What made Oistrakh so great was not only his technical brilliance, it was his tone, his presence, the pure strength of his musicality...not to mention of course, that when he made the recording, Shostakovich was sitting right there. BBC Radio 3 recently nominated the Vengerov recording as the best, but for me, Oistrakh remains untouchable. I'm sure Vengerov would agree.
Oistrakh is the God of violin for me; however, it would be unfair to compare colossi like Oistrakh and Vengerov (or all musicians of their stature). I have an acid test for the greatness of each musician: if s/he gives me goose bumps, the performance is great. Both, Oistrakh and Vengerov, give me goose bumps... and are brilliant in their own way. Again, I keep Oistrakh's photo on the wall at home (almost as an icon). 🙂
Может, это мой субъектив - помню Венгерова подростком...лепить его рядом с советским скрипачом такого масштаба, какими были Ойстрах или Коган - в целом некорректно...поставь его рядом, Венгеров и до колен Ойстраха не достал бы...а уж какие имена и сколько промеж них стоят - промолчу.
This is the most terrifying/psychotic music ever. This is the kind of music that is so emotionally deep and honest that it's actually disturbing to listen to. In my opinion it's the best cadenza ever written.
Добавил бы ещё каденцию из первого концерта для виолончели Шостаковича , передаёт весь страх и страдания второй мировой войны как будто смотришь документальный фильм о тех годах.
to hear oistrakh perform this live could have been the greatest musical experience of my life. I'm infinitely jealous of anyone who was in that audience who is still alive.
my teacher , mr. Semyon ronking, was one of oistrakh's best friends, and a very talanted person, he died one year ago unfortunatly from a heart attack, he made me a violinist.
All of the horrors of Soviet history slowly and remorselessly built up from the faintest sound to the highest scream . . . one of the greatest moments in violin history. Oistrakh used perfect technique to express the most terrifying moments. No greater violinist ever lived. None even close.
I play a lot of Baroque music, so of course I am a big fan of "historically informed" performance. I don't think Shostakovich can be played effectively any other way: as a performer, for what he wrote to come across, you have to understand the time and place from which he was writing and the horror and hypocrisy he witnessed every day. We are very lucky to have footage of this work being performed by someone who lived in that very time and place himself. It doesn't get better than that.
I wish "horror and hypocrisy" of some of the past American Presidents administrations can inspire such great music. Not horrific enough? Wait another 20 years... 🙂
that ethereal sound is so incredible. he had such amazing bow technique and control. i'm very glad to have a direct line back to this guy. not sure i deserve it though. ; )
Amazing control in such a long crescendo . The tiny dramatic pauses are very telling. I wonder if they are written in the music the way he plays them. He makes the pressure build before bursting upwards.
I understand that at the rehearsal before the premiere performance, Oistrakh pleaded with Shostakovich to add a few bars of orchestra after the cadenza so that he would have an opportunity to catch his breath and wipe sweat off his brow. Shostakovich obliged and the change was made in time for the concert.
I have two versions by him. This is the first time I 'see' him in action. Still the one and only for this piece. The way he bows, the emotional involvement....ah
According to Yehudi Menuhin, Oistrakh WAS home one day when they came in the 30s. . . they had taken all but one of the other men in the building earlier. He and his wife had packed his things anticipating the return of the secret police. They came back . . . and took the other remaining man. This music sounds like what someone would feel hearing those footsteps on the stairs.
Oistrakh always plays the music as if he is living it in this moment! he is extraordinary! this is a beautiful piece... check out his take on clair de lune, it is magnificent
Now get hold of the large book of photographs about the Russian Goolags. More terrifying are the prison guards in Siberia staring into the camera . Oistrakh narrowly missed being sent there . He just happened to be out that day when they banged on his door.
Childwaters Thanks for the addition. Even more terrifying that he was in the building. One lady went to the authorities because an arrested woman had left her baby in the house. They said "We`re still one short of today`s quota " ,so they arrested her instead and she was sent to Siberia as well.
@giorgiobaronu i totally agree about this cadenza being the best ever written. every time i listen to it, i think that. it is just such a huge part of the piece!!!
That is a truly astonishing performance from the maestro. Magisterial. (But surely a gentle fade into the finale rather than the executioner’s sudden chop?)
he kogan heifetz and some other great musicien could do with the bow what ever they want when they want a pity we dont have today any artist at this level
We _do_ have them but fortunately they are very different, bring in new ideas and interpretations, they take the time to study original manuscripts and play them (take Yuja Wangs Tchaikowsky piano concerto without all the "virtuoso" "corrections" pianists introduced during a century, Mme Kopatchinskajas Beethoven Vilin concerto with the cadenca based on Beethovens piano version of the concerto, a breathetaking Shostakowich Violin concerto by Bomsori Kim (which I like even better than Oistrakhs version) Bartoks Solo sonata which Menuhin loved after considering it unplayable and so on.
Oistrakh was certainly a great vioilinist and an outstanding interpreter of Shostakovich. What a pity you have spoilt your comments by going overboard in your last two sentences. These kind of subjective judgements should not be stated as if they are facts, particularly when there is no way they can be proved to be true.
monster0129 is right. your number of years playing an instrument is like your age when it comes to musical knowledge; if you've been playing for 10 years then you're like a 10-year old. intonation is the easiest thing to listen for for novice players but it not nearly the only indicator of a great musican. after playing for another 20 or 30 years, hopefully you'll realize that intonation is not what makes this a truly incredile performance
Pssh Oistrakh was a flabbergasted pompous violinist, if you can even call him that, that only got his audience's attention because of his chubby cheeks. And speaking of which, this Cadenza is so easy, that I can play it with my hands tied behind my back!!! As for you, OistrakhMilstein, if that is your real name,
"violin is an equal tempered instrument"? What are you talking about do you understand what you just said? violin is not even tempered..no talk for equally...! This is why you can play more in tune with a violin than with a piano. you adjust the intontaion to the scale you are in, to the music you are playing. intonation in this video is more than perfect, bow technique too. possibly the best violin playing in a video ever.
cloverahhh, I dont blame you for your comments. If you have only played the violin for 10 years then you still know nothing about the violin. I have been playing it for 20 years and have been playing concertos with orchestras since I was 7. Looking for perfection in others is unnecessary; it is only necessary to look for perfection in yourself.
The BEST version. I’ve heard MANYYY recordings especially youngsters that plays this cadenza way wayyyyyyy too fast. It doesn’t work at all. Not at all.
Because I doubt he even plays the violin. In fact, I even doubt his musical knowledge is enough to tell what's the difference between a violin and a flute=D lolol
