There are two recordings of this concerto that I will listen to every chance I get. The first is Jascha Heifetz's 1935 recording, and the second Hilary Hahn's amazing performnce with Mikko Franck. I like the former better because I hear a story when Heifetz plays, and I like how he is able to be very musical while also being cold: think Galadriel from LOTR. Hilary Hahn's version is just something you can rock out to. It's very clear she's enjoying herself a lot, it shows in how she plays. It's somehow more playful, with a childlike warmth to it. Even the third movement has a playful Mozartian quality to it, almost as if Hilary can't contain her joy at being able to play it. It paints a very different picture to Heifetz's: his is the story of men going to war, hers is a story of a village in an icy wasteland coming together and finding community. That said, this interpretation really opened new insights into this piece. The way Ray plays it, it's a snowstorm, a force of nature that cannot be stopped. It's coming, and you can't run. Even in the second movement, the foreboding only increases. He takes the Heifetz story of men going to war, and dials it up to a hundred. This is about conquering Vikings, and is actually reminiscent of Khachaturian's more warlike pieces. It's a tad rough around the edges, but it's supremely musical. I'm really excited to see where Ray will go with his interpretations, he's possibly one of the greatest young soloists out there.
Yes, virtuostically, Heifetz nails a bit more than Ray. But I much prefer Ray's rendition of this piece because of his utter emotion and passion while performing. I feel as if Heifetz was playing too much into a fast, white, bleak narrative.
I like how Ray waits until the orchestra plays its last note to play his last note. Doing so makes Ray's last note the last sound the audience hears. Cleaner too instead of being drowned out by the orchestra.
I totally agree, and very keen of you to point it out. It's a small fraction of a second difference, so subtle, but it allows Ray to put the final exclamation point on the piece as the triumphant soloist. Very intense - yes - but fully focused and committed. Once the last movement got underway, Ray had me at the edge of my seat until the end. What an aweomse gift Sibelius gave the world with this concerto. Thank you Ray - dynamite performance!
Personally, I much prefer listening to Ray Chen's 2015 version of the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Yes, this performance was amazing, but it was just a little bit overly intense at times. I feel like some parts could have been less aggressive and played much more lightly. His 2015 rendition of this concerto was also much cleaner and more musical. Sorry I don't mean to critique Ray or anything because I'm not up to his level at all, but I'm just stating a personal opinion. Anyways I think Ray's still a very inspiring musician and I'm always smiling whenever I see him perform. And of course this concerto is very difficult so this performance is still very acceptable and amazing. Thank you so much Ray for always working so hard and performing for everyone. P.S. YES HE IS VERY HOT AND HANDSOME
Ray’s playing is so passionate and intense that it engages the audience and the RU-vid viewer completely. He’s never holds back on his biting bow work to get the most out of his impeccable violin. The speed of his trills, the astounding intonation of the double stops and the sheer delight of the speed of the runs and arpeggios are all enjoyed by the listener. One of the best performances of this masterpiece I’ve heard.
To me Ray Chen must keep looking for himself right this way. A different mode of interpreting is needed: direct, not obsessed with perfection and powerfull. He has the technique and the courage.
Interesting to hear how Ray Chen plays Sibelius nowadays. Personally, I feel like this performance was a little rough around the edges, and many of the most beautiful parts of the concerto sounded a bit too heavy and aggressive for my liking. I definitely prefer his performance with the Gothenburg symphony orchestra back in 2015, but this is still a good performance with some interesting changes.
That one is here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3u-unvYedx8.html And is on his own channel (which is preferable, IMO), but I think the video quality is a little better on this one which is 1080p.
Gotta agree Danny Boi, Also in 2015 that performance was just so great its hard to top with an orchestra that isnt as good and probably didnt have as much time to prepare with all of the covid stuff, just seemed like he and the orchestra were out of time several times, orchestra was too loud during certain parts, and technically Ray wasnt as proficient and its not really even close. Sibelius is so hard but that 2015 performance I think will go down in history as one of the iconic violin performances of this era
Now I accept claps between movements. It is now so frequent that constitutes an interenting phenomenon.I don't think that this necessarily dissipates the necessary concentration of the players, as this case shows. Besides that the faces of the orchestra musicians show how much they were captured by this interpretation. At the beginning I thought that this rendition was too much intense. But this concerto encloses a COSMIC dimension that goes quite well with the intensity that Chen displays here. Note that his sound is not harsh, nor stiff at any moment, and his bow is quite silky. (Some years ago I attended another rendition by a quite famous player, and the bow was quite the opposite.)
On the contrary sir. The recent one has much more sincerity, and more maturity even. As a violinist performing the orchestral part, this orchestra and conductor are on a higher level, which translates into higher freedom for the soloist to express himself. This is a fine example of the "Chemistry" written by a genius composer, between the solo instrument and the orchestra. Both are essential for the piece to work its wonders.
@@amiblevy I hear a lot of mistakes in his playing in this one, missed harmonics, crunchy chords, missed notes, whereas the 2015 performance is practically flawless. I think he has improved as a player, this was just not the best display of that.
@@trippiecliff8311 To be honest with you, I don't see how this performance is more mature or clean at all. Chen's technique is not up to his standard here, and he was far less efficient compared to his 2015 performance. He's also much more focused on power, just for the sake of intensity, rather than using a variety of ways like he did in the older performance. He and the orchestra were also not together in a lot of spots. I really like Ray Chen, but I don't think this was any of his best performances.
That part of this concerto is just one of those phrases where you either play with passion and emotion or give it a poor effort, truly an amazing piece of music.
what happened to the audio at 12:09? edit: there's a couple more scuffed parts with the video/audio towards the end, such a shame because this was a great performance
Technically brilliant but strangely off for me. The beginning has no atmosphere and he's going full guns from the start. Ferras did it too, but that somehow felt organic. This feels pasted on.
Definitely matured from his old recording, much more focused intensities throughout targeted parts of his bow… before there was this occasional wildness that needed some containment..
This was a superb musician at his best. I thought the Gothenberg version was great but this had a maturity and even majesty alongside his instrumental mastery. I instinctively clapped after the first movement. Couldn't help myself. Born in Taiwan but I'm so glad hes got a touch of Aussie about him. His manner is comfortable playing or just talking. Love this guy. Oi!
While his new tchaikovsky interpretation with the MSO was really off the mark, due to its aggression and mismatched phrasing, i think ray's style matches well with sibelius here. It creates excitement!
Couldn't hear it well because the orchestra was much louder and artificial harmonics are a little tougher to express, and sometimes hard to get in tune.
I’d rather hear that than someone preemptively shouting “Bravo!” before the piece is even over. Heaven forbid people should take a second or two before clapping to take in what they just heard.
To be fair its not unheard of to clap after the 1st movement of a concerto and people will have a break there anyways to cough for a bit. But in my opinion the worst part of concerts is when they cheer while the music is still playing
Masterful perfomance by Violinist Ray Chen, great talent, sensitivity and a lot of feeling in each note thanks you for sharing this beauty.The orchestra is excellent too.
I know a lot of ppl will disagree with me on this, but this is not my favorite interpretation. I love Ray, but I feel like his newer style is just too intense and unclean…
I've heard this Sibelius piece a lot. I don't know if it's just me, but there were times when Ray Chen & the orchestra were out of sync. Nevertheless, awesome performance by Mr. Chen! 💕
A stupendous performance. I think in 2015, it was more intimate with a smaller orchestra so his passion and tone were just at a perfect balance with them. That performance was absolultely beautiful and mesmerizing. This performance, however, is with a bigger orchestra with a grander sound that Ray had to match. I like his soul and passion but at times, it seems like he had to dig in or stress harder to avoid being drowned out. Overall, it was a bit too aggressive, laborious, or maybe too much passion? The orchestra could've been dialed down a notch or two. I'd attend both concerts if given a chance though. Ray is simply the best!!!
It's breathtaking beautiful. Ray is top in his generation. What's most amazing, you see how enthralled he is whilst playing, he loves it, he enjoys it.........that's music with a big, large M.
