partita. After prolonged applause he returned with an encore number, a short but beautiful composition by Georgian composer Aleksandre Machavariani.
Not being an expert on classical music I will refrain from commenting on the performance except to say the concert was certainly a huge success judging from audience response and the many complimentary comments by different members of the audience. While all the compositions were well chosen to make an evening of very listenable music, the encore was in my opinion - and that of quite a few others - the best. Lively and uplifting, it was a lovely finale to the concert. One young listener was quite over the moon at being present on such an occasion. “This music touched my soul,” she said. “I am lucky to have been here at this time and heard him play and that too for free!” She explained that if she had managed to go to such a concert abroad she would have to buy a ticket, the price of which is often out of reach for many people.
Born in November 1975, Vadim started to study violin at the age of six and staged his first concert when he was only eight. He attended and obtained highest honours at the famous Tchaikovsky Central Music School in Moscow, National Superior Conservatory of Music in Lyon and High Conservatory of Music in Cologne. He has performed in many symphony orchestras as well as played solo on numerous occasions around the world.
Vadim is a professor of violin at the National Conservatory in Issy-les-Moulineaux and gives classes in Europe as well as in Asia. He is also an artistic director of the International Music Festival in Hyeres. In 2004, the French magazine ‘Diapason’ dedicated one page to Vadim entitled “Already Maestro.”