Last-minute warm-up before performing Tchaikovsky Concerto, February 13 2025 - Augustin Hadelich

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Backstage in Saarbrücken, Germany before walking out to perform Tchaikovsky concerto with the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie. One more concert on February 16 at the Alte Oper Frankfurt!

I love this moment in the development of the first movement, when the beautiful, elegant first theme of the concerto forms the outline of the passagework. Like much of the first movement, this reminds me think of Tchaikovsky's ballet writing! Eventually, the pace quickens and the tension rises until I reach the next climactic orchestra tutti. This is usually one of the passages that I play at least once before each performance, because even after many years, it remains rather tricky.

There is just nothing like the thrill of performing the Tchaikovsky Concerto in concert- every time I play it, there are at least a couple of moments when I think, this is the best violin piece ever.
(Granted, I often think that about pieces while I'm performing them. We violinists are very lucky to have such amazing repertoire!)