Várdai – Non Solo Cello (2024)

Várdai – Non Solo Cello

Endless applause. This is the end of Istvan Varadi’s solo Bach evening, and the audience rises to its feet demanding an encore after three hours of concert. So who is this young man, accompanied by his 1673 Stradivari, mesmerizing people crammed in like sardines?

István Várdai, a world-class Hungarian musician still in his thirties and one of the most sought-after cellists of our time. His story and sneak peek into his life shows what comes with unique talent: Is it a blessing? Does it make one’s life harder? What happens when ambition is infused with an enormous sense of mission?

If one of our senses dies off, the other four will be sharpened. As a child Várdai practiced blindfolded a lot that’s why his power to concentrate and memorize things is above average.

Before pandemic he played around 100 concerts per year worldwide (being on the road for 200 days) giving all himself during them with immersive deep-drawn play. At this moment he is not only working on his solo carrier but also being professor of cello at Vienna Academy of Music, artistic director at Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra and artistic director at Kaposfest International Chamber Music Festival.

He loves talent development; gives master classes all over the world; constantly experiments with his innovation company; recently began conducting; lives in Vienna; husband; father of two kids. How can one do so much when he/she’s so young? How can you be present-focused in so many ways simultaneously? Is it escapism or pure commitment?

In our film we see him working together with other great names from contemporary music scene: Péter Eötvös, Vikingur Olafsson, Kristof Barati Lawrence Foster. We see him lecturing at Vienna Academy, teaching masterclass in Italy. We follow him going back to Kronberg Academy where he studied and later started teaching but at same time we get much closer to his personality in more intimate atmosphere.

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