A 10-year-old violin prodigy surprises travelers at Rome Airport with a flawless performance of Vivaldi's 'Summer.'
Some people possess a natural gift for music—one that captivates and inspires. Travelers at Rome Airport experienced this firsthand when a breathtaking duet unfolded before them. Young violinist Yeonah Kim (@yeonah_kim_violin on Instagram) showcased her classical prowess in an impromptu performance that left the crowd in awe. Mustering her courage, she approached a seasoned pianist who was already playing, hoping to join him. A now-viral video captured the stunning collaboration as the duo seamlessly played a challenging piece, mesmerizing passersby.
It all began with Yeonah seeking help from a random traveler to accompany her in approaching the sole pianist, Julien Cohen. The chance encounter took a surprising turn when the woman introduced the child artist to Cohen, saying, “I think she wants to play with you.” Cohen, slightly skeptical, asked the young violinist, “She wants to play Vivaldi?” The excited 10-year-old showed no signs of apprehension on wanting to join in on Antonio Vivaldi's famous and timeless piece “Summer.” She seemed undeterred and confidently replied, “Yes,” despite the complexity of the piece. Cohen, though a seasoned musician, was unsure of how well the young girl could handle Vivaldi's masterpiece.
Putting his skepticism aside, he double-checked, asking, “You’re sure?” To which Yeonah beamed and assured him, “I can do it.” Without any further hesitation, the duo began playing together, followed by a seamless display of chamber music. As the two musicians formed a deep connection, they communicated effortlessly through eye contact and subtle cues, coordinating well with each other’s playing styles. The performance was nothing short of a magical moment, captivating not only those in the airport but also countless viewers online. Upon witnessing the duet, many travelers had their goosebumps moment, as shown in the nearly three-minute heartwarming video. A sequence of events captured their shocked reactions as they saw the young girl’s breathtaking violin skills, playing at an impressive speed.
While resharing the duet on his social media, Cohen lauded his young partner in the description, saying: “A 10-year-old violin child prodigy played Vivaldi’s ‘Summer’ with me at Rome Airports! It was a crazy and beautiful moment.” Furthermore, Yeonah’s technical skill and emotional expression in playing the violin far exceeded what many would expect from someone her age. “This is one of the most difficult pieces ever! And she can play it perfectly at this age,” the text overlay on the footage provided context as the young girl entertained a large crowd in Terminal 1 hall. Her performance managed to draw widespread attention and left people speechless on social media as well, garnering a whopping 21.2 million views. Among the countless reactions it received, @natali_torosyann commented, “I'm sorry for breathing the same air.” “No matter how good you do it, there's always going to be an Asian kid who does it 1000 times better than you,” @rhk_valenzz remarked.
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You can follow Yeonah Kim (@yeonah_kim_violin) on Instagram for more musical content from the young prodigy.