BENGALURU: Vadim Repin is a violinist like none other, attitudinally and in his artistry. “The most perfect violinist I’ve ever heard” is one of the most quoted compliments received by him from none other than Yehudi Menuhin.
Now in India as part of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, one edition of which concluded in Bengaluru on January 10, Repin is excited about his maiden visit to the country. “I play all over the world to bridge the East and the West.
The goal is the same, whatever the genre of music,” he says. “The most important aspect of a performance is communication; I am curious to know about the audience here.”
45-year-old Repin is truly a world citizen, not because he is a busy globe-trotting musician. Born in Novosibirsk, Russia, he loves to live in Europe.
Vienna is now his chosen home. A free spirit, he is open in his approach to music, yet he doesn’t tamper with classicism. A specialist in Russian and French music, Repin has played with the most prestigious orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra and has collaborated with top musicians. His chamber music outings are legion, as are his appearances in international music festivals. Whatever the formatting of a music event, a Repin show retains the virtuosity of the classical form.
‘I Love Japan’
His yen for maintaining purity is seen in his appreciation of indigenous cultures too. Adept in German, Russian, French, Italian and English, Repin believes globalization destroys cultures. “That’s why I adore Japan. It is one of my favourite countries. I like their traditions, food and how they treat their land. They respect their age-old traditions”. Adhering to one’s roots is central to his musical journey, which is “exciting, limitless, and without boundaries”. His Trans-Siberian Art Festival, a tribute to Novosibirsk, is a mosaic of dance, music, cinema, painting and theatre. It has completed over 150 shows in just four years, covering as many countries. “I like the aspect of dialogue in music. It’s a great way of communication.
I do a lot of projects with children-very important to pass on the heritage. I hope to hold some festivals in Russia with Indian musicians”.
At just eleven years of age he won the gold medal in all age categories in the international competition for young violinists at Lublin (Poland). At 17, he was the youngest to win the Queen Elizabeth Music Competition in Brussels. “When you’re older, you want to leave a legacy behind. Hence I created my festival. An aesthetic combination of classical and contemporary music can be beautiful and universal in its appeal” says Repin.