Prepare to be amazed as we journey back in time to witness the nascent brilliance of some of the world's most celebrated classical musicians.
We've got some rare and captivating video clips showcasing these extraordinary talents in their childhood years. From nimble fingers dancing across piano keys to the soulful resonance of miniature violins and cellos, these glimpses offer a unique perspective on the early development of musical genius.
Discover the child prodigies who would go on to captivate audiences worldwide, proving that greatness often has remarkably early beginnings. Prepare to be inspired and utterly charmed by these youthful virtuosos.
1. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, age 7
Music was in Yo-Yo Ma's life right from the start. From the age of three, this talented youngster was playing the drums, violin, piano, and later the viola, but he settled on the cello soon after. When the three-year-old Yo-Yo proclaimed that he wanted to learn a big instrument, his father went to see a prominent Parisian violin maker, who lent the young musician a 1/16th size cello.
By five, Ma was already performing before audiences. At the age of seven, he moved with his family to New York City and continued his studies at the Juilliard School. That year also saw the future cello icon performed for President John F. Kennedy, showcasing his early mastery of the instrument. Here's a clip of the performance, introduced by the great Leonard Bernstein.
2. Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, age 9
Born in 1963 in Germany, Anne-Sophie Mutter began playing the violin at the age of five and quickly showed remarkable talent. By the time she was 13, Mutter was discovered by legendary conductor Herbert von Karajan, who invited her to perform with the equally legendary Berlin Philharmonic.
Her professional debut at such a young age catapulted her into international fame, and she soon became one of the world's leading violinists.
We've got a pair of beautiful films of the young Anne-Sophie for you. Here she is age 9, performing Pablo de Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen, which would later become a Mutter staple. Already a star in the making, you can clearly see.
A little later, footage from Anne-Sophie's teenage years shows her performing a beautifully elegant and soulful rendition of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto.
3. Pianist Yuja Wang, age 9
Born in 1987, Yuja Wang she began playing piano at the age of six and quickly demonstrated extraordinary talent. By age seven, Yuja was studying at Beijing’s prestigious Central Conservatory of Music, and by 11, she was performing internationally.
Wang's dazzling technique and fearless interpretations set her apart from an early age, paving the way for her rapid rise to international stardom. Here she is performing Debussy's Arabesque No. 1 in a Chinese restaurant in Paris in 1996.
4. Pianist Evgeny Kissin, age 13
Evgeny Kissin's interpretations of Romantic composers like Chopin, Liszt, and Rachmaninov are legendary, blending precision with intense expressiveness. His distinctive mop of curly hair, passionate playing style, and total immersion in the music have made him a unique presence on stage.
Footage of a young Evgeny Kissin performing Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 at just 13 showcases his prodigious talent - his command of the keyboard and emotional depth were already far beyond his years.
5. Violinist Sarah Chang, age 11
We've got to say, Korean-American violinist Sarah Chang merits the title 'child prodigy' more than most. Born in 1980, Chang started playing the violin at the age of four, and her extraordinary talent was very soon picked up.
Early auditions (aged just eight years old!) with conductors Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Muti led to immediate engagements with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra (two of America's 'Big Five' orchestras), respectively. She set down her first album at the age of ten.
Here she is performing Elgar's Salut d'Amour as a 10-year-old in 1991.
6. Pianist Martha Argerich, age 8
All if these musical prodigies will, of course, have had early starts in music. But the legendary pianist Martha Argerich had an earlier start than most. Born in 1941 in Argentina, the (very) young Martha started playing the piano at just three years old and gave her first public performance at five.
By eight, Argerich was performing concertos by Beethoven and Mozart with orchestras. Her extraordinary talent led her to study with some of the greatest piano teachers, and she won the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition in 1965 at just 24. Her technical brilliance and fiery musicality made her one of the most celebrated pianists of her generation.
We haven't got live footage, alas, but here's a recording of Argerich playing Beethoven's First Piano Concerto at the age of eight, accompanied by a delightful photo of her at around this time.
7. Pianist Lang Lang, age 13
Lang Lang's very early 'career' trajectory was somewhat similar to that of Martha Argerich, above. Like the Argentine icon, Lang Lang started playing the piano at the age of three and gave his first public recital at five. By nine, he had won the Shenyang Piano Competition and entered the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. At 13, Lang Lang won first prize at the 1995 International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians.
Here's footage of Lang Lang at that very competition, which took place in Sendai, Japan, from August 25 to September 10 1995. A prodigy from a young age, early videos like this show Lang Lang's already remarkable technique and expressive playing.
8. Violinist Itzhak Perlman, age 13
The Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman, one of the greatest violinists of all time, was inspired to play the instrument at the age of three after hearing a classical music performance on the radio at home in Tel Aviv, Israel. However, at age four, he contracted polio, which left him with a permanent disability, requiring him to use leg braces and crutches.
Despite his disability, Perlman began learning the violin a year later at age five (his teacher played the violin in cafés). He was admitted to the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv (now the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music) at the age of five. A debut on The Ed Sullivan Show at 13 helped propel him to national recognition.
Here he is that year, with a beautiful account of the Mendelssohn concerto.
9. Pianist Daniel Barenboim, age 12
Another musical great to hail from Argentina, Daniel Barenboim was born in the capital Buenos Aires in 1942. He lagged behind his compatriot Argerich by a full two years, giving his first public piano recital at the advanced age of seven :-).
By the age of ten, Daniel was studying in Salzburg under esteemed musicians like Igor Markevitch. At 11, he played for the great conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler, who labelled him 'a phenomenon'. Barenboim made his debut as a pianist in major European cities as a teenager and soon after transitioned into conducting, becoming one of the most influential musicians of his generation.
Here's a radio recital featuring a 12-year-old Barenboim in great form with several Scarlatti sonatas.
