Greatest living violinists

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

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.

[kishnevi]

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)

[Brian]

Augustin Hadelich
Christian Tetzlaff

GREAT choices, too!

Oh, we're spoiled for riches! 

[North Star]

Not mentioned
Sergey Khachatryan
Daniel Hope

Oh really? 

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

GREAT choices, too!

Oh, we're spoiled for riches! 

+3

[kishnevi]

Oh really? 

Sorry.
(Blinks eyes)
I actually missed seeing your whole post!!!!

[Mirror Image]

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.

[North Star]

Sorry.
(Blinks eyes)
I actually missed seeing your whole post!!!!

Well it is quite short...  0:)

[bhodges]

GREAT choices, too!

Oh, we're spoiled for riches! 

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

[Brahmsian]

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! 

[Brian]

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. 

[North Star]

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.

[Dax]

Anybody for Wanda Wilkomirska? Szymanowski lovers take note.

(Mythes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWPHzGunNpA

[North Star]

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. 

[bhodges]

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. 

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." 

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...)

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

[North Star]

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.

[Wieland]

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.

[Todd]

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.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

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).

[North Star]

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.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

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.