Pure Gold Tour
International Violin Competition of Indianapolis Laureate Series
Indiana History Center
Tuesday, April 17

I wonder if Augustin Hadelich and Yingdi Sun were prepared for the reaction they received at their concert here in Indianapolis. The entire house — which was packed to capacity — gave them numerous standing ovations, and not without reason.
Augustin Hadelich is the 2006 gold medalist of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis and Yingdi Sun is the 2005 first prize winner in the Liszt Piano Competition. They obviously did not win those with just flashy playing or quick, cute encore pieces. These gentlemen won their respective competitions by demonstrating immense musical maturity, sensitivity and command.

They started off with Schubert’s Duo in A major for Violin and Piano, D. 574, a rather conversational piece. While not show-stopping or eye-popping, it was nevertheless enjoyable and we were able to hear Sun’s fine ensemble playing and listen to Hadelich’s smooth tone and seamless phrasing.

Sun pulled out all his skills in Liszt’s Overture to Wagner’s “Tannhauser” for Solo Piano. He was purposeful and deliberate, virtuosic to say the least. In a work that often comes off as showy, he did justice to Liszt’s transcription of Wagner’s thick orchestration and immense sonorities.

It was then Hadelich’s turn to wow us, and he certainly did with Ysaye’s Sonata No. 3 for Solo Violin, “Ballade.” The Ysaye is difficult, yet it does not come across as a flashy work. This piece demonstrated Hadelich’s prowess to be sure, yet it also brought out his musicality and sensitivity.

The last programmed piece was the beloved Franck Sonata in A for Violin. Hadelich encompassed all that you want from a violinist in this piece: a superb sound, reliable pitch, passion and intensity — all in abundance.

Hadelich and Sun then gave an encore, Kreisler’s Caprice Viennois, which left the audience applauding enthusiastically, and looking forward to the next time these musicians come through Indianapolis.