 | |
 | |
News by E-mail |
Nel cor piu non mi sento, brillar la gioventu?Repertoire: Looking for a recording of Paganini's "Nel cor piu non mi sento" played on a Guarneri.
First of all, I'll admit outright that I do not play violin (I am a flutist), but I have a neighbor who plays (Eugene Fodor) and I grew up listening to Paganini, Bach, Kreisler, and the like. I'm involved in an audio production called "The Old Man and the Harley" which calls for Paganini's "Nel cor piu non mi sento" variations played behind a narrator. For reasons of authenticity, we'd really like to find a recording played on a Guarneri. The home run, of course, would be to find the recording played on Il Cannone. Does anybody know if such recordings exist? Respectfully,
P.S. A while back I got a new bicycle with a bare titanium frame, so I designed custom decals for it. In over two years and thousands of miles, I've never had anyone comment on the "name" of the bike (see link below): http://www.theoldmanandtheharley.com/Private/Bike.jpg
From Marc Villeneuve
Ricci did it on a Guarnerius del Gésu...Repin. on the ruby Strad...Posted on June 27, 2006 at 05:46 PM My suggestion, buy the Phillips recording of Leila Josevovith (Bartok, YsaÏe, Kreisler ect). She gives an outstanding rendition of the Nel cor più sento Paganini variations and she plays them on a famous Guarneri del Gesù of 1738!!! Marc From William Wolcott
Sorry to brag about my teacher, but Fodor's Nel Cor is the best, hands down, imo, of course.
Posted on June 27, 2006 at 05:53 PM From Marc Villeneuve
Sorry, but I do not think Eugene is the best...it sounds better than Ricci I would admit...Kogan did a jaw-dropping recording of that piece a long ,long time ago...Vasa Prihoda recorded a wonderful version for violin and piano...Andrei Kulka did record the same version as Prihoda during the early 70s and it is astonishing...Menuhin sounds great to in that piece...
Posted on June 27, 2006 at 05:56 PM From Marc Villeneuve
John, forgot to mention , I love Harley's...
Posted on June 27, 2006 at 06:21 PM From Marc Villeneuve
Its me agian John...I was thinking about something very important in relation to authenticiy...Posted on June 27, 2006 at 06:44 PM You must acknowledge that no original score of the "Nel cor più non mi sento" in Paganini's own writing does exist...they were published for the first time during the lifetime of Paganini in a musical essay written by Carl Guhr and entitled "L'art de jouer du violon de Paganini"...Guhr was a friend of Paganini and he transcribed by ear and memory the entire piece as Paganini performed it...It is a very interesting book describing into details how Paganini played and performed...It is clearly mentionned and confirmed by a physician that Paganini used the continuous vibrato, something opposed to the German style of playing and regarded by Sphor and later, Joachim, as an excentricity...Maybe that is the reason why Fritz Kreisler made such an impact in the musical world, 60 years later, by using the continuous vibrato... I have seen the essay of Carl Ghur in the library of the University of Toronto and Boston...I am sure there exists a copy in a university in California... Best wishes, Marc From William Wolcott
"Sorry, but I do not think Eugene is the best...it sounds better than Ricci I would admit...Kogan did a jaw-dropping recording of that piece a long ,long time ago...Vasa Prihoda recorded a wonderful version for violin and piano...Andrei Kulka did record the same version as Prihoda during the early 70s and it is astonishing...Menuhin sounds great to in that piece..."Posted on June 27, 2006 at 08:23 PM You don't have to apologize to me, though I do forgive you for being wrong. From Marc Villeneuve
Dear William,Posted on June 27, 2006 at 08:25 PM I do understand how you feel about Eugene and the fact that he was your teacher...But let me tell you a story...In 1970, we all heard in Montreal a stunning violinist who played the Nel cor più variations in the violin competition...a student of Youri Yankelevith... Ruben Agaronian won the first prize with Sibelius and he repeated the miracle as an encore playing the Nel cor più like a dream... Agaronian did not make it later on the concert stage and pursued his studies in mathematics at the Moscow University... Fodor was in the competition and unfortunately ,he was eliminated during the first round...The level was very, very high that year in the Montreal competition...
From William Wolcott
Dear Marc,Posted on June 27, 2006 at 08:48 PM *yawn* Maybe Eugene got eliminated in the first round because he was preparing to win the gold in the Paganini Competition later that year. Show me Ruben's recording of Nel Cor. I would love to hear it. And I don't think Fodor's recording is the best because I studied with him. Soovin Kim, another Paganini winner (the first from USA since Fodor) agreed he had the best recording of Nel Cor. So, we'll just have to agree to disagree. From Pieter Viljoen
why don't you both just whip it out, measure, and get it over with.
Posted on June 27, 2006 at 09:15 PM From William Wolcott
I think I forgot to write *joking* after "I forgive you for being wrong." I was joking. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. Posted on June 27, 2006 at 09:26 PM I think Fodor and Ruben shared silver medal at the Tchaik. competition in '74. I'm pretty sure Ruben's teacher was a judge. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
From carlos majlis
Viktoria Mullova had IMO a fantastic recording of that piece.
Posted on June 27, 2006 at 09:43 PM From Amy F
I think Kogan's is the best.
Posted on June 27, 2006 at 10:15 PM From David Lillis
Kogan's video and recordings are superior to any other recording of this piece that I have ever heard.Posted on June 28, 2006 at 08:43 AM David Lillis From David Ormai
I've only heard Leila Josefowitcz's recording, and I think it is unbelievable. Her left hand pizzicato is beyond belief, and like someone else already said, I'm pretty sure she plays a del Gesu.
Posted on June 28, 2006 at 08:51 AM From Jay Azneer
I've learned to discount the who and what of competitions for as Bill WOlcott points out--judgescan be a contestant's teacher or the pet of a friend and the politics opf competition are even more complex than the politics of having a career. In fact career talent is as important or moreso than musical talent. Agents and managers have become the real--if often invisible--stars.
Posted on June 28, 2006 at 12:56 PM From Marc Villeneuve
William,Posted on June 28, 2006 at 01:02 PM I was a child when the events of the Montreal competition occured...But I had the opportunity to meet with Fodor and to hear him in private.And I was impress, that is all I can say...
From John Newkirk
Wow - you guys are awesome! Many thanks for the timely and insightful responses. I'll get on Amazon right away and see if I can find each recording mentioned in the above posts for evaluation.Posted on June 28, 2006 at 01:50 PM After I posted my message, I called Fodor. He happened to be in town between concerts, so I ran over to his place and he graciously provided me with a recording of "Nel Cor" that he did some time ago. Eugene is a great guy who defies stereotyping, e.g. he'll ride in from a day of ranch work, jump out of his dusty saddle, feed the stock, then whip off a Paganini caprice that will make your jaw drop. I wonder how many non-musicians, seeing Fodor in his western wear, have provincially thought the extent of his skill is limited to "Orange Blossom Special" :-) Anyway, you might wonder why "Nel Cor" has anything remotely to do with a 10,371-mile trip across America with the Old Man on a Harley. Without giving too much away, as an author I'm trying to draw certain parallels between Guarneri del Gesu's "Il Cannone" (arguably one of the world's greatest violins) finding its way into the hands of Paganini (arguably one of the world's greatest violinists). As Eugene says, Paganini with Il Cannone is "true justice of destiny." I'd welcome any comments about this. I know Fodor played Il Cannone in San Francisco in 1999, but I don't believe "Nel Cor" was on the program. Best regards to all,
From Kevin Jang
I agree with Amy, Kogan all the way. Results of competitions do not always reflect whose the "best". Many people who placed lower in competitions have had better careers than their higher placed colleagues.
Posted on June 28, 2006 at 02:03 PM From Marc Villeneuve
...the issue here is not who plays the best anyways...There is not such thing as the "best" which is quite a relative concept in my opinion...Posted on June 28, 2006 at 02:06 PM
From Jim W. Miller
John, I'm gathering that your father made the orignal trip in 1939. What a great adventure that must have been on a motorcycle, pre-interstate. I hope your family got royalties from Then Came Bronson :)Posted on June 28, 2006 at 02:14 PM Is this an audio version of the book? The whole thing sounds interesting. From Kevin Jang
Marc- You just stated earlier that Kogan's recording is better than Fodor's. Sounds to me that you are disagreeing with yourself...
Posted on June 28, 2006 at 02:35 PM From Marc Villeneuve
I did not say that... read me again...
Posted on June 28, 2006 at 02:36 PM From Marc Villeneuve
Kevin, the sens of my statement is that I disagree with Fodor being the"Best" in the same way I desagree when we speak in general of the "Mathless performances" of Heifetz...Each violinist( and Fodor is one of them) did give an important contribution with their recordings of the Nel cor più non me sento set of variations...Posted on June 28, 2006 at 02:46 PM I was just providing a list of the versions I have at home...Yes Kogan is jaw-dropping...so is Repin, Prihoda ect. ect. I have never mentionned anyone as being "The Best" simply because up to that level, no one really is...Each bring their own contribution...This is a virtuoso piece, not the Brahms concerto
Marc From Kevin Jang
Sorry, misunderstood. Now I get it. :)
Posted on June 28, 2006 at 05:42 PM From Adam Wasiel
I'm for Kogan...nothing describes his playing...it's not mortal :D
Posted on June 29, 2006 at 12:46 AM From Kevin Huang
Didn't Salvatore Accardo record "Nel Cor" on Paganini's "Il Canone" violin?
Posted on June 29, 2006 at 01:27 AM From Mattias Eklund
Nope, but Barbieri did with a shortened version.
Posted on June 29, 2006 at 03:15 AM From Marc Villeneuve
Kevin, Posted on June 29, 2006 at 12:47 PM Accardo did not so far as my information is up to date...In 1969, he made a recording of the Barucabà set of variations playing the Paganini "Cannon" reissued on Dynamic's in 1990...Than, on the same label, published with a book about the history of the famous instrument, he did record on the "Cannon" short pieces for violin and piano. This was release about 6 years ago for collectors. I bought it throught the Strad magazine publicity. Best regards, Marc From Luis Pernalete
Hi. What about Ilya Gringolts 1998 Paganini Competition version`s? i like it so much. I have the Prihoda recording i guess is the best.
Posted on July 1, 2006 at 12:48 PM From Chuck Freeman
I heard Fodor in person many years ago and had several of his records (yep, I'm giving away my age folks!) and he is without a doubt an OUTSTANDING violinist. I've heard his Nel Cor, and it's jaw-droppingly astounding. However I've seen and heard Kogan play this too and let me say if I had to choose one, it would be Kogan. The guy just overpowers this piece like no one else IMHO. He plays with such power and control it's almost unreal. I sat in front of the TV set in stunned disbelief at how effortless he played this piece. His left-hand pizzicato, double stops, and staccato, are out of this world. He was a monster on the violin who sadly died prematurely.
Posted on August 14, 2006 at 08:48 AM From Christian Vachon
Hi,Posted on August 14, 2006 at 12:13 PM John - to answer your question... Out of the versions mentioned, Ricci's, Fodor's, Josefowicz, and Kogan are all recorded on Del Gésu. Menhuin's might be as well, but I am not sure. Competitions are the reflection of one day (or a few days) in an artist's life. Careers before and after the competition represent far more days. I guess the best would be to say that competitions represent a snapshot or photograph from one period of your life. Like everything, including our appearances, things change in time. We learn, we grow. I think that has a lot to do with what happens with variations in peoples careers post-competition. Cheers! From Maura Gerety
I heard Fodor play a Paganini concerto in concert once....unfortunately I was about five years old, and had a cold so I was all doped up on decongestants. My mom tells me that I spent most of the concert lolling on her lap, but sometimes whenever Fodor would do some particularly dazzling trick that I'd never heard before (I'd already been playing violin for 2 years but was unaware of such things as left-hand pizzicato) I would sit bolt upright and say, "How is he DOING that??" :)
Posted on August 14, 2006 at 04:03 PM |
SearchEditor's Blogs
Plus: The Weekend Vote Interviews
SponsorsThe following advertisers have made a financial commitment to support the Violinist.com community. We hope you will return the favor by considering them first when making a violin- or music-related purchase.
- From the Top/Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award 
|
Printer-friendly version
Laurie Niles
Hilary Hahn
Sarah Chang