V.com weekend vote: Which violinist would you choose for your quartet in heaven?
You arrive in heaven and (perhaps miraculously,) you are welcomed through the pearly gates. Because it is heaven, there is chamber music, and you also find your musical abilities to be greatly enhanced. You are given the chance to select another violinist to play in your heavenly string quartet. Of these famous late violinists, whom would you choose?
In case you need to read up on these guys:
Jascha Heifetz
Josef Gingold
Isaac Stern
Joseph Joachim
Oscar Shumsky
Also, feel free to name someone else in the comments below:
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I just think that Josef Gingold would probably be the most fun to hang out with. :)
But if I had my pick of anyone, I'd say Sandor Vegh.
I chose Gingold and was really surprised to see that he's currently the top choice. All I really know about him is what Steinhart wrote in "Violin Dreams" but like Terry says, he sounds like a fun person to hang out with. Also, I think I'd learn a lot from him.
Where is David Oistrakh in this heaven? :) Gone for a walk?
Would be my choice!
Mischa Elman.
Nathan Milstein... but I would let Oistrakh play first. I chose Gingold..
David Oistrakh!
Gingold! And I'd ask if he could pull in his buddy Primrose to play some viola quintets!
Oistrakh is an interesting choice too. You can't play music all the time in heaven and at least Oistrakh plays a little chess. :)
But I have a feeling that the ultimate fun guy to hang out with would be Fritz Kreisler.
But I'm also with Francesca that the one I feel like I could learn the most with would be Gingold...not that any of these guys are slouches!
How could David Oistrakh have been left off the list??!!!
Terry, you're right... They aren't slaves of tyranic playing scedules anymore in heaven!
I like your idea of David Oistrakh playing Chess while Laurie made her list ;) Logical...
I had five slots! Well, I was bound to forget someone. Who else have I forgotten? :)
Oistrakh and Einstein :)
Julian Brodetsky.
Omg.....If we could have Kreisler + Elman, that would be dreamy. Just think about their sweet tender sound :) Actually, I heard Kreisler had a very large sound, larger than any other violinist. So hard to take my picks if I had to take tone quality and techniques into consideration :( *brain blows up*
Jascha Heifetz of course! Today 25 years ago, the day he took his last breath.
R. I. P.
Shumsky on 1st.
Oistrakh can play vla.
Can you imagine what it might be like to play quartets with Sarasate and Paganini? Although I like the Kreisler / Elman pairing too Steven!
Paganini is disqualified. :) Heaven's quartet has no place for him - he might still want all the glory (of God, music & heaven) for his solo self.
I love your point about Oistrakh playing a bit of chess. Boy, he can play the viola, too. What a partner!
I am not worthy to play with any of those guys but if Mr. Gingold would permit me to join his quartet I'd be truly honored. He was my teacher's stand partner so I've heard a lot about him.
Might need to go down to Hades for a brief visit to meet up with Paganini then. :)
I further petition, for all that is holy (smirk) that people start putting up a few more votes for Gingold!
I've always preferred Heifetz's solo work to his chamber music recordings. But I suppose if Heifetz asked me, I'd play with him. ;)
I remember Sandor Vegh saying in master classes that Ginette Neveu had one of the most beautiful sounds he'd ever heard. So I also want a turn playing some Brahms with Vegh and Ginette Neveu.
I'd be really upset if there was a heaven at all, but extremely upset if once there everybody had musical talent. All this work I'm doing now would be in vain, and I would not be nearly as satisfied with playing if I hadn't had to put in the work. If I got to heaven and was instantly good enough to play with any of these guys I'd never play again. That said my choice would be Menuhin, I think I would get along really well with him.
Adrian... I wish that if there is a 0,000000000000000000000001% chance that heaven exists, instant talent would be for anyone who knows violin and really loves it... the many people who couldn't care less about playing violin music on earh would choose other activities imho :) So you would still be special and the respect we all have for the greats would stay!
Very hypothetical and weird talk we have on this thread, no? But it's both fun and funny...
So Nate, who would you wish to play with, Heifetz I assume? Terry
My quartet would be Kreisler, Ysaye Thibaud and Casals with Kresler and Ysaye taking turns on viola. I understand that they played together.
My quartet would be Kreisler, Ysaye Thibaud and Casals with Kresler and Ysaye taking turns on viola. I understand that they played together.
I think the best solution is have a gathering of great violinists in Heaven so we don't miss anyone :) and too bad Paganini ain't up there.....Although I don't think he was really what people said he was
David Oistrakh!
James Ehnes.
ps. In my heaven you don't have to be dead ;)
I don't think, I'd turn that down Terry!
Marie Hall. Maud Powell. Rebecca Clarke. Beatrice Harrison. :)
Like many others, I chose Josef Gingold while thinking, "What about David Oistrakh?" I think I'd be too intimidated by Heifetz, but I'd love it if Nathan Milstein could join us. No doubt, though, he's busy playing some perfectly heavenly music somewhere else...
Emily, an amazing all woman quartet!
I would like so much Jacqueline Du Pré as the cellist... if we could chose all 4 members...
they all look like soloists rather than chamber music players, how about adolf busch? the links are to wiki - uck...
If it's not too late, I'd like to hear from people who voted for Joachim. Of course I admire him greatly, but I would be intimidated by him.
There was one; the quartet of the London Beethoven Society; Joachim, Ernst, Wieniawsky and Piatti.
Ah, but they all were chamber players as well!
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December 9, 2012 at 10:39 PM · Boris Goldstein :)