The Art of Sun Zi in Vadim Repin's Sibelius

故其疾如風，其徐如林，侵掠如火，不動如山，難知如陰，動如雷震。

～《孫子兵法：軍爭篇》

軍旅行動時，快速如風；靜止時，肅穆嚴整如林木一般；進球敵人時，如燎原烈火，猛不可當；防守時，如山岳一樣，不可動搖；隱蔽時，如烏雲遮天，使敵人無從知曉；快速動作起來，如迅雷不及掩耳，使敵人無從退避。

Ring, 5th-4th century B.C.E., Eastern Zhou dynasty.
Glass, H: 4.0cm, China.
Freer & Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art (via)

A set of six graduated bells (yong zhong),
ca. 6th century B.C.E., Eastern Zhou dynasty
Bronze, H: 28.7cm, W: 13.0cm, D: 10.3cm, China
Freer & Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art (via)

Let your rapidity be that of the wind, 
your compactness that of the forest.
In raiding and plundering be like fire, 
in immovability like a mountain.
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, 
and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

~Sun Zi, The Art of War; Chapter vii: Military Combat
(English translations by Lionel Giles)

Ring, 5th-4th century B.C.E., Eastern Zhou dynasty.
Glass, H: 4.0cm, China.

Freer & Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art (via)

Pendant (long pei) in the form of a dragon,
5th century B.C.E., Eastern Zhou dynasty
Jade, H: 3.6 W: 5.4 D: 0.5 cm, China
Freer & Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art (via)

One of the most intoxicating qualities of Vadim Repin's interpretation is his freedom and effortlessness, together with the utmost passion (yet always in a wonderfully relaxed, zen manner), as if he was forever deeply in love with the music...

"Music is Russian violinist Vadim Repin’s mother tongue. He is a virtuoso of many voices, and his astonishing ability to draw a rich palette of sound from his instrument, together with his dazzling technique, has enthralled audiences around the globe. Fiery passion with impeccable technique, poetry and sensitivity are Repin’s trademarks." (via)


Vadim Repin plays Sibelius Violin Concerto in D Minor, conducted by Valery Gergiev, Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Prom 48, live at the Royal Albert Hall, 2006.)