Violinist Couple Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony: "We Play the Violin as If Singing"

"My favorite movement in Bach's 'Concerto for Two Violins' is the second movement, played 'Largo ma non tanto'-not too slowly. It is a movement where the two violins engage in an intimate and continuous, yet pure and beautiful conversation."

Violinist Adele Anthony, who is set to perform at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on the 26th, shared this in a written interview with Asia Economy. Her response about the violins having a beautiful conversation stands out all the more because she will be performing on stage that day with her husband, Gil Shaham.

Gil Shaham (left) and Adele Anthony couple [Photo provided by Sejong Soloists]

Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony are a world-renowned violinist couple. Gil made his debut at the age of 10, being hailed as a prodigy, and in 1990, he received the Avery Fisher Career Grant, awarded to the most outstanding young classical musician in the United States. Adele won the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition in 1996. The two met at the prestigious Juilliard School in the United States and married in 2001. Although both have performed in Korea frequently, this will be their first time sharing the stage together here.

When asked about the strengths in each other's violin playing, both described the other as playing the violin as if singing, meaning they excel at expressing the emotions contained in the music.

"Adele has her own deep and innate lyrical style of playing. She creates the most beautiful and expressive phrases, as if songs are flowing from her violin. It is so natural and organic that I am always amazed and constantly want to learn from her." (Gil Shaham)

"Gil truly has a unique ability to make the violin sing with a pure and natural sound. He fills the largest concert halls with this pure tone, and it's not just about volume-he connects with every audience member, conveying resonance and clarity." (Adele Anthony)

The reason Gil Shaham's grand violin sound is particularly anticipated for this performance is because of the instrument he will be playing. Gil explained, "For this concert, I will be playing a 1719 Stradivarius named 'Haupt.' This violin is a 'grand pattern' Stradivarius, known for its majestic and rich timbre."

Gil Shaham (right) and Adele Anthony are performing together with the Sejong Soloists.
Photo by Sejong Soloists

At the Seoul Arts Center, the couple will perform Bach's 'Concerto for Two Violins' and 'A Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance,' a concerto for two violins by contemporary Israeli composer Avner Dorman. 'A Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance' was dedicated to the couple by Dorman, and they gave its world premiere at Carnegie Hall in the United States this past April. This performance will mark its Asian premiere.

This concert is part of the 'Hic et Nunc! Music Festival,' a classical music festival held every summer by the chamber ensemble Sejong Soloists. 'Hic et Nunc!' is Latin for 'Here and Now!' This year's festival opened on August 22 and will feature ten events-including concerts and lectures-at venues such as the Seoul Arts Center, Ewha Womans University, and Sojeon Seolim in Cheongdam-dong, running through September 5.

Both Gil and Adele have deep ties with the Sejong Soloists. Gil is a student of Kang Hyo, professor at Juilliard and Yale, who founded the Sejong Soloists, while Adele served as the group's leader for 12 years after its founding. Sejong Soloists celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.