virtuoso
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virtuoso
A person who masters an art, especially playing a musical instrument, with exceptional technical perfection and brilliance.
Er gilt als Virtuose auf der Geige und füllt Konzertsäle auf der ganzen Welt.
He is considered a virtuoso on the violin and fills concert halls all over the world.
'Der Virtuose' (the virtuoso) belongs to the N-declension. This means that it takes the ending '-n' in all cases except the nominative singular (des/dem/den Virtuosen). This is a common mistake among learners.
Das Publikum applaudierte dem Virtuosen nach seinem beeindruckenden Solo.
The audience applauded the virtuoso after his impressive solo.
To name the instrument that a virtuoso plays, German usually uses 'an' + dative (e.g., 'am Klavier' — on the piano) or, with string instruments, also 'auf' + dative (e.g., 'auf der Violine' — on the violin).
Sie gilt als Virtuosin am Cello.
She is considered a virtuoso on the cello.
The word 'Virtuose' (virtuoso) belongs to elevated language and is used especially in cultural contexts, for example in concert reviews. It expresses great admiration.
In der Zeitung wurde er als der größte lebende Virtuose auf seinem Instrument bezeichnet.
In the newspaper, he was described as the greatest living virtuoso on his instrument.
In the figurative sense, it describes someone who has masterful command of a non-artistic skill. The skill is often named with the genitive or with 'an' + dative.
Der Anwalt war ein wahrer Virtuose der Rhetorik.
The lawyer was a true virtuoso of rhetoric.
master / champion
'der Meister' and 'der Virtuose' both describe someone who can do something exceptionally well. 'Meister' is broader and can fit many fields, for example art, skilled trades, sports, or generally a special ability. 'Virtuose' is used especially often for music or art. It emphasizes technical perfection, speed, and impressive skill. In a figurative sense, 'Virtuose' can also refer to other activities, but then it sounds more elevated. So a Meister can be very good; a Virtuose often seems especially brilliant in execution.
Omar hat im Konzert einen Virtuosen an der Geige gehört.
Omar heard a virtuoso on the violin at the concert.
Ihr Großvater ist ein Meister darin, alte Möbel wieder schön zu machen.
Her grandfather is a master at making old furniture beautiful again.