More YouTube: Hirshhorn, Kreisler, Joachim

April 23, 2009 at 10:54 PM

Greetings,

just a quick blog bfore the weekend vote blows it out of the water. (Laurie- how about `If you had to choose between Kreutzer or the complete works of sevcik with no other options which would it be?)

As Dottie noted in response ot my previous blog, this youtube stuff can get you into the deep doo-doo of addiction. Some quickies then. If you have`t heard of Philip Hirshorn then it`s time. A major competition winner when that meant something who was highly respected by Kogan. He basically went into teaching (Janine Jansen is one of his pupils) and died way too young. Wonderful sound, extraordinary bowing technique- faster than average stroke. Bit like Heifetz in that respect. I can hear a litlte bit of nervous tension in his playing as an internal rather than physical issue) which is becoming to me a littl e bit of a sign of a talent that tend s to burn up the owner . (Cf Hassid) Listen especially to his Geminiani and Lekeu sonata.

Of all the versions of Meditation by Thais I do not believe any version (not even the awesome Milstein) comes close to Kreisler. He owns this piec e and the recording I heard on you tube was him at his absolute best. If all this emotion and sentiment is putting you over the edge its time to calm down with some very honest and beautiful playing by Joachim. Playing Romanze in c, presumably his own composition? something of great integrity and value in his playing, I think.

Happy Listening,

Buri

From Corwin Slack
Posted on April 24, 2009 at 4:27 AM

Laurie should ban you from v.com. Listening to these old recordings makes one lose desire to hear modern violinists. This could be harmful... :)

From William McLellan
Posted on April 24, 2009 at 5:20 AM

I have become addicted to zukerman's chamber music. This performance of the brahms quintet with an all star group is a must listen.

3rd movement 4thmovement

What effortless playing, yet powerful stage presence and sound.

Beethoven quintet

some of his videos when he was younger

Ghost trio, excertp from mendelssohn octet

From J.B. Wieners
Posted on April 24, 2009 at 7:47 AM