Daniil Trifonov: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Jan. 12, 2018, Tom Huizenga When we invited Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov to play a Tiny Desk concert, we rolled out the big guns. In place of the trusty upright, we wedged a 7foot grand piano behind Bob Boilen s desk in preparation for the artist who The Times of London called without question the most astounding pianist of our That s a pretty lofty claim, but watch and judge for yourself. His performance here is extraordinary. Still in his 20s, Trifonov seems to have it all: jawdropping technique and interpretive skills beyond his age. He s also a composer the night before his NPR visit, he played his own knuckletwisting piano concerto at the Kennedy Center here in Washington, D. C. But for his Tiny Desk show, Trifonov focused on Chopin, beginning with the mercurial FantaisieImpromptu in Csharp minor, a work that mixes sweeping melody, turbulent passion and wistful repose. Hunching close over the keyboard with feline agility, Trifonov s slender fingers glide effortlessly. He coaxes th