I have been collecting historic violin recordings almost since I started collecting CDs and LPs in the early 90s. To my chagrin, I have really overlooked living violinists. In my limited experience with the recent performers, I have liked what I have heard from Hilary Hahn, Julia Fischer, but I really do not care for Perlman. What else do I need to investigate, and who are the greats of today?
Unless you are put off by his sometimes not so beautiful sound, Gidon Kremer is one of the most adventurous and expressive fiddlers of the last decades. Try the Bach soli on ECM or the Beethoven sonatas with Argerich.
There are plenty of violinists these days.
These should keep you busy for a while: Lisa Batiashvili, Fabio Biondi (period instrument Baroque), Renaud Capuçon, James Ehnes, Isabelle Faust (from Baroque (PI mostly) to modern), Vilde Frang, Ilya Gringolts, John Holloway, Daniel Hope, Alina Ibragimova, Leila Josefowitz, Leonidas Kavakos, Sergey Khachatryan, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Laurent Korcia, Gidon Kremer, Tasmin Little, Andrew Manze (period instruments, baroque / classical), Anthony Marwood (soloist, Florestan Trio) , Viktoria Mullova (from HIP Baroque to Prokofiev and beyond), Anne-Sophie Mutter, Vadim Repin, Daniel Sepec (in Arcanto SQ, Biber Mystery Sonata recording, etc), Gil Shaham, Christian Tetzlaff, Maxim Vengerov (quite polarizing, some like him and some can't stand him), Antje Weithaas (in Arcanto SQ, solo work), Thomas Zehetmair (soloist, Zehetmair Quartet), Frank-Peter Zimmermann
Here's five: Arditti, Mullova, Kremer, Faust, Kopatchinskaja
and some other (lesser known?) people I've been very impressed with lately: Isabelle van Keulen, Alina Ibragimova, Tanja Becker-Bender, Carolin Widmann, Thomas Albertus Irnberger
One I have always admired is Rachel Barton Pine, who survived a serious accident just as she was coming into her own. I don't know if she is top 5, but she is very musical in her playing.
Meanwhile, North Star has hit on most of them...
For Baroque: Rachel Podger
Kremer makes for a superb and innovative 'program director,' but his sound is way too steely for my taste, while Perlman's is way too fruity. Goldilocks wants Shlomo Mintz, unmentioned above. Shaham also recommendable. Roger on Podger. Add to the list Joshua Bell.
My top ten would include (in no particular order)
Julia Fischer, James Ehnes, Isabelle Faust, Tianwa Yang, Gil Shaham, Rachel Podger, Viktoria Mullova, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Hilary Hahn, and Frank Peter Zimmermann.
The most underrated violinists in my book are Frank Peter Zimmermann, Vadim Gluzman, and Corey Cerovsek.
Just so that you have a good idea of where these guys are, stylistically, here are some of the above-listed violinists, re-grouped into categories:
Super old-school, golden-toned romantics with big, full sounds
James Ehnes
Tianwa Yang
Gil Shaham
Vadim Gluzman
Anne-Sophie Mutter
(in my rough order of preference)
Razor-sharp, but in a good way
Hilary Hahn
Frank Peter Zimmermann
Play period instruments, or influenced by period instruments, at least some of the time
Isabelle Faust
Gil Shaham
Rachel Podger
Viktoria Mullova
Frank Peter Zimmermann
James Ehnes is, by FAR, the best violinist I've ever seen live. I saw Anne-Sophie Mutter in the unforgiving Barbican acoustic, and loved a Rachel Podger concert, but Ehnes is incredible.
Quote from: Brian on September 28, 2015, 05:12:44 AMCorey Cerovsek
Yes! Excellent live, and the Beethoven sonata recording with Jumppanen is probably the reference recording.
I've only heard/seen Ehnes on recordings, but I must agree that he is incredible. The Homage album, where he plays a dozen violins violas (and half a dozen or so bows) from David Fulton's collection (which he was at least intending to sell after that) showcasing their tones is quite an achievement, and not many violinists could do that.
I too should have included Vadim Gluzman as well, the third of the trio Guzman, Repin & Vengerov, who all were taught by Zakhar Bron.
Regarding Mullova's period affinity, I'd add that it's only applicable to the later part of her career (from early 2000s onwards, as far as I recall).
Podger's Biber Rosary set is released soon, btw.
Quote from: Brian on September 28, 2015, 05:12:44 AM
James Ehnes is, by FAR, the best violinist I've ever seen live. I saw Anne-Sophie Mutter in the unforgiving Barbican acoustic, and loved a Rachel Podger concert, but Ehnes is incredible.
James Ehnes is from Manitoba originally, and returns to perform in Winnipeg on an almost yearly basis. I've been fortunate to see him perform more than a few times. :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on September 28, 2015, 05:37:48 AM
James Ehnes is from Manitoba originally, and returns to perform in Winnipeg on an almost yearly basis. I've been fortunate to see him perform more than a few times. :)
He certainly has some chops,
Ray! What have you heard him play live?
https://www.youtube.com/v/xXi5D366n7o
Quote from: North Star on September 28, 2015, 05:42:28 AM
He certainly has some chops, Ray! What have you heard him play live?
Korngold, Tchaikovsky and Bruch (Scottish Fantasy) :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on September 28, 2015, 05:54:58 AM
Korngold, Tchaikovsky and Bruch (Scottish Fantasy) :)
Those must have been very nice indeed. There's a video of him talking about the Tchaik. and playing passages from it - also the orchestra violins', which are almost as challenging as anything in the solo score. Technical perfection and squeaky cleanness certainly seem to be his trademark. Some haven't liked his
Bartók because of this. Haven't heard it myself.
Quote from: North Star on September 28, 2015, 06:01:43 AM
Those must have been very nice indeed. There's a video of him talking about the Tchaik. and playing passages from it - also the orchestra violins', which are almost as challenging as anything in the solo score. Technical perfection and squeaky cleanness certainly seem to be his trademark. Some haven't liked his Bartók because of this. Haven't heard it myself.
They were all masterful performances, with the highlight being the Korngold. His style was made for this concerto.
Quote from: ChamberNut on September 28, 2015, 06:03:43 AM
They were all masterful performances, with the highlight being the Korngold. His style was made for this concerto.
...and also for the Barber, which I just saw Ehnes do with the Montreal Symphony and Kent Nagano. The technical perfection needed for a neoclassical score, married to the heart-on-sleeve emoting.
The other time I saw him was with the Philharmonia, doing Bruch No. 1.
Three more HIPsters: Giuliano Carmignola, Amandine Beyer, and Ariadne Daskalakis.
However, I think that this is getting away from a really concise look at the "Greatest Living Violinists", who are probably to be found among the 3-4 people we've discussed most in this thread. :)
Quote from: Brian on September 28, 2015, 09:12:58 AM
However, I think that this is getting away from a really concise look at the "Greatest Living Violinists", who are probably to be found among the 3-4 people we've discussed most in this thread. :)
That's Hahn, Ehnes, Kremer, Mullova, Faust, Fischer right? Not a bad list, to begin with. Their solo
Bach recordings do make for an interesting comparison.
Barnabas Kelemen is another name worth checking out, his Brahms VC in Oulu made Mutter's wonderful Mozart & Rihm VC concert with Kammerorchester Wien-Berlin a couple days later seem almost anticlimactic. Just to keep this thread from getting too concise. >:D
Quote from: Brian on September 28, 2015, 05:12:44 AM
Super old-school, golden-toned romantics with big, full sounds
James Ehnes
I don't think Ehnes has a 'big, full sound' at all. Maybe in the concert hall but every recording I've heard with him, he sounds rather the opposite of a full sound actually. Very small presence.
My faves (in alpha order):
Augustin Hadelich
Hilary Hahn
Leila Josefowicz
Leonidas Kavakos
Anne-Sophie Mutter
Christian Tetzlaff
But most of the others mentioned are right up there, too; it is a (pleasantly) crowded field. And there are so many other young, up-and-coming violinists around, e.g., Itamar Zorman (who plays with the Israeli Chamber Project, an excellent group of musicians) or Jennifer Koh - I'm sure I could think of others.
--Bruce
Quote from: Mirror Image on September 28, 2015, 09:42:48 AM
I don't think Ehnes has a 'big, full sound' at all. Maybe in the concert hall but every recording I've heard with him, he sounds rather the opposite of a full sound actually. Very small presence.
Who are some of your favourite living violinists,
John? :)
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 28, 2015, 03:24:23 AM
One I have always admired is Rachel Barton Pine, who survived a serious accident just as she was coming into her own. I don't know if she is top 5, but she is very musical in her playing.
She is also very exploratory and versatile. I heard her playing a rebec in an early music concert last year, and she plays and records a lot of off-the-beaten-path material. She just released a 3-CD set of sonatas by Veracini, an Italian Baroque composer I hadn't previously heard of.
Quote from: Archaic Torso of Apollo on September 28, 2015, 11:05:16 AM
She is also very exploratory and versatile. I heard her playing a rebec in an early music concert last year, and she plays and records a lot of off-the-beaten-path material. She just released a 3-CD set of sonatas by Veracini, an Italian Baroque composer I hadn't previously heard of.
And a heavy metal band, too.
Not mentioned
Sergey Khachatryan
Daniel Hope
Gunnar Letzbor (HIP)
Quote from: Brewski on September 28, 2015, 10:15:35 AM
Augustin Hadelich
Christian Tetzlaff
GREAT choices, too!
Oh, we're spoiled for riches! 8)
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on September 28, 2015, 11:17:09 AM
Not mentioned
Sergey Khachatryan
Daniel Hope
Oh really? 8)
Quote from: North Star on September 28, 2015, 01:21:25 AM
There are plenty of violinists these days.
These should keep you busy for a while: Lisa Batiashvili, Fabio Biondi (period instrument Baroque), Renaud Capuçon, James Ehnes, Isabelle Faust (from Baroque (PI mostly) to modern), Vilde Frang, Ilya Gringolts, John Holloway, Daniel Hope, Alina Ibragimova, Leila Josefowitz, Leonidas Kavakos, Sergey Khachatryan, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Laurent Korcia, Gidon Kremer, Tasmin Little, Andrew Manze (period instruments, baroque / classical), Anthony Marwood (soloist, Florestan Trio) , Viktoria Mullova (from HIP Baroque to Prokofiev and beyond), Anne-Sophie Mutter, Vadim Repin, Daniel Sepec (in Arcanto SQ, Biber Mystery Sonata recording, etc), Gil Shaham, Christian Tetzlaff, Maxim Vengerov (quite polarizing, some like him and some can't stand him), Antje Weithaas (in Arcanto SQ, solo work), Thomas Zehetmair (soloist, Zehetmair Quartet), Frank-Peter Zimmermann
Quote from: Brian on September 28, 2015, 11:20:04 AM
GREAT choices, too!
Oh, we're spoiled for riches! 8)
+3
Quote from: North Star on September 28, 2015, 11:20:33 AM
Oh really? 8)
Sorry.
(Blinks eyes)
I actually missed seeing your whole post!!!!
Quote from: ChamberNut on September 28, 2015, 10:25:03 AM
Who are some of your favourite living violinists, John? :)
Good question, but here are a couple: Hilary Hahn, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Alina Ibragimova, Isabelle Faust, Gil Shaham, Anthony Marwood, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Lisa Batiashvili, and Tasmin Little.
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on September 28, 2015, 11:27:24 AM
Sorry.
(Blinks eyes)
I actually missed seeing your whole post!!!!
Well it is quite short... 0:)
Quote from: Brian on September 28, 2015, 11:20:04 AM
GREAT choices, too!
Oh, we're spoiled for riches! 8)
Thanks! As an aside, it always irks me a bit when people say things like, "There are no great violinists [or pianists, vocalists, etc.] as good as the ones from the past." I think they're missing out on the great artists of today - and for whatever reason, there are tons of them.
Another observation, not unrelated to great violinists: we live in a golden age of string quartets. It is kind of incredible just how many expert ensembles there are - and from all over the world.
--Bruce
Quote from: Brewski on September 28, 2015, 11:37:31 AM
Thanks! As an aside, it always irks me a bit when people say things like, "There are no great violinists [or pianists, vocalists, etc.] as good as the ones from the past." I think they're missing out on the great artists of today - and for whatever reason, there are tons of them.
Another observation, not unrelated to great violinists: we live in a golden age of string quartets. It is kind of incredible just how many expert ensembles there are - and from all over the world.
--Bruce
Very true,
Bruce! :)
Quote from: Brewski on September 28, 2015, 11:37:31 AM
Another observation, not unrelated to great violinists: we live in a golden age of string quartets. It is kind of incredible just how many expert ensembles there are - and from all over the world.
--Bruce
Very very true. Oh, the old-timers would hate me for saying this, but...most of the time when I listen to string quartets from before 1980, I wish I was listening to one of the hotshot young quartets of today, instead. :o
Quote from: Brewski on September 28, 2015, 11:37:31 AM
Thanks! As an aside, it always irks me a bit when people say things like, "There are no great violinists [or pianists, vocalists, etc.] as good as the ones from the past." I think they're missing out on the great artists of today - and for whatever reason, there are tons of them.
Another observation, not unrelated to great violinists: we live in a golden age of string quartets. It is kind of incredible just how many expert ensembles there are - and from all over the world.
--Bruce
Hear, hear! I certainly hope my first post also illustrates these truths.
Lots of brilliant cellists and violists around these days too, and I'd hazard to think that they fare even better in a comparison with their historical colleagues than violinists do.
Anybody for Wanda Wilkomirska? Szymanowski lovers take note.
(Mythes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWPHzGunNpA
Quote from: Dax on September 28, 2015, 11:55:46 AM
Anybody for Wanda Wilkomirska? Szymanowski lovers take note.
(Mythes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWPHzGunNpA
Great violinist but as she was born in 1929, she is hardly one of these newer violinists
XB-70 wanted to learn about. 8)
Quote from: Brian on September 28, 2015, 11:41:49 AM
Very very true. Oh, the old-timers would hate me for saying this, but...most of the time when I listen to string quartets from before 1980, I wish I was listening to one of the hotshot young quartets of today, instead. :o
I can empathize. Now and then, to those who say "no musicians today like the ones from the past" I reply, "You're right. They're
better." >:D
Quote from: North Star on September 28, 2015, 11:49:27 AM
Hear, hear! I certainly hope my first post also illustrates these truths.
Lots of brilliant cellists and violists around these days too, and I'd hazard to think that they fare even better in a comparison with their historical colleagues than violinists do.
Yes, it certainly does. I have heard many on your list live, and on a good night, any of them could be considered "the best in the world." And totally agree about the violists and cellists comment (probably basses, too). A few weeks ago I heard cellist Sol Gabetta for the first time - incredible, and I thought, heavens, where has
she been? (Or rather, where have *I* been...)
Quote from: Dax on September 28, 2015, 11:55:46 AM
Anybody for Wanda Wilkomirska? Szymanowski lovers take note.
(Mythes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWPHzGunNpA
Just heard that piece for the first time about a year ago, by an(other) outstanding young violinist, Kristin Lee. A gem.
--Bruce
Quote from: Brewski on September 28, 2015, 12:22:52 PM
Yes, it certainly does. I have heard many on your list live, and on a good night, any of them could be considered "the best in the world." And totally agree about the violists and cellists comment (probably basses, too). A few weeks ago I heard cellist Sol Gabetta for the first time - incredible, and I thought, heavens, where has she been? (Or rather, where have *I* been...)
--Bruce
Oh, certainly basses too. Pretty much any instrument apart from the violin, as modern composers have written more of more demanding material for them. Recording technology helps too. Speaking of cellists born in the early '80s, Alisa Weilerstein is phenomenal.
There are many wonderful violinists around today and most have been mentioned.
One young artist which for me really stands out is Norwegian Vilde Frang. Her Mozart, her Tschaikovsky, her Sibelius have made me listen new to these worn-out pieces. She finds things that obviously other people have not found before and that enrich my appreciation of this wonderful music.
I don't follow violinists much, but Hilary Hahn is not only one of the finest violinists I've heard on record, she is probably the most assured soloist on any instrument that I've seen in person. I've seen her twice, playing the Tchaikovsky and Nielsen concertos, and it seemed as if she wasn't even trying.
Ehnes seems to get a lot of praise from various people. Perhaps I will try some of his recordings.
Haven't yet seen a mention of Cho-Liang Lin, whose Nielsen, Sibelius and Rouse recordings have greatly impressed me.
Also Robert McDuffie, American music specialist (check out his Adams, Glass, and Schuman).
Star violinist James Ehnes on his 'other' life as a chamber musician
Thomas May talks to the violinist about his Beethoven string quartet cycle — one of the most ambitious projects he's ever undertaken. (http://www.thestrad.com/cpt-latests/star-violinist-james-ehnes-on-his-other-life-as-a-chamber-musician/)
Very interesting names mentioned here, incl. Ehnes, who seems to be quite highly regarded. This is a new one for me, although I have at least heard of most of the others. I will have to look for some of their recordings too.
It is interesting that no one has defended Perlman or mentioned him among the living greats. I don't mean to bash him, but I've just never liked his sound or interpretations, despite all the publicity he gets. No mention either of Midori, who I never really liked, or Sarah Chang, who I did--both preferences admittedly based on very little listening.
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on September 29, 2015, 08:00:09 PM
Very interesting names mentioned here, incl. Ehnes, who seems to be quite highly regarded. This is a new one for me, although I have at least heard of most of the others. I will have to look for some of their recordings too.
It is interesting that no one has defended Perlman or mentioned him among the living greats. I don't mean to bash him, but I've just never liked his sound or interpretations, despite all the publicity he gets. No mention either of Midori, who I never really liked, or Sarah Chang, who I did--both preferences admittedly based on very little listening.
I have a Mendelssohn recording with Perlman that is as good as any I have ever heard. I didn't say anything about him because I thought you were looking for the younger crowd, whereas he has been around quite some time. We should add Kyung Wha Chung if we want to talk about recordings. She's done some stellar work.
Quote from: Todd on September 28, 2015, 12:57:14 PM
I don't follow violinists much, but Hilary Hahn is not only one of the finest violinists I've heard on record, she is probably the most assured soloist on any instrument that I've seen in person. I've seen her twice, playing the Tchaikovsky and Nielsen concertos, and it seemed as if she wasn't even trying.
Ehnes seems to get a lot of praise from various people. Perhaps I will try some of his recordings.
Listening to this right now, and love this recording!
[asin]B00E5NXR8K[/asin]
Also, really love this recording of Mozart's Violin Concerti, performed with the Mozart Anniversary Orchestra
[asin]B000CZ0S3M[/asin]
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on September 29, 2015, 08:00:09 PM
It is interesting that no one has defended Perlman or mentioned him among the living greats.
I'll certainly defend him (certainly his old Brahms, Sibelius and Berg cto. recordings). I didn't think to mention him just because he's been around for so long.
Well, I am very fond of Perlman's Bartok #2 from the 1970s. And he always has a lovely sound, one of the loveliest of any violinist. 8)
This thread seems to be veered off the subject. It does not imply "young violinists you like", it demands "living greatests" in your opinion.
I can divvy them up by generation:
Pre-1940: Haendel, Gitlis
1940s: Kremer, Accardo, Perlman (his performances until mid-80s should make him the greatest), Chung, Zukerman PI: Standage, Lamon
1950-60s: Mintz, Mullova, Lin, Mutter, Zimmermann PI: Biondi, Huggett, Manze, Podger
1970-80s: Hahn, Shaham, Faust, İbragimova, Kavakos
Overall, I'd say, the elder the greater, as they proved their caliber over and over again
If I would have to name only one it would be
Gidon Kremer
From early baroque to the violin concerto just finished yesterday, he has covered the broadest repertoire of any violinist I know. He has recorded more or less the complete standard repertoire for his instrument und probably done an unprecedented number of first performances. I know that some people don't like his "sound" since it is not as sweet as that of others but in terms of overall musicianship I know no one who comes close.
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on September 28, 2015, 12:13:42 AM
I have been collecting historic violin recordings almost since I started collecting CDs and LPs in the early 90s. To my chagrin, I have really overlooked living violinists. In my limited experience with the recent performers, I have liked what I have heard from Hilary Hahn, Julia Fischer, but I really do not care for Perlman. What else do I need to investigate, and who are the greats of today?
Viktoria Mullova, Isabelle Faust, Lisa Biatishvili, Janine Jansen, Leonidas Kavakos.
Quote from: ChamberNut on September 28, 2015, 05:54:58 AM
Korngold, Tchaikovsky and Bruch (Scottish Fantasy) :)
Here you can see Ehnes play the Tchaikovsky with the Toronto SO conducted by Peter Oundjian in Helsinki Finland. 8)
http://areena.yle.fi/1-3062850
Any opinions re. Nikolaj Znaider? I don't think I've seen his name mentioned yet in this conversation. (For what it's worth, I've liked what little I've heard of his--just a small handful of recordings, certainly not enough for me to form a fully informed opinion.) Is he merely very good, or better than that?
And while I'm thinking of it, how about Marat Bisengaliev?
my favourites:
Isabelle Faust
Patricia Kopatchinskaja
Hilary Hahn
Frank-Peter Zimmermann
Thomas Zehetmair
Julia Fischer
Carolin Widmann
guess Kremer will make the list once I get a bit more familiar, Podger and Letzbor as well ... less sure about Mutter or Janine Jansen ... also the jury's still open on Mullova ...
Huggett, Biondi, Manze, Standage or Lamon I've enjoyed recordings of, but again I don't feel their music is familiar enough yet (guess I could say that about Widmann as well, but the Feldman disc just won me over).
Violinist Augustin Hadelich wins inaugural Warner Music Prize, worth $100,000
The prize for musicians under 35 also includes the opportunity to make a recording for Warner Classics
The 16 nominees for this year's prize were drawn from young singers and instrumentalists who had taken part in Carnegie Hall's 2014-15 concert season. Hadelich, who appeared at Carnegie Hall on several occasions during the season, was selected by a jury of respected classical musicians and music industry leaders. (http://www.thestrad.com/cpt-latests/violinist-augustin-hadelich-wins-inaugural-warner-music-prize-worth-100000/)
Quote from: king ubu on October 07, 2015, 11:29:44 PM
my favourites:
Isabelle Faust
Patricia Kopatchinskaja
Hilary Hahn
Frank-Peter Zimmermann
Thomas Zehetmair
Julia Fischer
Carolin Widmann
One of my favorites: the
BUSONI Violin Concerto!
[asin]B0009NDHM6[/asin]
Janine Jansen (the most exciting violinist of this era)
Lisa Biatishvili (fascinating mix of hot and cold in her playing)
James Ehnes (amazing technique)
Ehnes in Chausson Poeme:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzSOKyhFexk
Lisa Biatishvili in Sibelius (2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4aOgRjqHrc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4aOgRjqHrc)
Janine Jansen in Bernstein's Serenade, recently:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp868n6rem8&t=1403s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp868n6rem8&t=1403s)
Irvine Arditti
Quote from: Herman on June 22, 2018, 04:16:46 AM
Lisa Biatishvili (fascinating mix of hot and cold in her playing)
Batiashvili
Quote from: Mandryka on June 23, 2018, 02:00:17 AM
Batiashvili
you're absolutely right.
I guess my mind's going...
Lisa Batiashvili was impressive recently at Tonhalle, playing the Brahms unter Antonio Pappano ... my first encounter with her. I've just got my tickets for the upcoming season at Tonhalle and that includes a chamber soirée with Batiashvili-Capuçon-Thibaudet.
Funny enough, I just heard Frank Peter Zimmermann again, who a few years ago played the Brahms at Tonhalle w/Zinman - my first in concert encounter with that work, and a very fine one, too. This time around, Bernard Haitink was scheduled to conduct but Manfred Honeck jumped in - and he put the orchestra on fire during the Egmont overture and then kept it going when FP Zimmermann joined for the Beethoven concerto - outstanding!
One more favourite (but not top favourite) violinist is scheduled to play the Mendelssohn (which I've so far not heard in concert ... well, I did, once, but unexpectedly Isabelle Faust kinda flubbed it, I neither liked her approach to the work nor her playing that night, although I admire most of what she does otherwise, from Bach to Schumann and beyond, and have seen her in concert more often than any other violinist currently on the scene - doing the Bach solo, in trio w/Queyras-Melnikov, and three times as as soloist w/band) ... anyway, this time it will be Julia Fischer, and Blomstedt will conduct at Tonhalle (Mahler 1 in the second half) ... Fischer isn't a top favourite in theory (on disc that is - though her Mozart concertos are quite wonderful ... but then FP Zimmermann's take may be my favourite again, in front of Zehetmair and again Isabelle Faust's recent release w/Antonini), but in concert I've found her much more engaging than I'd ever expected (once doing the "Kreutzer" and op. 96 w/Igor Levit, the other time doing the second Bartók concerto w/Tonhalle under Charles Dutoit), so I am really looking foward to next Friday!
Another violinist new to me, thanks to a concert this season, is Vilde Frang - I only caught one of three (!) appearances at Tonhalle this season (first one I had a ticket but was a few thousand kilometres away that night, third I had to skip as well) ... she played chamber music by Enescu, Veress and Arensky, and that was mighty good, but I'd like to hear her in a concerto - the one I had a ticket for but missed was with Trevor Pinnock and it seems to have been wonderful, my parents went there, one of them using my ticket ... they liked it enough to join me for the chamber night as well, which to them was a bit too challenging, 'xept for the Arensky - or in a recital as well).
Batiashvili, Fischer, Frang and Zimmermann: clearly Zurich has excellent programming.
The Frang chambermusic programme looks very interesting. In chambermusic you can often observe the soloist more closely, and hear different music, while the concert programming seems to be narrowing down to fewer and fewer pieces.
Quote from: Herman on June 25, 2018, 01:46:57 AM
Batiashvili, Fischer, Frang and Zimmermann: clearly Zurich has excellent programming.
The Frang chambermusic programme looks very interesting. In chambermusic you can often observe the soloist more closely, and hear different music, while the concert programming seems to be narrowing down to fewer and fewer pieces.
You have a point there, of course. But those pieces I heard were - all but the Arensky string trio - in lager settings (string quintet and octet), and of course it was possible to hear the contributions by each of the musicians to some extent, but then again gladly Frang didn't act as the star at all (Lawrence Power and Nicolas Altstaedt were on stage, too - so that made three stars minimum, but it was all about playing *together*).
On the other hand, the Chiaroscuro Quartet left me puzzled quite a bit, with Alina Ibragimova being too much the star, instead of the prima inter pares - at least that's how it sounded to me (the reviews were most to extremely favourable though, but I felt differently).
I've heard Isabelle Faust, Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Julia Fischer in chamber (duo, trio) settings, and all of those were marvellous occasions - and I'd really enjoy being able to hear chamber music in concert on that level much more often. But to get that, I'd have to start travelling to all those festivals I guess. And while I do some jazz festival travels regularly, I don't want to get into that as far as classical goes (I guess one such event would nix out a year of jazz festival trips, plus I don't feel at home in the audiences at classical concerts most of the time - too many people around just to be seen and be there and feel educated and all that crap ... and I'm nearing 40 and feel like a kid most of the time, around all those old people ... though the temporary relocation of Tonhalle in Zurich has helped a bit in that respect, there seem to be many more young people around, but they still will only be very few percent of the audience).
Coming up in the 2018/19 season:
Janine Jansen is the artist in residence at Tonhalle - so far not a real favourite of mine though she has made some nice recordings for sure ... will check her out several times, the one adventurous work is Anders Eliasson's "Einsame Fahrt" (aka Solitary Journey), the rest is standard rep: Sibelius (with Swedish SO/Daniel Harding), Mozart KV 219 (w/Paav Järvi), and season closing, Brahms w/Blomstedt; will be skipping the Berg, with which they kick off the new season in September, as Patricia Kopatchinskaja - now there's THE top favourite, I guess! - did that one so wonderfully with Currentzis in the season about to close now), then, Jansen will also be heard in a chamber soirée with Alexander Gavrylyuk on piano (R. Schumann Op. 105, C. Schumann Op. 22, Brahms Op. 100 and the Franck sonata!)
Julia Fischer playing the Britten concerto (with Juanjo Mena conducting)
Patricia Kopatchinskaja will perform a Vivaldi programme with Il Giardino Armonico (RV 191, RV 253 "La tempesta di mare", RV 208 "Grosso Mogul" on the menu, they'll intersperse contemporary pieces and she'll do a Scelsi solo piece, too, "L'âme ouverte"), also travelling to Basel (1 hour by train) to hear her play "Die Leier des Orpheus" by Sofia Gubaidulina (Kammerochester Basel/Heinz Holliger - saw the PatKop/Holliger comination in Lucerne last summer with the Holliger concerto, and that was quite something!)
The chamber soirée with
Lisa Batiashvili, Gautier Capuçon and Jean-Yves Thibaudet will consist of the first Shosti trio, the second Mendelssohn trio and the Ravel trio.
Also just bought a ticket for my first live exposure to
Carolin Widmann, who will play Dieter Ammann's "unbalanced instability" with Musikkollegium Winterthur, which is headed by Thomas Zehetmair, whom I've not seen on stage either ... alas it seems around here he focuses on conducting and does rarely every play (he, after all, made the ECM studio recording of the Holliger concerto with the composer conducting).
Finally, again in Zurich, but with Zurich Chamber Orchestra (instead of Tonhalle), I've got tickets for
Enrico Onofri (Sammartini, Galuppi etc.) and Fabio Biondi (Mozart and some italian stuff ... not sure any actual concero will be included this time, but both will be concertmaster/conductor).
So the upcoming season will again offer plenty of great violinists! And Kopatchinskaja, Widmann (of whom I don't know that many recordings yet - Feldmann, Schumann, some Schubert, some 20c solo stuff) and Fischer are among my faves, and let's see how my estimation of Jansen will evolve with those four gigs!
As the supreme leader of this thread, I have to confess that I have not delved very far into this, but instead have reverted into my old ways by acquiring Gioconda de Vito and Leonid Kogan boxes (among many other things). I DID hear Isabelle Faust on the radio recently and did enjoy the performance a great deal (don't remember the piece at this point). What are her best recordings? Julia Fischer has also been on my list for a long time now. The other ones I will look into--even if only some of the youtube links provided. Thanks minions. :laugh:
For Faust, why not start with solo Bach? Also her recent recording of the Bach harpsichord w/violin sonatas with Kristian Bezuidenhout is wonderful. Concerto-wise, I'm less sure ... I've heard her do the Schumann twice and she owns it, but I don't feel the recording comes close to the better of the two live performances I've heard (Zürcher Kammerochester/Norrington). Her Mozart recordings w/Antonini I need to revisit soon ...
One disc I've skipped is the Mendelssohn, as I heard exactly that programme in concert and didn't like it much - big disappointment as it was my first time hearing the beloved Mendelssohn concerto live, and then with a favoured soloist. This week will hear Julia Fischer play it (with Tonhalle/Blomstedt) and am quite positive it will be much more to my liking.
I haven't heard that much of Faust, but I was very impressed with her Bartok, but did not at all like her HIP playing in the Schumann Piano Trio No. 3.
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on June 26, 2018, 12:56:57 PM
As the supreme leader of this thread, I have to confess that I have not delved very far into this, but instead have reverted into my old ways by acquiring Gioconda de Vito and Leonid Kogan boxes (among many other things). I DID hear Isabelle Faust on the radio recently and did enjoy the performance a great deal (don't remember the piece at this point). What are her best recordings? Julia Fischer has also been on my list for a long time now. The other ones I will look into--even if only some of the youtube links provided. Thanks minions. :laugh:
Kogan and De Vito are definitely not Living Violinists, and Perlman, whom you mentioned in your Supreme Opening Post, has been over the hill since the early eighties (never a really great violinist anyway, just like Stern: very well connected; excellent instruments, but ultimately no Milstein or Oistrakh).
The advantage of these younger violinists is of course the repertoire they're playing (some of them). They're obliged to do the Tchaikovksy and Brahms and Mendelssohn, but all of them have recorded the Berg and the best of them do chamber music and solo stuff you can access on youtube.
Quote from: Daverz on June 26, 2018, 04:33:53 PM
I haven't heard that much of Faust, but I was very impressed with her Bartok, but did not at all like her HIP playing in the Schumann Piano Trio No. 3.
Indeed, her Bartók is mighty good - forgot about that. Also the Berg/Beethoven disc w/Abbado is pretty good.
Of current lot I like Kavakos, Suwanai and Faust and was recently pretty impressed with Benjamin Schmid, whom I managed somehow to never hear before.
I'm surprised that the Italian violinist, Uto Ughi, hasn't been mentioned on this thread. Like Yehudi Menuhin & Ivry Gitlis, Ughi was a student of Georges Enesco. In my opinion, he's one of the finest violinists of the past half century. Like Enesco & Menuhin, Ughi's recording of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas is exceptional: https://www.amazon.com/Bach-Sonatas-Partitas-Johann-Sebastian/dp/B00000E6O3/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1530121065&sr=1-1&keywords=uto+ughi+bach. I also think highly of his Beethoven, Brahms, Bruch, Dvorak, Mendelssohn, Tartini, and Mozart--especially in collaboration with Wolfgang Sawallisch (accompanying Ughi on the piano and as a conductor), conductor Georges Prêtre, and pianist Maria Tipo, etc..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jifCkDm7qGc&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbVy2886Kok&frags=pl%2Cwn
Sony's 18 CD Ughi box set is a treasure in my collection:
https://www.amazon.it/Vari-Uto-Ughi-Collection-18/dp/B00L5TERG8/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1530064449&sr=8-11&keywords=uto+ughi
There's also a wonderful, now hard to find recording of Mozart Violin Sonatas with pianist Maria Tipo, which Ughi made early in his career. Unfortunately, it isn't included in the Sony box set:
https://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Sonate-TIPO-MARIA-2014-07-01/dp/B01KAQL3CC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1530086957&sr=8-1&keywords=B01KAQL3CCh
https://www.amazon.it/Mozart-Sonate-TIPO-MARIA-2014-07-01/dp/B01KAQL3CC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1530064526&sr=1-1&keywords=uto+ughi+maria+tipo
It would be most welcome if a record label would reissue any other early recordings that Ughi made with Tipo, as well as his early complete set of Beethoven Violin Sonatas 1-10, which has only been issued on LP.
Another fine Italian violinist is Salvatore Accardo, who's made excellent recordings of Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Paganini, Bruch, and many fine chamber music recordings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrtMWZaVP3Q&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOvBUaqYXkA&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w3OOtQjICw&list=PL-EbSmbfX83xyNUHmeEKpIvbjZwtLBSx1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrZ2hxYl2YY&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eblB2-y23Dc&list=PLFBdeo2Gjj9YKwC7aSkXejUnWKftF4k2U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mW1Npkn71Q&list=PLMsuWEiubwAAaYqmyW44CT0nzEMkaKdH5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EivePCWQn2Y&frags=pl%2Cwn
In addition, Italy has given us some of the finest period violinists of our time, such as Stefano Montanari, Enrico Gatti, Enrico Casazza, Enrico Onofri, Chiara Banchini, Riccardo Minasi, Fabio Biondi, and Giuliano Carmignola.
Giuliano Carmignola:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U1Kh1fvhZg&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.amazon.com/Vivaldi-Quattro-Stagioni-Antonio/dp/B002RWOS1Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1530115010&sr=1-2&keywords=vivaldi+divox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dlucC7W_to&frags=pl%2Cwn
Stefano Montanari:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-zcX-_WJsg&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_e8TVDQzwA&frags=pl%2Cwn
Enrico Onofri:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRWa17upsJM&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_MgeBZGJ2c&frags=pl%2Cwn
Chiara Banchini:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS8zMj8RKWs&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUGcgOYa1ik&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP9-I89-R1Y&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz23YUfhWlg&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btjI5-cbTgU&frags=pl%2Cwn
Enrico Gatti:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_7DkQJQZh0&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl4x2V0504Q&frags=pl%2Cwn
Outside of Italy, my favorite period violinists include Pablo Valetti (who has recorded one of my favorite sets of Bach Violin Sonatas, with Celine Frisch), Alina Ibragimova (who goes back and forth between period and modern instruments), Anton Steck, Reinhard Goebel, Stanley Ritchie, Monica Huggett, Helene Schmitt, Elizabeth Wallfisch, & Elizabeth Blumenstock. I've also liked recordings by Rachel Podger, Andrew Manze, Amadine Beyer, Emlyn Ngai (a superb set of Bach Violin Sonatas, with Peter Watchorn), Florian Deuter, Jeanne Lamon, Gottried von der Goltz, Petra Mülljeans, and the pioneering violinists, Sigiswald Kuijken, Simon Standage, & Jaap Schroeder.
Pablo Valetti:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLdMD5xiUtE&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXYq4_8rHiQ&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.amazon.com/Violin-Sonatas-Johann-Sebastian-Bach/dp/B0007IO6UU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1530115388&sr=1-1&keywords=bach+violin+sonatas+celine+frisch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7B-q8_aTA4&frags=pl%2Cwn
Alina Ibragimova:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q6UzbeuKNc&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZkTNlBfZp0&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU-LiPWusrI&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88sE-f-2BE0&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwX0V8z_p7Y&list=PLpDxnX_DO0sABFmm9dZ64ecSmPy8aBtuB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF_YL31b6S8&list=PLRihoCzcrzl4rQhWIx5BjSHNg8wNYGwCU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD77t2nml4E&list=PLVkWM5KgSiB88NDU74FbTLuWxv53uk0uf
https://www.amazon.com/Ysaye-Sonatas-Solo-Violin-Nos-1-6/dp/B00UKNOI8M/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1530115698&sr=1-1&keywords=ibragimova+ysaye
https://www.amazon.com/Ravel-Complete-Music-Violin-Sonata/dp/B00570JXYC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1530115721&sr=1-1&keywords=ibragimova+ravel
Reinhard Goebel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq-SrUZUluU&frags=pl%2Cwn
Anton Steck:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg8sqcKx7Ok&list=PL2X39cKfWn3WzafJXSyxPFpFhZPD7W68G
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFbdtSfWz9Q&list=PLMBaNDa84JVK1HIhUyBORItb1yEgPzOBE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IWYKwZ67bQ&list=PLLxxT0NOFDtepw2LncVe7-iyi955TR1oP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMO6sceJlLM&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-zo-_IpJ64&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0Bm_FzsCjo&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UJz90T4L34&frags=pl%2Cwn
Helene Schmitt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCJIa7NtAH4&list=PLWSsX13AUAHiAFAs73XI3sXT18mHPpxzB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-MIpQHxzH4&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz5i_0nr2YM&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWNoNQfb_FY&frags=pl%2Cwn
Stanley Ritchie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1t4kV87jQM&list=PLMhGvl_UiWlnWBXnjjnNbnI7BlovSWHWh
Amadine Beyer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tzxPYOZ-Ec&frags=pl%2Cwn
Elizabeth Blumenstock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pfoPVO4BsM&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzUdwPqB3hs&frags=pl%2Cwn
Rachel Podger:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xIP67aVUiQ&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdXZFah4n5k&list=PLXWY_9GeilGLkQbpiobKqx9JN0auu6Zex
For me, and I hope others, it has been of great value that so many period violinists today have significantly expanded the recorded violin repertory (& the concert stage repertory, as well), especially in music from the Baroque era (allowing for many wonderful new discoveries, and interesting explorations).
Apart from the many wonderful female period violinists mentioned above, there are also a great many excellent women violinists playing on modern instruments today: such as Lisa Batiashvili, Alina Ibragimova, Viktoria Mullova (who like Ibragimova, plays on both modern and period bows & strings), Leila Josefowicz, Julia Fischer (excellent Mozart VCs), Baiba Skride (excellent recording of Frank Martin's VC), Vilde Frang, Elina Vähälä, Isabelle van Keulen (excellent in Pettersson's 2nd VC), Hilary Hahn, Isabelle Faust, Julia Schroeder, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Kyung Wha Chung, Sayaka Shoji, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Christina Åstrand (excellent in Norgard & Ligeti VCs), Rebecca Hirsch, Nicola Benedetti, Miriam Fried, Janine Jansen, Simone Lamsma, Lara St. John, etc., along with a great from the past, Ida Haendel.
A number of these women violinists have actively commissioned and/or premiered important new violin concertos by contemporary composers--such as Lisa Batiashvili's brilliant! world premiere recording of Magnus Lindberg's VC, Leila Josefowicz's recordings of violin concertos by Oliver Knussen and Esa-Pekka Salonen, Elina Vähälä playing Jaakko Kuusisto's VC, Rebecca Hirsch's premieres of Poul Ruder's 2nd VC, Bent Sørensen's VC, and Per Nørgård 2nd VC "Borderlines", etc. etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGLJ_YZbiYc&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMp7CJ__mAk&list=RDvGLJ_YZbiYc&index=2&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n0kZc3Utpc&frags=pl%2Cwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EERnLswXXBM&frags=pl%2Cwn
Among living male violinists playing on modern violins (bows & strings), the following should be mentioned: Gidon Kremer, Pekka Kuusisto, Ulf Wallin (whose Schumann recordings are excellent), Christian Tetzlaff, Jean-Jacques Kantorow (who Glenn Gould once raved about), Frank Peter Zimmerman, György Pauk, Barnabás Kelemen (who's excellent in Bartok), Gil Shaham, Thomas Zehetmair, Corey Cerovsek, Sergey Khachatryan, Sasha Rozhdestvensky, Leonidas Kavakos, Vadim Repin, Dmitri and Alexander Sitkovetsky, Arve Tellefsen (a fine Sibelius VC with Berglund), Elmar Oliveira (the finest Barber VC I've heard), Jaime Laredo, David Grimal, Maxim Vengerov (now retired?), Kristóf Baräti, Renaud Capuçon, Itzhak Perlman, Augustin Dumay, Henning Kraggerud, Ivry Gitlis, Joshua Bell, Pierre Fouchenneret, Shlomo Mintz (excellent in the music of Prokofiev), etc..
From where I'm standing, the future of the violin looks bright.
Greatest living violinists.....
What about considering Sigiswald Kuijken, Enrico Gatti, François Fernandez, Amandine Beyer, Fabio Biondi, Enrico Onofri, Giuliano Carmignola?
I would nominate Sigiswald Kuijken & Enrico Gatti. :)
Q
PS I see that Josquin13 beat me to it, some interesting names I didn't mention...
I really like Biondi's sound.
Susan Krysia Osostowicz has greatly impressed me on records, but she seems to have mostly stuck to chamber music. (Oops, my original post gave her Susan Tomes first name because they are so often associated together.)
Quote from: Josquin13 on June 27, 2018, 11:57:15 AM
I'm surprised that the Italian violinist, Uto Ughi, hasn't been mentioned on this thread. Like Yehudi Menuhin & Ivry Gitlis, Ughi was a student of Georges Enesco.
I watched Ughi's late nineties Beethoven Cto. It took a while to get used to Ughi's massive, continuous vibrato. His "don't ever let on there's orchestra there" attitude kind of surprised me in this concerto.
some more comments on Josquin's excellent, extensive post: somehow I have never warmed to Alina Abragimova. Ulf Wallin is also quite good in the CPO series dedicated to that popular German tunesmith, Max Reger.
Maybe you forgot to mention Liza Fershtmann, who perhaps has the misfortune of having to be yet another excellent Dutch female violinist - how many of those can the market handle?
Only one for me.
Most know on other forums (and those that know me on here will be groaning) that it's Joshua Bell.
Love the way he performs with intensity and feeling.
Was introduced to him by a friend three years ago(a year after I took up classical music seriously)
Saw him live for first time recently. Met him afterwards too and he was really nice. Needless to say, ended up with a crush on him lol.
No love for Irvine? Has any living player done more for contemporary music?
Quote from: Herman on June 28, 2018, 12:01:56 AM
I watched Ughi's late nineties Beethoven Cto. It took a while to get used to Ughi's massive, continuous vibrato. His "don't ever let on there's orchestra there" attitude kind of surprised me in this concerto.
Yes, Ughi is 'old school'. That's one of the reasons why he probably hasn't had as high a profile career as he deserved. His playing is unapologetically non 'HIP'. And yes, he has a bigger, more robust sound than you'll find with some of the more pinched sounding period violinists, or more delicate sounding female violinists today--many of whom don't have a large projection in the concert hall; at least, not when compared to the violinists of the past, who did it without microphones.
Ughi's vibrato doesn't bother me. I find him quite lyrical and he has a beautiful tone. I think he's a violinist that becomes more appreciated with further listening. (Much like Josef Suk, who's another favorite of mine.) But yes, few violinists play in an older style today.
Gidon Kremer is another violinist that has fantastic projection in a large hall. I remember when Kremer first played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra many years ago, the orchestra members were in awe of his ability to project the most subtle nuances with ease to the back of the hall.
As for Ughi sounding separate from the orchestra, it's not a great orchestra, so what's he to do? He's so much better than the violin section, for instance, that to some degree it's going to sound like he isn't playing with them. He's going to stand out, in that regard.
However, if he were performing with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra or the Staatskapelle Dresden, etc., I expect there would be more noticeable interplay between himself and the orchestra. But, as far as I know, those orchestras have never recorded with Ughi (foolishly so, IMO).
Ughi's RCA recording of the Beethoven VC with the London Symphony Orchestra under Sawallisch is better, but I couldn't find it on You Tube:
https://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Concerto-Op-Mendelssohn-Minor/dp/B00008FN1R/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1530326882&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=ughi+beethoven+sawallisch
Ughi's Beethoven "Kreutzer" and "Spring" Violin Sonatas, also with Sawallisch (at the piano), have likewise grown on me over the years (as I wasn't overly crazy about them initially, but that has very much changed):
https://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Sonatas-Kreutzer-Ludwig-van/dp/B004S7FYI4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1530327052&sr=1-1&keywords=ughi+beethoven+sawallisch
But every violin lover should hear Ughi's Bach 6 Sonatas and Partitas, IMO. They're tour de force and quite theatrical (though maybe not for the most ardent period enthusiasts).
Quote from: Josquin13 on June 29, 2018, 07:13:40 PM
Yes, Ughi is 'old school'. That's one of the reasons why he probably hasn't had as high a profile career as he deserved. His playing is unapologetically non 'HIP'. And yes, he has a bigger, more robust sound than you'll find with some of the more pinched sounding period violinists, or more delicate sounding female violinists today--many of whom don't have a large projection in the concert hall; at least, not when compared to the violinists of the past, who did it without microphones.
Ughi's vibrato doesn't bother me. I find him quite lyrical and he has a beautiful tone. I think he's a violinist that becomes more appreciated with further listening. (Much like Josef Suk, who's another favorite of mine.) But yes, few violinists play in an older style today.
I agree, as far as one can tell from a youtube, Ughi has a beautiful tone.
There are many great "younger" violinists out there - I'd particularly single out Janine Jansen, a phenomenally expressive musician, especially in chamber music. I'm also a great fan of James Ehnes and Arabella Steinbacher, among others.
Quote from: kyjo on June 30, 2018, 06:05:36 PM
There are many great "younger" violinists out there - I'd particularly single out Janine Jansen, a phenomenally expressive musician, especially in chamber music.
She'll be artist in residence at Tonhalle next season ... I've got tickets for three or four concerts. As I remain to be fully convinced, based on the few recordings I know, I am all the more curious (and I so much love the violin repertoire, even if I won't be fully convinced after, all will be fine :) )
I don't who who is great or not but the 2 i enjoy listening to most are Hilary Hahn and Kyung Wha Chung. Hahn just plays as if the entire piece is one long bow. There is almost no gap in sound when she plays. What can you say about Kyung Wha Chung - expressive yet potent, goes right to the essence of any piece she plays.
Well, she's not alive any more... :( RIP Ida Haendel
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/articles/3355--obituary-ida-haendel-1928-2020?utm_source=News-2020-07-03&utm_medium=email (https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/articles/3355--obituary-ida-haendel-1928-2020?utm_source=News-2020-07-03&utm_medium=email)
https://www.thestrad.com/news/violinist-ida-haendel-has-died/10901.article (https://www.thestrad.com/news/violinist-ida-haendel-has-died/10901.article)
(https://dnan0fzjxntrj.cloudfront.net/Pictures/480xAny/4/8/0/18480_idahaendelomething_336922.jpg)
Sad news, indeed. She was an incredible musician. RIP, Madame Haendel.
Sorry to hear the news. :(
She had exceptionally strong bowing movements. Even in her mid eighties you couldn't but fear she'd saw off the strings of her Strad. Her concentration was almost intimidating. A true High Priestess of the violin.