What has Hans Christian Aavik been up to since winning the Carl Nielsen Competition in 2022? The Estonian violinist speaks about his new album release of two contrasting concertos, which comprised part of his competition victory package
Read more Featured Stories like this in The Strad Playing Hub
In 2022, Estonian violinist Hans Christian Aavik picked up joint first prize at the Carl Nielsen Violin Competition, held in Odense, Denmark. Part of his prize package included a recording contract with Orchid Classics. Three years later, Aavik’s recording project has come into fruition, resulting in an album comprising two contrasting works: Bruch’s Violin Concerto and Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Violin Concerto no.2, composed in 2017. Appearing alongside Aavik on this album are the Odense Symphony Orchestra and conductor Gemma New.
Ahead of the album’s release on 2 May, Aavik caught up with The Strad to chat about his career since his Nielsen competition victory.
What have you been up to since winning joint first prize at the Carl Nielsen Competition in 2022? How did that victory affect your career?
The competition on one hand almost feels like yesterday, yet so many things have happened!
I think that victory changed a lot - I have had quite a crazy schedule of performing, went to study to the Kronberg Academy, recorded three singles for Deutsche Grammophon Musical Moments and I think in general this also gave me a strong confidence boost to really develop my own way of thinking about music and playing the violin.
Tell us about your choice of concertos for this album - why did you decide to pair the Bruch with Erkki-Sven Tüür’s second violin concerto?
I’ve loved Bruch’s Violin Concerto since childhood—it’s simple, beautiful, and full of energy. It speaks to the heart and connects with everyone who hears it. When I first heard Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Violin Concerto No. 2, ‘Angel’s Share,’ I felt that same deep connection. Even though they were written in completely different times, both pieces have incredible emotional depth.
Bruch’s music is warm and expressive, while Tüür’s is more introspective, but they both communicate powerful emotions. Pairing them on this album highlights how music, no matter the era, can speak the same universal language of feeling and expression.
Could you tell us a bit more about Erkki-Sven Tüür and his concerto for those who are unfamiliar?
The title of Erkki-SvenTüür’s 2017 concerto ’Angel’s Share’ refers to the whisky distilling process as liquid slowly evaporates and is released into the air, when - according to legend - the angels drink their share. I think Tüür himself said so well about this piece – ’I like to think that people can also lose a a certain portion of what is not best in them, as their personalities mature.’
I was so fascinated by this idea and how would a composer write it in the music! Tüür himself is so precise with his writing, absolutely phenomenaly written for the orchestra and for the violin. One really goes through a whole life process in this piece. I remember the times we worked together on the piece – the sentences he told me were never just direct that something has to be louder of quieter – there was always a picture or a deep emotion behind every phrase!
What would you like to record or perform next?
It’s very difficult to say exactly what I’d like to record next—I’m constantly discovering new gems in the music literature, and that process never really stops. But when it comes to performing, I definitely have a long (and growing) list of pieces I’m eager to bring to the stage—too many to describe in full here!
That said, some pieces by Schubert are definitely on my next priority list—especially his Fantasy for violin and piano, and the String Quintet. I’d also love to explore Edgar Meyer’s Violin Concerto soon; it’s a work that’s been on my radar for a while now.
Read: Masterclass: Jack Liebeck on Bruch Violin Concerto no.1
Read: That festival feeling: Postcard from Odense
Read more Featured Stories like this in The Strad Playing Hub
The number one source for playing and teaching books, guides, CDs, calendars and back issues of the magazine.
In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.
The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written. Always one of our most popular sections, Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists, chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s.
The Canada Council of the Arts’ Musical Instrument Bank is 40 years old in 2025. This year’s calendar celebrates some its treasures, including four instruments by Antonio Stradivari and priceless works by Montagnana, Gagliano, Pressenda and David Tecchler.
No comments yet