Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major op. 35 | Timothy Chooi - Queen Elisabeth Competition 2019

© RTBF, VRT, Queen Elisabeth Competition
Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major op. 35
Allegro moderato 00:00
Canzonetta 20:22
Allegro vivacissimo 27:20
Timothy Chooi, violin
Belgian National Orchestra
Hugh Wolff, conductor
24/05/2019 Queen Elisabeth Competition | Violin 2019, Final
Brussels Centre for Fine Arts/Henry Le Boeuf Hall
More videos:
• queenelisabethcompetition.be/...
• www.rtbf.be/culture/musique/c...
• www.vrt.be/vrtnu/a-z/koningin...

[@timmychooi]

🎉 RIP to my bow hair after this performance. Thanks for all the support on here 🙂

[@danbrogden3432]

My guy. Sir. Thank YOU.

[@Heirloop]

WOW. GOOD PERFORMANCE!

[@theBlindestDog]

I feared it wouldn't even make it through the performance! Thank you for sharing your skill and dedication, Chooi. I look forward to seeing more of your shows, and hopefully to be in the audience some day!

[@6-dpegasus425]

The ending was absolutely insane!

[@aeron6199]

This performance was just magical!

[@noonsa3]

The crowd reaction at the end and his reaction to the crowd or maybe even his own sense of accomplishment, is perfect. You can see the bow is in shambles from 30 minutes of playing, there's sweat on his brow. He has worked his heart out by the end of this concert.

[@gabrielaantonio694]

Yes!! It was amaizing! I love It this concert by Timothy Choy.

[@innerviens]

I wish more people know classical music like this. Its truly amazing.

[@rie.k]

✨✨✨✨✨✨❤️

[@kaleimaile]

Being Asian, you learn classical piano as a kid (lol). That was only one benefit of growing up Asian. Lol!😊

[@paulinacortes-delorenzo4490]

I noticed via KZbin over many years now that more and more Asians have become violin, piano, and cello virtuosos, winning international competitions left and right. I am an Asian immigrant who came to NYC for graduate studies in my mid-20s and got lucky to have classes in a university campus that’s located just across the street from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the home of the Metropolitan Opera, the NY Philharmonic, NYCBallet, and Juilliard. It was like hitting the jackpot! I’m a Filipino Asian and, although my clan never thought of developing any career in the musical performing arts, most of us listen to classical music and some of us play musical instruments for our own entertainment. My only son who’s a chemist sets aside the time it play the piano and guitar. It’s the early exposure to music that allows deep appreciation for it.

[@Purlee100]

You just can't imagine what is inside his head that he can perform such a complex piece entirely from memory. My brain is exploding just listening to it.

[@dcqmichael]

To play at this level, the actual notes are all muscle memory. The fingers themselves remember where to be next after countless hours of practice. This leaves the conscious brain to focus on interpretive concerns such as phrasing, dynamics, colour, etc.

[@imtherealFidi]

Memorizing is actually pretty easy. Most of us know the music from memory before we've worked out all the "kinks" and perfected the piece.

[@didbeoenspwng8157]

Yes I agree with what these other two said

[@SiyaTheeInertV10LIN]

As a woodwind player I concur ,😂often times I remember the fingerings required for a particular song than the actual notes

[@RainWashesmySoul]

​@@imtherealFidiMuscle memory is not easy at all because it precludes a daily job like that of any athlete... only he is a violinist.

[@lisahinton9682]

Did anyone else notice the way he literally shredded his bow? There are bits of hairs hanging off it by the end. Just astonishing to witness such a performance. Thank you for posting this incredible piece played by such an inspirational musician.

[@chrislive1586]

Yes, its amazing! That goes for all stringed-instrument players hes playing with, by the end of the concert they'll all have a bunch of broken strings.

[@Heirloop]

@@chrislive1586 yep many broken bow hairs haha

[@YouAreProbablyAlive]

Most of the times its the hair of a horse thus getting ripped apart after the concert

[@Timbale1234]

People making comments about noticing normal violin stuff cute

[@irisce2799]

This performance is a reminder of why the Queen Elisabeth Competition remains one of the most, if not the most, prestigious and highly regarded violin competitions in the world. The level of playing here is absolutely already at the world-class soloist tier.

[@rie.k]

BRAVO!!! Even though I watched the performance far away from Japan on my PC screen, Timothy Chooi's music brought me to the inspirational journey. I'll never forget the great experience, liberation of my soul given by true music. Look‼︎ The full-standing ovation & audience's excitement said everything! 🤩🤩🤩✨

[@irisce2799]

Wasn't this performed in Brussels, Belgium?

[@irisce2799]

@@rie.k oooh I thought you meant you were watching it far from Japan. sorry

[@Chris_neth]

@@irisce2799 God loves you, come to Him if you have burdens and He will help you with His righteousness hand♡

[@familierot7562]

❤

[@feralbluee]

the conductor is amazing - how he is so aware of every little phrase while creating the whole beauty of this magnificent music. kudos to a fantastic orchestra - they play as one. the violinist just blows me away. the musical tones and life he creates with his violin - no words. . . 🎻🪄🎶🌹

[@fredrickroll06]

Timothy Chooi maintains in his "short" video of the closing bars that after the world premiere the violinist declared the piece "unplayable." Adolf Brodsky succeeded in playing it at the premiere - knowing full well beforehand that the famous violinist Leopold Auer, to whom Tchaikovsky had originally dedicated the work, had declared it "unplayable" and refused to premiere it. I have heard that in the meantime, violin students are playing it all over the world long before graduating! Nikolai Rubinstein, to whom Tchaikovsky originally dedicated his Piano Concerto No. 1, also declared it unplayable at first sight. After Hans von Bülow premiered it successfully in Boston (!), Rubinstein performed it countless times. Tchaikovsky encountered considerable resistances early in his career, but he overcame them all!

[@imtherealFidi]

Meh...hardly "unplayable." Maybe when it was first written, but most conservatory violinists will learn this in undergraduate. May play it much better as grad or DMA students but certainly will have played it before undergrad graduation. There are more challenging pieces for violin at this point.

[@frankG335]

What isn't possible to one generation is de riguer to the next. When people think something can be done, that's when it can be done.

[@proteanalias]

When people say classical music is boring show them this

[@unstoppablezone4980]

Perhaps the best performance of this piece I've ever experienced. I will watch it again and again. Very powerful, precise, confident, ultra smooth transitions, great rapport with the conductor. He plays this love song with great beauty and poise. Bravo!

[@Warfreak]

The first time I've listened to this music I had goosebumps and even until today. Magnificent! Tchaikovsky became one of my favourites because of this piece. I still can't believe how Timothy Chooi's performance didn't make him the #1 winner in the competition. He had delivered a stunning and moving performance that I haven't heard from the others!

[@swimmingfacts3626]

The song is very long but Timothy 's powerful playing get me interested beginning to end.

[@rolandsrablanida3604]

I don't have words to describe how the main violinist can memorize all the different tunes what a brain to carry all the tunes. I am sorry but I cannot imagine. He is so talented.

[@didbeoenspwng8157]

No, it’s mainly hard work. 5+ hours a day devoted to perfecting his playing.

[@kelvinsun5099]

Memorizing is more of the easy part learning it and mastering it is the hard part

[@m.moonsie]

Literally memorizing the piece is the EASIEST part of being a musician. There's more a lot to it than knowing all the notes.

[@lapahalo3153]

So much life! Forgot that this was even a competition.

[@victoriamaclaren568]

I am sitting here, crying, because I have NEVER heard this done like this, EVER BEFORE. Absolutely ASTOUNDING!

[@enriquesanchez2001]

I just finished wiping them away, myself. ♥♥♥♥

[@timmychooi]

🎉

[@KYUDO12345]

Also the whole performance as a whole had me 100 percent captivated and emotionally involved

[@rosariocalosur7802]

I'm so addicted to this classical piece. Tchaikovsky really made the violin scream in ecstasy, just relentles, almost punishing. This is a violin concerto but I'm so in love with the horns section. Sorry Ray Chen, Timothy is now my man ❤ his pacing is perfect ✅💥🔥

[@cjames0723]

A wonderfully vibrant performance in a sea of listless carbon copy renditions of this piece. His playing is lush and poetic. I especially like his posture as he plays. Very graceful, like he is dancing with his violin.

[@rafthegoat]

Had the pleasure of watching Timothy perform this wonderful concerto in Toronto in November 2021. He was amazing! I think you can see how incredibly controlled his right arm is in the passage at 36:23

[@frankG335]

People think "Nutcracker Suite" when you bring up Tchaikovsky, but this passionate composing is what I think of. What a wonderful and game changing composer he was!

[@kelvinsun5099]

I think of this and marche slav

[@devangaggarwal4486]

The supposedly UNPLAYABLE composition played UNBELIEVABLY WELL!!! Hats Off!!!

[@mrglutinousfischer]

He absolutely shredded that piece to perfection. That broken bow string is just a reminder of this man's shredding capabilities.

[@ghoulicbae]

This is by far my favourite violin concerto, it moved me to tears. Thank you so much Tchaikovsky and thank you so much too Timothy Choi. Incredible work from both the composer and the performer. I wish more people appreciated classical music nowadays..

[@olegsherbakov4854]

Fantastic performance!!! Bravo!!!! Wish I could see that performance live. You made my day, hell with those wars and other problems - this is eternal!!!!

[@iPostiPodiEatiYuri]

eto pravda

[@bminerrolltide]

My kids and I watched this, and my 4 year old was legitimately concerned that Chooi was going to die while playing. 😅

[@annamariamanfredi6624]

Questa musica fa "sciogliere" il cuore. L'esecuzione splendida aumenta incredibilmente le sensazioni piacevoli che queste "note sublimi" trasmettono a tutta la persona. Bravissimo il violinista, ma anche l'intera orchestra e il suo direttore.

[@sadjaxx]

OMG I just heard this man play this piece last Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida. The audience reaction was something that I have never seen before. It was amazing!

[@me-ub4lh]

Real tears. Brought me back to my childhood of listening joyously to classical music on my own. This music is scientifically proven to light up crucial aspects of the brain associated with learning, memory, emotional intelligence, healing, etc. We must not forget. Thank you for so beautifully honoring the past of classical music, keeping it in our present, and with this performance, propelling it into the future. You are remarkable. God, hard work, and consistency have gifted you handsomely.

[@kaori1390]

What's especially interesting is that Tchaikovsky wrote this whilst recovering from a depressive episode. You can really feel his heart recharging in this piece, regaining its strength, its FIRE. ❤️

[@me-ub4lh]

@@kaori1390 So interesting to learn! I agree 1000% you can hear his heart...and yours.

[@Jypsie415]

The sheer joy in the violinist's face at the end says it all. Bravo! What beautiful music from all of them! This brought tears to my eyes. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed listening to this type of music. It's been a while. But this was so beautiful and engaging, I couldn't stop.

[@jayschmidt7235]

Was about to find some classical masterpiece to help me with my insomnia issue but damnnnnnnnnn this gives me a heart attack! BRAVO

[@Americanbear1]

If I am remembering some of my music history classes, this piece was written when Tchaikovsky was recovering from depression. When it premiered the violinist declared it was unplayable. Guess he was wrong!

[@hidden2098]

Absolutely magical, what a world we live in to be blessed with music as wonderful as this

[@prp134]

This will forever be my favorite violin concerto of all time. Literally cried at the end!

[@xmanchar]

Simply one the most perfect performance ever. Very nice

[@othmanmajid6380]

The most lyricaly played version I ever heard..,,and such inclusive playing encouraging all to give their best...,,,and he enjoys the lower half of bow. Superb artist. Thank you....exquisite 2nd movement....unlike many violinists Timothy Chooi knows how to get the best out of his muted fiddle...staggeringly so....the seamless shifting in the cantabile sections of the last movement and beautiful winds playing......some of the best soloistic fiddle playing I've seen in years. Great conductor too.

[@KYUDO12345]

Holy moly, the artificial harmonics section... truly incredible. I have played for 15 years and those were perfect

[@jenniferhudgenz]

i like his interpretation of this piece👏

[@mzhou2727]

Can’t help but notice the almost diametric styles played by Timothy and Biba (winner 2001). I like both.

[@LuisLopez-xx2db]

Definitely is a Masterpiece from beginning to end.

[@buttercup8769]

One of the most beautiful I've seen in my lifetime.

[@lee9207]

급이 다르네요. 제가 들어본 차이콥 연주중에 탑인것 같습니다ㅡ 오케스트라와의 호흡도 기가막힙니다..

[@julievanderleest]

Not even sheet music in front of him!!! Not only did he play what was thought to be impossible, he memorized it!! Legendary!

[@laibasayyed9627]

This is what amazing word is made for

[@xiavitawu1765]

Personally, I think Timothy should have won. He had a lot more passion in his playing. Bravo! ❤

[@richiejohnson]

I love a live concert recording. Audio crew 👍👍 Captured ensemble and soloist in balance.

[@abigailtemplin3074]

THE SECTION WHERE HE LITERALLY PLAYS HARMONICS CONSECUTIVELY FOR A MINUTE WHAT THE HECK IVE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFOREEEE #ephiphany

[@laibasayyed9627]

His smile is smile of hard work pays off one good nice job keep it up Timothy choi 🔥❤️😘

[@chuicho7548]

Out of this world!!❤

[@rie.k]

🎉🎉🎉

[@user-py5bq5uc3b]

Truly spectacular on every musical level. Bravo!

[@whylife8980]

This man's fingers glide like butterflies, I freaking wish 😩

[@annamariamanfredi6624]

Bravo!Bravo!Bravo! Meravigliosa la musica.

[@thinthinmaw7330]

I'm waiting so long for this.😍😍😍😍

[@michelleray4516]

I'm not crying..I'm not 😭

[@chuicho7548]

Out of this world performance!!!

[@lilianabartosi7356]

Absolutly magical!

[@aeron6199]

This was just magical!

[@johnmoser2689]

Absolutely Brilliant

[@marciahoward535]

Beautiful music as always Timothy!!

[@magnificatanimamea2353]

I have no words. Amazing

[@donnaquinn6746]

Thankyou for giving the full version

[@M-O-M]

Breathtakingly beautiful

[@simonbrandberg1732]

I love that they spinn at 7:41

[@josephturpin9681]

BAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHA anyways

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci beaucoup. Bravo.

[@thesportsguy3609]

Truly amazing performance!

[@aroncoetzee8883]

Exceptional performance❤️

[@Artist_Aejoo]

Fantastic 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you for uploading the video ❤

[@IsaacChoo88]

Impressive performance! I love the phrasing

[@lidiapola4545]

just the BEST !!!!

[@Muzikman127]

Clapping between movements is excellent, if I was there, I would not have been able to contain my joy either. Bravo to the audience too! 😁

[@_Phantom_Gaming_]

Absolutely astonishing preformance

[@bryandavis001]

Thank you

[@M-O-M]

❤ STUNNING

[@qwertyzxcv123]

Amazing!!!!

[@frankstaab3588]

The best performance of this concert i have ever heard.

[@andrijanajosevska1264]

Wooow, BRAVO 👏👏👏👏

[@estelleyu2320]

Incredible!

[@nataliesuper5836]

Beautiful

[@doda4456]

this gave me goosebumps!

[@celineangelalin5239]

Allegro moderato 00:23 Canzonetta 20:25 Allegro vivaccisimo 27:20

[@edwardseymour4930]

…fine rhythmic definition… excellent performance!

[@mbechia]

Awesomely played! Awesome composer, conductor, soloist and all the other musicians. Incredible performance.

[@lorainelittlefield4400]

Amazing

[@melginger3794]

Wonderful performance ❤

[@biga4971]

Excellent! Thanks

[@susannahwhite7561]

Wunderbar!!!!

[@user-ro6jj7ox1f]

Wonderful

[@valeriebingham1483]

Super! 👏👏👏

[@clarinet31shanti28]

Bravo!!!

[@sonalisarkar5294]

What a masterpiece

[@maxhughes5687]

WOW. STUPENDOUS

[@Micsijucaus]

Good job man! Keep it up!

[@user-tf4dr8hr2m]

Epic!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉❤

[@rieandromeda7105]

Very jenius violinist.

[@WasinGough]

Bravo🎉

[@noraschmelebeck1014]

Bravo 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@laibasayyed9627]

Bro this is best wtf this is super good I am outta words bro ahhhhghhh daebakk

[@marcosalexandre3253]

O primeiro movimento já me fez chorar!!! Espetacular!!!

[@user-kp9of7re9q]

Amazing intonation sir !!!

[@julia_btfl]

He deserves MUCH more recognition

[@gabrieldweik6842]

WOW!!