Maxim Vengerov Plays the Violin as if he were born to it
11 / 02 / 2025
A concert at the 34th Festival Krumlov will showcase the harmony of body, mind, soul, and violin
Violin virtuoso Maxim Vengerov (*1974) has been at the top of his profession for over four decades. He began performing publicly at the age of just five.
“You have to feel in harmony with your instrument. The bow must become a natural extension of your arm, your right hand, and the violin must extend your soul. It rests beside the heart, so the violin is a connection between the hands, the heart, the music, and the audience.”
Maxim Vengerov se narodil ve městě Novosibirsk v něVengerov was born in Novosibirsk, in the former Soviet Union. His parents were musicians – his father played in the local symphony orchestra, and his mother was a choir conductor. They sought out the best possible violin teacher for young Maxim.
“Music isn’t just a profession. It’s a commitment so deep that musicians often begin at four or five years old (and in Asia, sometimes at two or three). If you start at eight, it might be too late.”
The Vengerovs approached the legendary Galina Turchaninova. But the first meeting between student and teacher didn’t go well. Turchaninova wanted to know how strong the boy’s hands were. Young Maxim punched her in the stomach. She asked him to play. He refused. Turchaninova thought it was pointless to continue. Only when Vengerov’s mother burst into tears did Maxim begin to play.
Other factors played a role, too. The young Vengerov later realized that practicing for eight hours a day was preferable to going outside into the freezing Siberian cold. He also understood that developing his talent was a ticket to the wider world.
“I wanted to see the world. Music became my dream passport – the way out.”
Vengerov’s debut album in the early 1990s caused a stir. His next recording, featuring the violin concertos of Prokofiev and Shostakovich with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich, won the 1995 Gramophone Award for Recording of the Year. In 1997, Vengerov became the first classical musician to be named an International Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.
“Working with children continues the legacy of my mother. She was a teacher, conductor of a children’s choir, and director of an orphanage. She brought light to children who had no parents but had music. I grew up with those children, and today I regularly give masterclasses and benefit concerts.”
Vengerov taught his first masterclass at 17 – something he now recalls with amazement. He knows that mastery takes time and dedication, and that musical instruments play a major role. Among his prized instruments is a rare 1727 Stradivarius violin named after the French violinist, conductor, and composer Rodolphe Kreutzer.
“Choosing an instrument is like getting married – like living with someone. Sometimes I practice on a ‘smaller’ instrument, so when I perform on the great one, I leap out of it with joy.”
Vengerov later added conducting to his career. He says it allows him to immerse himself more deeply in composers’ worlds and has enriched his violin playing as a result. He studied music under many great teachers but also learned through conversations and performing for outstanding musicians and figures. Aside from the aforementioned Galina Turchaninova, the cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich had a profound influence on him. Rostropovich once told him: “Maxim, if you want to express yourself, write your own music.” Vengerov now understands that whether as soloist or conductor, keeping one’s ego in balance is essential for productive rehearsals and successful performances.
“When you play Beethoven, Shostakovich, Mozart – whatever it is – you must forget yourself. Use your knowledge, your brain, your heart to go deep into the music.”
Maxim Vengerov is considered the most technically accomplished violinist in the world. He has revolutionized sound production, teaches online across generations regardless of borders, and unites people through music, transcending politics and nations.
“Music is one language. We may speak Russian, English, French, etc., but music is one language. And if we are to understand it, it’s up to the artists to convey it in a way that everyone can understand.”
