French violin prodigy in Pakistan

Vadim Tehijik performed in Islamabad as a part of his brief tour

ISLAMABAD: Starting off with Karachi as a part of this whirlwind tour, Vadim Tehijik, winner of several international violin competitions, gave an enthralling performance at the Serena Hotel, Islamabad, on Tuesday.

The lounge flaunted the view of the idyllic capital as the dim-lit room embraced an audience of diplomats, senior officials, members of civil society and media seated in sophisticated aisles. A single-step platform was set precisely for the audience to not just listen to the sound but also watch the unmitigated hand movements as Tehijik performed.

In a pristine manner, the French violinist played Bach’s ‘Adagio’ and ‘Fugue’ from the ‘1st Sonata’ in ‘G’ minor. He then smoothly transitioned to other performances. With their eyes affixed on the artist, the audience remained engrossed as he played F Kreisler’s ‘Recitativo’ and ‘Scherzo op.6’, moving on to JS Bach’s ‘Chaconna’ from the ‘2nd partita’.



Speaking to The Express Tribune, Tahijik said that playing his non-stop fifteen minute performance was one of the difficult numbers which, “I passionately played because of the ambiance created by the audience.”

Reaching the optimum pitches, he brought emotions to surface. He then played N Paganini’s ‘Caprices number 1, 6, 9 and 17’. “I think people get emotional during this, but other numbers balanced out emotions,” said the artist.  Tehijik then performed EY Saye’s ‘Sonata Number 3’ and ‘Ballade’.

Born in 1975, Tehijik began studying violin at the age of six and gave his first performance when he was eight. Apart from being a professor of violin at the National Conservatory in Issy-les-Moulineaux and teaching in Europe and Asia, he is also an artistic director of the International Music Festival in Hyeres.

He believes that a new wave of music have taken over and the younger generation is experimenting with different styles and merging traditional instruments with modern instruments. He said, “Where I see older people at my concerts in Europe, I also see a younger audience who understands that classical instruments have no alternate.”

Tehijik said while performing all over the world, he noticed an increase in the trend of Asian countries, like China, giving space for upcoming violinists. He would like to return to Pakistan to learn music. “I would love to learn about the instruments, musicians and traditional techniques,” he said.

“There were moments that he just filled in the space for other instruments. I was so drawn into just this one instrument that I did not crave the sounds of any other instrument,” said Huma Khan, one of the attendees. The concert was followed by a reception hosted by the French Ambassador in Pakistan, Martine Dorance. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dorance said, “The splendid evening and the event itself only complements the desire for good international music that Pakistan welcomes. We thought of bringing one of our finest for an audience that not just enjoys but also appreciates an exemplary instrument, such as the violin.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th,  2015.

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