A Story About Maxim Vengerov
A story from my youth!
It was the first Christmas day when I was sitting next to my sister (who plays the violin as well) and we talked about our favorite music and musicians. I haven’t thought about it in that way than just listen to it. I always loved listening to classical music, I still do, but once she told me her favorite violin concerto, that was Tsjaikovski’s, I asked her if this one was very difficult to play. She said yes. Then she stood up and played the CD with this concerto, recorded and played by Maxim Vengerov. I was sold immediately. His tone, his way of playing music, his interpretation, just everything I loved. I couldn’t stop listening to that CD for years. I bought the other CDs he recorded. I was in my room constantly playing those CDs. Loved it so much. I still have those CDs.
Once there was the internet, I looked Maxim Vengerov up online. He had no website of his own, but there was a fan website! Up and running by big fans, just like me. There was lots of information on it about his concert schedule and so on. But there was also a part that fans could ask questions to him and he answered back! All questions for getting tips and tricks about playing the violin or anything else to play better your instrument. I asked questions too. I don’t remember my questions, but he answered back to me. I didn’t expect any response back. So, can you imagine how a happy kid I was? But these tips and tricks were very helpful.
Then, I worked at my mother’s work for one week at a home for mentally disabled people. I did this because I wanted to go to the Carte Blanche Maxim Vengerov got at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He gave a few concerts there. At a few concerts, the woman from the fansite was there too. In the meantime, I got e-mail contact with her. We met at his concert and drank before the concert started.
After the concert, we both went upstairs to the artist entrance to meet him. I took a picture with him. I sat all the concert in front and he recognized me all the concerts. I always went to the artist afterward. At every concert he sees me and had eye contact. So, when I came upstairs we talked a lot and he called me “the young lady with the red jacket who sat in front of the row”. He knew who I was. That pleased me.
One Summer later I visited my sister with my parents when she studied the violin in London. We bought some tickets to the concert of Maxim Vengerov at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It was his 30th birthday. So, the lady I talked about earlier, made a handmade book for him with messages from his fans. I wrote one too. But this lovely lady ensured I was at the presentation of that book. In a small hall of The Royal Albert Hall, next to the main hall. She really wanted me there and asked a million times if I really bought those tickets. I said yes, all the time when she asked.
When I was there in that small room, that lovely lady spoke to him (he didn’t know about this surprise at all), but then she turned to me and asked where I sat at that moment. I raised my hand. Then, she asked me to stand up and give him the book. The book with all the messages from his fans. I was in total shock. And Maxim recognized me again! After one year of not seeing each other.
A few months later he gave a masterclass violin to violin students, broadcasted on the national TV.
I wouldn’t say that Maxim is the greatest violinist in the world, but he belongs to one of the greatest violinists in the world. There are so many talents in the world. I think it is someone’s music style you like or not. It is very personal. I have more great musicians I love.
Originally published at http://quora.com.
Agnes Laurens is a writer. She writes for the local newspaper. Agnes lives in Bunnik, The Netherlands, with her husband and three daughters. Writing is — aside from playing the violin — one of her passions since childhood. She is on Twitter and Instagram.
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