Roger Federer is still the biggest violin fan
NewsEver since we reported exclusively in 2012 that Federer took his Mum on her birthday to hear the Beethoven violin concerto, proofs have been arriving of his sustained devotion to the instrument.
He has turned out on court with Anne-Sophie Mutter and extended his musical circle.
His latest pal is Renaud Capuçon, whose concert Federer attended in Zurich.
They tweeted back and forth.
Thanks dear @rogerfederer for coming to our concert in Zurich tonight with @Orchestre_OCL & @violacausse
It was a treat! pic.twitter.com/PHNtNKufVk— Renaud Capuçon (@RCapucon) October 19, 2021
Pleasure was mine Renaud,
you were all incredible. 🙏🏼 https://t.co/KujNW6L8Li— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) October 19, 2021
Capucon’s cellist brother Gautier is also a fan: ‘Tennis is a sport that I love above all. I have seen extraordinary matches at Roland Garros. I admire the artist Roger Federer who is amazing! He has an elegance, with a single gesture.’
Elegance, indeed!
The viola players probably watch tennis with a bucket of Cajun fried chicken, and a few beers. #AirFreshener
Poor Fred, always in a Funk with viola envy.
Bravo,bravissimo!!
There is a story that Federer sometimes secretly trains with a violin instead of a tennis racket, to enhance his elegance, but it may be an apocryphal one since it comes from a viola player.
Federer is the Milstein of tennis players – he is an aristocrat on the court and his playing is architecturally magnificent! I wonder if he has ever heard any of Nathan’s recordings?
Magnificently and accurately stated.
Looks like a bromance…
Aging tennis star trying to gain fame elsewhere?
Expanding your disinformation efforts from public health to sports stars?
https://twitter.com/BasiaID/status/919136424947003392?s=20
Backhanded compliment?
The first tennis racket I ever held (before quickly losing interest) was part of the inventory of sports gear, all of it ancient, for the summer recreation league at my city’s school playground. It was so old it had actual “cat gut” strings! (The basketball was actual leather.)
Perhaps Roger Federer could dig one up and become the first of the Historically Informed tennis players?
Not entirely irrelevant is the fact that the 78 rpm recording that John McCormack and Fritz Kreisler made of Rachmaninov’s “When Night Descends” was made at the personal request of tennis star Bill Tilden.
I won’t say what terrible games are played over here with violas.
Sally