2012 Violinist.com Tournament, Round 3, Day 2: Sibelius vs. Tchaikovsky

March 29, 2012 at 5:04 PM

It's the last day before the final round in our Violin Concerto Tournament, and today we decide which concerto will go up against the Beethoven Concerto. Will it be the Sibelius or the Tchaikovsky?

This is a actually a pretty tough contest: two very lyrical, popular pieces, both by composers who were a bit less absolutist than, say, Beethoven, Brahms, Bach or Mozart. While they are both well-crafted, they are more emotional than intellectual. Which will it be?

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto vs. Sibelius Violin Concerto

Benjamin Beilman's plays the first movement of the Sibelius during the final round of the "Montreal International Musical Competition":

Josh Bell plays the first movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto like it's an old friend, nailing every thing along the way (2010 performance, with the? Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sakari Oramo conducting the Gala Concert during the Nobel Prize Ceremonies):

From Simon Streuff
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:11 PM

Sibelius my love!

From julio Custode
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:47 PM

Anybody else like Tchaik's suit? I want one like that.

From Hannah Williams
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:31 PM

How do you choose between two of the very greatest violin concertos ever written? Not an easy pick.

From elise stanley
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 7:16 PM

Hanna - easy: SSSSSSSSSSSSS. Just listen to the second movement.... and if you want to cry while you listen then use this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYR9ychIPJc

From Wayne Wilkinson
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 7:57 PM

When this tournament started I was afraid I'd end up having to choose between these two. I won't say which I voted for because I'm kicking myself for betraying the other. Of course, if I chose the other I'd be kicking myself for betraying the one I did choose.

Julio, I don't know. I think you'd turn more heads if you walked into a room wearing Sibelius' jacket.

From julio Custode
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:06 PM

LOL, this is true. Sibelius' suit looks like it needs a shave.

From elise stanley
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:43 PM

I LIKE S's jacket. Of course it doesn't hurt that he's drop dead gorgeous... :)

Now what were we voting on again?

From Lisa Van Sickle
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:46 PM

Sartorial splendor, Elise, we're voting on sartorial splendor. Speaking of which, Beilman's outfit is far superior to Bell's.

From elise stanley
Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:28 PM

Oh come on everyone, don't let the predictable T win! I suppose its going to be a Beethoven T showdown... He can't beat the Big B can he? I might just stop playing concerti.

Now there's a threat to quake the V.com members... :D

From Tyler Makinen
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 1:30 AM

Oh come on, it can't be 50/50 as I go to bed.....now I will have to stay up untill the round is over...

From Paul Deck
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:43 AM

Both those dudes are very well dressed. Both suits are pure wool I'm sure.

I voted for Mr. T but I won't be too disappointed if the Sibelius comes out on top, that's a fantastic piece too. This is the hardest one for me so far.

From Laurie Niles
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:11 AM

This is not a fashion contest, friends! But I admit, it's hard to pick between two loves. Today might be more difficult than tomorrow, it some ways, but we'll see!

From Christopher McGovern
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:13 AM

You should have used Hilary Hahn's version of the Tchaikovsky, then maybe it would be winning right now.
Hilary Hahn: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (III: Finale: Allegro vivacissimo)

From Reginald Perry
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:17 AM

We would just contest it with her version of the Sibelius :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBbsRTf1Eqw

From Christopher McGovern
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:24 AM

Strange though, because a few people I know that really like Hilary's playing dislike her Sibelius from the CD. I'm okay with it either way, but that's still interesting.

From Paul Deck
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 12:57 PM

I like Hahn's Sibelius (although I like her Schoenberg even more). I wonder if some of the remarks about her Sibelius come from a bias about Hahn that she is a Bach specialist, which seems consistent with her somewhat nerdy persona and no-nonsense stage demeanor. Slowly but surely (and actually not that slowly) she is recording the entire repertoire and I haven't heard anything yet that I didn't like. And for that matter I don't think her Bach is all that special. I like Janine Jansen's D Minor Partita better, and I still adore Grumiaux and Menuhin. Hahn is a very fine violinist with the ability to play well anything that comes her way.

From Gene Huang
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:15 PM

ARGH! There goes my perfect bracket. Well played, Sibelius, well played...

From Paul Deck
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:59 PM

It's not over, Gene. A 2% margin over 400 votes is less than ten votes. Send messages to your friends!

From Simon Streuff
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:15 PM

If Tshaikowski wins, we know at least why ;)

From Wayne Wilkinson
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:21 PM

I don't particularly care for Hahn's Sibelius either. I find it somewhat cold (but not in that good Sibeliusian(?) cold way). I do love the Schoenberg on the same disc through. Theres a great video of Shlomo Mintz playing the Sibelius out there that I found very unique. Hes so underrated for some reason, but his Prokofiev recordings on DG are the best in my opinion.

Wayne

From Terry Hsu
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:39 PM

Laurie,

We should have bracket results posted somewhere as well. It would be fun to see how one is doing compared with others. I for one have no hope of winning "the bag." :)

Terry

From Gene Huang
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:21 PM

Is it over now? I see Tchaik closed the gap to within 3 (through no action on my part), but came up just short...

From elise stanley
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:44 PM

Was it a tie??

From Laurie Niles
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:54 PM

Kids, the Sibelius won by three votes!

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.