Who is your FAVORITE performer when it comes to the Mendelssohn? Make sure you go practice on Tonic with these new insights after watching the video: tonicmusic.app/join-in 🎵
Hilary is my favourite because her sound is so pure and her phrasing so subtle and elegant, I feel like I’m listening to Mendelssohn directly rather than a soloist. It’s almost like hearing an ideal of music when she plays.
@@r77882 It depends, because Hahn's version feels so pure i can see it that there is an audience looking for that peculiar sound. But by your criteria, wouldn't you say that Heifetz was the most unique of all of them, don't you want to hear more of him? Just making a point here. Have a happy new year!
@@rostharan Heifetz just makes the effort to play it as fast as he can. No self expression and no time for it. So obviously "unique" is not the only criteria I consider.
Ray is very good and an excellent performer. I'd love to see him in concert. But Maxim Vengerov owns this piece imo, and Hillary's accuracy and purity blows me away. Those are my top 2 performances.
While this is a channel dedicated to the art of violin playing, I really appreciate that you not only talk about things specific to violin but also general good advice on things like the emotional intention, phrasing etc. - things that even me, a classical guitarist and amateur cellist can take with me and learn from. Thank you! :)
Love Ray's comment about Jansen "holding the tension" in her performance, you can really hear/feel it once you're listening for it. Her rendition has so much EBB and FLOW, it's really something
Maxim Vengerov has been very consistent with how he interprets music. I have watched many of his video concerts and I feel his emotions. He is truly one of the great violinists worldwide. 👏
When I heard the first few notes of the vengerov interpretation I started tearing up instantly. It's crazy how different players can make you feel vastly different emotions. It's amazing actually. Yeah but out of all these vengerovs version is my absolute favourite.
in the early to mid 20th century, jasha heifetz was the pinnacle of violin technique. many violinists tried to emulate him, but few were able to approach him. his perfection was so complete that critics had a hard time finding any fault with his playing. so, due to his calm, effortless demeanor onstage, critics began to fault him for being “cold, emotionless, calculating.” but (thankfully), someone had the intelligence to do a blind test on listeners. they had listeners hear an audio (no visual) recording of heifetz, and then compared his playing to several other violinists of the day playing the same piece, to see who evoked the most emotion from the listener. all of the listeners chose HEIFETZ as the most expressive, emotive, and heartfelt player they had heard.
Hi Lisa, I agree with your words. Heifetz's performances are unique. He is a standard for all violinists in the world. Heifetz should not be compared with others. When I listen to his playing, the level of his technique is the highest possible.👑👌
How beautifully you said that they couldn't find fault with him and they came and said that his face and physique are cold and emotionless, while his violin sound has the most possible feeling, I think he was unique, even Oistrakh had the same opinion.
I think in an interview with 2 set, Ms. Hahn said she approaches all her performances with a 'how she's feeling on the day' methodology. She suggested that having a set perspective on how to play pieces removed spontaneity from the performance. I've have definitely heard her play different renditions of Mendelssohn.
I like Hilary's the most if you listen to the entire performance. She seems to avoid exaggerations at any point; thus, the overall performance seems more integrated emotionally and feels more profound.
I am not a musician but hearing you talk about music and the different ways to interpret the same piece of music gave me a greater respect for great musicians and great classical music and great composers. Thank you for making classical music more accessible and enjoyable, not something remote and out of reach of none musicians to enjoy.
Love the passion from both Janine Jansen and Max Vengenov, but there’s a nobleness in how Hiliary Hahn approaches the Mendelssohn that draws me in, makes me hang on to every note and phrase, and invites me to hear this familiar concerto in a very different way than before
I rarely comment, but I genuinely appreciate you sharing your talent and insight. I am not a musician but I learn something new every time I watch one of your presentations. Thank you very much.
For me Hahn's technique is just so pure, as many others have commented - you just feel the music singing through her instrument as if the performer is barely even there, less a presence and more of a conduit - I mean this not as a disparagement, but as the highest form of praise!
Jansen’s definitely my favorite. The fluid and driving passion feels the most right for how the opening of the concerto was written-a happy middle between Heifetz (too stoic) and Vengerov (too sentimental, not enough momentum). I like Hilary’s, but it leans a little closer to Heifetz’s stoicism, arguably too deliberate imo. Don’t worry Ray I also have a weak baby pinky 😭
Yeah Hilary reigns supreme with her amazing technical mastery. It doesn't feel like she's trying to add any interpretation. I think that's why her style can sometimes come off as being more tight and not as emotional.
@@searchingfortruth619 I feel like she doesn't really take a stand which might be in a way the most purely classical interpretation of music - serving the composer. To me that can sometimes lean to not having a unique point of view which is needed to keep music fresh and evolving, bring out new colors and be emotionally sound. She seems so likable though and so good that I can't really dislike anything she does.
never realized it but you nailed why Hilary's Bach is one of my favorite Bach's (along with Grumiaux.....which they sent to space).......her bow control and laser focus on the INDIVIDUAL note and also nailed why i never really go to her for Mendelssohn.
Usually I don't like to compare performers but if I have to choose I'll always choose Heifetz. Noticed many comments here mentioned Sibelius violin concerto. In my opinion Sibelius violin concerto is like just written for Heifetz, insurmountable performance.
Perfect comment. If one only listened to this Ray chen showdown, with that old Heifetz video clip, you'd likely get the wrong impression of Heifetz and his Mendelssohn. (The Hahn recording wasn't representative either). There's this strange bias that Heifetz was all about speed and precision, but listening carefully to his entire recording, of almost anything, and you get the best interpretation. He shapes not just a phrase but the entire concerto in the most brilliant way.
Thanks for doing this Ray. Really enjoyed the series knowing how people actually admire orchestra and classical music and how people handle instruments
You are a born and irrepressible teacher. I love how you think. I like Oistrakh and Ormandy. It's another day at the office for them, but Oistrakh's genius still comes through.
Oooo, good one, Ray. A bit of an eye opener for me, in that Vengerov was my favorite though I expected him to be last. I though his phrasing and tone expressed an emotional depth that I have rarely encountered in the Mendelssohn. Not that the others weren't valid interpretations in their own way - I enjoyed all of them. Loved your explanations and attempts to reproduce each artist's unique choices.
It's so wonderful hearing you explain and describe the important passages of the concerto. It helps violinists understand the music and play it better. Your untiring endeavor to help the musicians out there is something invaluable. Thanks to you, Ray. 👏🤩👍
Ray, if you read this, make sure to listen to Vengerov’s transition in the cadenza into the ricochet section. The way he subtly plays each string individually before starting full on ricochet is amazing Really cool interpretation by him
It is also interesting to know that Heifetz was very likely using Ray’s violin, the Dolphin Stradivarius, in this Mendelssohn recording. Same instrument, but completely different style of playing and interpretation.
I enjoy this series of video so much! Learned a lot from comparing different interpretations or even just different tones that the masters produce on the violin... I'd love to see showdowns of Brahms and Korngold!!!
Thank you for the analysis. Having heard and noticed the points you truly mentioned, still I go for Hilary and her precise, strong and the most balanced performance of all.
It’s like her bow is glued to the strings but with super controlled elasticity. Omg. How do you even begin to get to this. Lesson please Ray. From beginner sound to super-legato… some new techniques necessary. Not just spidering etc etc… how do we kill the gaps between notes (without slurring)…
I like them all but this recording by Vengorov! OMG! Perhaps it’s a reflection of his maturity, I don’t know. I think the first recording I heard was by Isaac Stern, but my paragon for this concerto was Henryk Szeryng. I played different movements of this concerto with my high school orchestra and I found my mood and life experiences ( at 17 😄) colored through performances. When I played the second movement I dedicated the performance ( the hubris!) to my beloved abuelo who lay in his deathbed. I was playing HIS father’s violin (still do). I was so absorbed in my grief at losing my grandfather that the piece played itself as I was transported out of the gymnasium and thought only of my imminent loss. I guess I did okay since I woke to a standing ovation and an immediate offer of a scholarship to university. Thanks for this great comparison Ray!
Love your candid comments about your own past performances. Absolutely artist magnificence! Kids take note: when you screw up - artist privilege! Keep going!
That was really interesting ( now my daughter wants to learn if too..😉😄) anyways. I love Janine Jansen,she is one of my favorite violin players. I wonder if a newer recording from Hillary would sound different. Interesting comment about the mic...bec I noticed something similar about her playing the second movement of Mozart G oj front of the pope..
Ray Chen, this is an awesome class for understanding musicality, thank you so much for making classical music accessible. Even for the experts your comments are so interesting 🙏🙏🙏 bravo! And thank you again so much!! 🎉
Thank you for this side-by-side comparison! Not a musician - and your explanations are super helpful. I never realized there was such a HUGE difference between interpretations
Please do a review of the Sibelius Concerto. Please compare the epic Vengerov performance , conductor Barenboim with the Chicago SO. This to me a defining performance of the Sibelius. Stay blessed.
A while back Brett and Eddy reviewed Ray's Mendelssohn, plus Hilary, Anne Sophie Mutter and Augustin Hadelich. They praised Ziyu He and of course, Eddy praised Brett's (then upcoming) performance. Between Ray's reviews and theirs it is a wonderful dive into what makes all of them great!
Incredibly interesting and it really illustrates the importance of interpretation and shows that truly great music permits and merits different approaches. How can anyone claim that this or that performance is THE way to play a given piece? Thank goodness that all these great performers give us such different insights.
It's fascinating to observe the distinct interpretive approaches that various violinists bring to Mendelssohn's compositions. The meticulous precision of Heifetz, Hilary Hahn's contemporary approach, Janine Jansen's fervent intensity, and Maxim Vengerov's robust expressiveness each add a unique dimension to the same score, showcasing the diverse ways in which a single piece of music can be expressed and experienced.
I actually got to see you play this very concerto in Taipei in March this year (it was glorious, and I can't wait to see you play again some time), so it's super exciting for me to see you talk about what you love in other people's interpretations of the same piece!
As a non-professional player, I cannot distinguish the differences of the players. I have admit it. But making a bigger contrast in our own playing violin maybe a lesson we can learn. Theses are top of violinist. There are also some others we can try to follow and learn, and simulate. Tylor Davis is a violinist who started her learning later in high school. She does not play music of higher position and fast speed. Maybe Mr. Ray Chen can make a session to analyze her performance (or similar persons). That is most of our normal guys' goal. The purpose is to make our playing more like "Music" but avoiding tough technical hurdles.
Love this format- would do these listening style shoot outs with my advanced high school students - they were always some of my favorite lessons to do because it helped students develop their ears and taste and we got to study interpretation and try things out. Also gave us great reference points for interpretation on future pieces too, to call back to
I love her control. To me, other performers often sound as if they are overacting. Hilary just nails it because she takes herself back and only the music remains. Also, you often gotta read between the lines with her. I just love her so much!
Thank you I really this kind of video where you breakdown how each interpretation are unique & specific. As I am a non music player, just a classical music enthusiast, this is very insightful. Thank you ❤😊
❤❤❤❤ I wish I could give thousands of likes to this video instead of just one! This is genius! Thank you, Ray, for sharing (Szeryng?🤣) your insights on concerto and performances. This is brilliant on so many levels, it blew my mind!
Itzhak Perlman’s is my favourite 🤍 I would love to see more videos like this, can you do ones on Brahms and Dvorak? I’m not a musician and I’m still learning a lot from this, it’s educating my ears and helping me understand what I’m listening to on a deeper level, thank you so much for this 🤍 Also, it would be amazing if you can do a video on the Paganini violin concertos, his violin concerto no. 4 is one of my absolute favourites and I’m surprised that it’s not quite popular, for me it even tops his violin concerto no. 1! So it would be interesting to hear your thoughts!
I don't know what you call it but there's something about easing into a note with tenderness that goes into authority, or going from authoritative and back into tenderness. Varying tempo and volume ever so slightly in real time. I guess that's "the passion". It's amazing how the virtuoso does this continually. It really separates the masters. Great analysis here from Ray Chen!
I love this video. It’s so educational and interesting. Please do more reviews of these concertos: Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Brahms. Please include other soloists like Perlman, Ehnes, Oistrakh, Mutter, or the younger soloists like Maria Duenas.
