Tchaikovsky SHOWDOWN 🎻 ft. Itzhak Perlman, David Oistrakh, & Alena Baeva 

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I already know we’re going to need a Round 2 for this so just go ahead and list out and vote for the people you want me to include in the next round 🥊

Got to give this one to the King of Violin, David Oistrakh! Definitely one of my most listened version of the Tchaikovsky.

I've always loved Perlman's tone only he could create - very warm and creamy soup type of tone.

That's awesome that Ray included himself and saw some...less ideal parts. That's only a reminder of how far he has come as a musician over the years!

The great David Oistrakh owned this concerto.

Oistrakh is simple the BEST! Great sound, overtones, power and delicacy at the same time. The GOAT...

Really really love Perlman’s Tchaikovsky. It made me fell in love with Perlman and violin.

I hope you add Julia Fischer to your next comparison videos! She's also an incredible performer but I've found that very few people in the U.S. know of her.

Love that you included your own cringe moments. They happen to all of us across any career where you push yourself. The positive spin is super awesome for growing musicians!

As my one of my favourite violin soloists, I believe that Itzhak Perlman's is my favourite version. When learning to play Tchaikovsky violin concerto, I would listen to his recordings. I always loved his phrasing and vibrato, the expressionism and grandious is so pleasant!

Oistrakh's performance is just bloody mind-blowingly good.

I was hoping to see Augustin Hadelich here, I love his interpretation of Tchaikovsky.

Heifetz does this piece in his way and wow… it is a fiery performance!!! People should give it a listen for sure!

I saw Baeva perform the Britten concert with the NY Phil a few months ago and I really enjoyed. The concerto has a really unusual ending where it's very quiet and intimate, as opposed to the usual big ending most concertos have. She did a really great job with it, and I feel like that sort of ending must be incredibly scary to perform. You've just played 20-30 minutes and instead of going out with a bang you have to play very quietly and intimately, holding everyone's attention but not overdoing it. It was impressive!

I've seen you playing in the Queen Elisabeth Competition. And in the audience we talked that you were going places.🎉 That QEC: I brought a brother who was visiting me at the time and he had his first contact with the violin then and he loved it. We went back with his boyfriend who arrived at a later date. That brother is very ill now, at the hospital in Brazil. To cheer him up, I reminisced about the fun we had at the QEC.

It has always been my favorite violin concerto, or at least one of my favs! I grew up hearing the Perlman version, but honestly, I just love to listen to anyone playing it because the variety of colors and styles people add to it is great!

I love this concert so much ❤ thanks for this video 😊

Thank you so much for making this review of the Tchaik! Can't wait for yours live in a week!!! 🎉🤩

please give us more of these wonderful showdowns!!

Love the mic set up when you’re playing 👌 sounds fabulous

Love this video, I really enjoyed hearing the comparisons and explanations.

Now you have to do the Bruch showdown! That first phrase can make or break the concerto.

These are so informative and interesting to watch (and fun!) no matter what instrument you play. Thank you Ray 💕

I like your lightness and especially your effective dynamics.

I started to study violin because i found a CD with te Oistrakh Version. I loved it and i love it since nowadays.

I LOVE your tone and phrasing. The winner IMHO! 🏆

I can not wait to see it. Should be fun to watch and learn.

I just got to see Perlman play this piece in Houston. So amazing and beautiful.

oh My Good, You need a part 2, I mean, your tonic studio at January 13th was so good, singing and tchaikovsky❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤. Jay Chou

Hi Ray, I have been really enjoying your videos. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and being such a big inspiration to so many of us. Keep it going! Love to hear your praise of David Oistrakh, one of my big heroes as well. 👍👍

I loved the video, especially when you were explaining interpretation in the beginning. Ray you are the best.

GREAT video, Ray! Eager for more performance analysis...

Love these videos!

Last time I couldn't decide between two albums with Tchaikovsky and Sibelius violin concerts. One by Oistrakh/Ormandy and other by Lisa Batiashvili/Baremboin. Both very good yet different.

很高興在這裡聽到你分析這麼美的聲音。尤其是在欣賞回味自己的聲音。太美好了。謝謝你❤

What a joy it was to see and hear you live performing this beautifull peace tonight in Eindhoven! And after that changing a string ON stage WHILE introducing us to your version of Waltzing Mathilda. Lucky the new string behaved 😉it was awesome!! 😍

This series is awesome, really insightful for learning about these pieces and how to develop taste. Also really appreciate your candor, really respect your efforts to share honest stories so we can all learn!

These analyses by Ray are truly amazing and inspiraytional!!

So skilled! And talented and inspiring and iconic!

Very insightful and entertaining as always. I grew listening to the Heifetz recording. But my favorite is Milstein’s interpretation.

вааааау лучшие видео!!! спасибо!

I’ve been waiting for this video for a fat while 😭😭

David O. Is one of my favorite ❤❤❤ this one and Seberius are just chef's kiss

Compared with here that ray cheng showed different interpretation of violinists how they played the ventage track Tchaikovsky violin concerto. I think I love ray Chen's playing better. No matter at the age of 20 that he won the Queen Elisabeth Competition or almost a year ago he play this vantage track again with Seattle symphony orchestra, actually his technic is very strong, his mucic is emotionally, and with a lot of passion also. I think the record that he performed with Seattle symphony orchestra is the best in the world, he also played with his vantage track extremely already. I hope I could watch this films again here in the near future. This is my favorite classical music that performed by ray chen.

theres just so many great tchaikovsky performances

Ray, thank you so much for this and all your videos. I'm not a musician and learn so much about listening to and interpretation of classical music from you.

I love this series! Please do one for Dvorak Violin Concerto!

This is a wonderful series, comparing side-by-side these great recordings. So interesting to hear how each interprets the music! My fave is still Oistrakh!

Nice! 😄I've got a bit bumpy relationship with Tchaikovsky concerto - we didn't start getting along right off the bat. But I've listened to it a few times since then and it starts growing on me 😊. Really good examples of how differently it can be played 😄. This time I'm unable to choose which one I like best!

Can’t wait to see you tomorrow and listen to your Tchaikovsky!! 😍

Keep them coming, @Ray! As far as I am concerned, you can dive deeper and spend more time with each performance. I am also a musician - a recorder player - but it's not easy for me to hear those subtle differences between, well, different violinists. So you pointing them out to us is really useful and educating.

Greetings from Antwerp, thanks for the concert.

1:57 Ray’s face here is so emotional. Shows just how much he really enjoys and feels the music.

I had the honor to play the Tchaikowsky concerto in the orchestra with the wonderful Lidia Baich. It was mindblowing. My favorite recording is from Vadim Repin!

Love this series! Please make more videos comparing interpretations of other concertos (both Prokofiev, Brahms, Beethoven, Dvorak, etc….)!

I have to say it is your interpretation that makes me love Tchaikovsky! And your video accompanies me as I work every day recently (not a good idea though, coz I will keep watching you play the piece but forget my work 😂). And pls don’t feel bad for young Ray, he is being compared to some of the very best violinists, he was actually doing not bad!

Ray Chen, your descriptive explanations really help me become a better musician, thank you so much! But please do Augustin Hadelich, a master interpreter!

Ray, You are helping me to develop my ear for violin nuances Cheers, Rik Spector

Appreciate these review videos! Please do Heifetz and Gitlis!!

The Perlman video has always been one of my favorites. The audience was so moved they broke tradition and gave him a rounding applause after the first movement.

This is actually very fun, to watch Ray review himself. Music is much like Surgeons performing surgery. You improve even if you are in your 60s, as long as you put in the work and effort. Thank you Ray for being an inspiration. Need to go back to practice suturing.

All the performances are undoubtedly majestic, but my favorite is Ray's performance incredible.🔥

*_pleased to meet you💞🎉😍_*

NEVER heard DO's performance, it's my NEW FAV "Tcha."

I found this is a very interesting comparison. Much to be seen that otherwise a non professional wouldn't see. Kind of funny, but also courageous, that you are objective (even a bit hard) for your own interpretation. You still won the Elisabeth with it.

alena's playing is "honest and direct" as well. that sweetness and light is her personality -- a personality which will also include guns firing out of hell!

3:46 The photo is Igor Oistrakh the son of David

I'm really looking forward to your Tchaikovsky concerto concert, which will be held in Seoul😆🤍

I like the way that you reviewed your younger self. It's always good to look back to see how you have grown, both technically and emotionally.

Ray, your performance in Melbourne in July 2023 rates really well too! We really liked the playfulness you brought to it

Not sure how anyone can play the Tchaikovsky better than David Oistrakh. He represented the best of the Soviet school and Russian tradition.

Ray’s Tchaikovsky violin concerto is by far my favorite ❤️! Can you review Hadelichs Tchaikovsky too!

Please review Hilary and Janine!!!

❤It would have to be Pauk's 1962 recording with the London Symphony Orchestra. My father owned this record and it was my introduction to the classical violin and hence my love of the instrument. Hours listening to this through enormous late 60s headphones. Then I listened to Itzak, then Hilary Hahn, then yours.

Love your videos and Tonic app! I was wondering if there could be an option to opt out of the leagues.

How he explains the different types of interpretations and sounds >>>

I think those octaves near the end are that hard! So many people miss them, even on recording! Always a nail biter, that passage!

Please include Hilary's I believe latest recording of Tchaik with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony in your next review 😇.

Can you do Brahms violin concerto next time? Love this set of videos!

Hey Mr. Chen. Love your work. U should do an analysis on Nathan Milstein's Paganiniana and other great examples of the work done through the years. Also, a review of Vengerov's fabulous Ysaye #3 ballade would be popular I am thinking. You have a serious talent for analysis besides your obvious virtuoso playing. Good Day to you.

I grew up listening to Jascha Heifetz play this. My cousin attended a masters class with Perlman. Never heard of Baeva before this.

Best episode, wanna see more young Ray. Your mom looks good in the photo

Cant wait to perform this with you at Interlochen 2024!

The best one goes to Ray 🤩Greeetings from Taiwan and happy new year 2024 ❤

Can’t wait

Thanks!

You should do one of these for Zigeunerweisen, Sarasate! And compare other's performances to his own recording he did!! Keep on being awesome Ray 🙏

I love This serie

As a classical music enthusiast (I don't play) I absolutely love Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto No.1. It has softness, all those trinkets, swirls, and ribbons, it's so colourful (music synesthesia speaking here). These kind of pieces make me want to learn violin at the age of 40... XD

I’m not a violinist but this is one of my favorite pieces

When critiquing movies, have you ever thought about looking at "Music of the Heart"? Meryl Streep plays a violin teacher who starts a violin music program in an inner city school.. Based on a true story. Several well-known violinists have cameos.

Henryk Szeryng has my favorite recording of this piece

Ohhhhhh, BEAUTIFUL RAY of musical sunshine...! (Seriously, you had me at “Tchaikov-”…).

Just checked out your video on the Mendelssohn performances. Hilary's doing fingered octaves at the end of the first page!

Perlman has been always my favourite one but young Ray... oooh, just so cute.

Heifetz....and for kicks Joshua Bell performing with the National Youth Orchestra at Proms.

I enjoy your videos

You need to review Hillary Hahns Tchaikovsky! Her latest recording with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra is amazing!

Oistrakh with Phil orch. And Ormandy is the most phenomenal tchaik ive ever heard