By Daniel Kurganov, Violinist
Niccolò Paganini. Hirschhorn had an amazing combination of intensity, sensitivity, taste, obsession and elegance.
Things to notice:
- Look at how low his right arm is, especially when acquiring the G string. Made even more extreme by the fact that his instrument is very flat on his shoulder. I think he's the most extreme of anyone I've seen in that regard. Notice how his hand/fingers "sink" into the string as a result of this right arm anticipation.
- Is he tense or is he loose? Of course, he's loose, otherwise, you wouldn't hear what you hear. But, look at how immovable his violin appears. On first glance you might think he's tense and gripping the violin for dear life. After all, there isn't much in the way of 'organic swaying' up/down/sideways with the instrument. The violin is sitting on an immovable cloud, and then hands are dancing around it in perfect harmony. You can see the result of an absolute obsession with the fundamentals of technique. Putting everything in its place without force.
Live recording with enhanced audio. Brussels 1967, after he won the gold medal at the Queen Elisabeth Competition.
