16 replies to this topic

[Beethoven]

Has anyone here heard the soundtrack to The Red Violin? I think Joshua Bell is the best violinist ever and I prefer his playing to Itzhak Perlman on the Schindler's List soundtrack. Joshua Bell has made a few recordings with Williams so he must be good.  

[MSM]

Gil Shaham and Hilary Hahn are way better. I heard all three of them live so I can really tell the difference.

[Alexcremers]

Gil Shaham and Hilary Hahn are way better. I heard all three of them live so I can really tell the difference.

Says the person with the Hilary Hahn link in his/her sig.

[Beethoven]

No way! Shaham is even worse than Perlman.    Hilary Hahn uses too much rubato and not enough vibrato.  :roll:

[MSM]

No way! Shaham is even worse than Perlman.    Hilary Hahn uses too much rubato and not enough vibrato.  :roll:

Those are personal matters of taste. Bells' tone quality by far isn't as pronounced as Shaham's, Hahn's or Perlman's. Besides Bell makes mistakes in concert, Hahn never does.

[Hitch]

No one beats Maxim Vengerov. Period!

But Arthur Grumiaux and Jascha Heifitz take some beating in the recording stakes.

Hitch, who met Maxim in London and who signed a huge autographed poster for his favorite director.

[MrScratch]

Has anyone here heard the soundtrack to The Red Violin? I think Joshua Bell is the best violinist ever and I prefer his playing to Itzhak Perlman on the Schindler's List soundtrack. Joshua Bell has made a few recordings with Williams so he must be good.  

Coincidentally, I'm currently selling my Red Violin CD and other film score and classical CDs on ebay. Red Violin is currently at $2.99 with one bid. The auctions end on Monday and Tuesday.

http://search.ebay.c...Q5fofQ5fazkaban

Jeff

[MSM]

No one beats Maxim Vengerov.  Period!

But Arthur Grumiaux and Jascha Heifitz take some beating in the recording stakes.
.

Why do you name Grumiaux? Oistrakh, Kogan, Szeryng, Menuhin, Rabin and Milstein all beat Grumiaux. Vengerov is ok, but not better than Hilary Hahn.

[Alexcremers]

No one beats Maxim Vengerov.  Period!

He's really excellent but I'm glad there are others violinists who are really great also. Vengerov has his own very distinctive style and interpretation which lends itself extremely well for 20th century concertos. But sometimes, depending on the work, he can be a bit too distinctive. In my book, the most complete and mature interpreter is Anne-Sophie Mutter. I never get tired of her.
Gil Shaham's silky smoothness is very good for the highly romantic Barber and Korngold concertos.

I agree with some here that Perlman overdoes his vibrato. His Schindler is quite stellar though.

----------------
Alex Cremers

[stuttersteps]

Wow, I love how this thread has evolved into "Who's the best fiddler?"

Growing up, Perlman was the man to me. But my first vioin teacher preached Heifetz. Later, I discovered the beauty of Oistrakh. And my last violin teacher loved Nathan Milstein.

I personally think no one combined technique w/ musicality better than Oistrakh--his Tchaikovsky is ridiculous. But to me, Perlman is the most preeminent alive.


On a side note, didn't Hilary Hahn start at Peabody? I remember seeing her play in master classes there all the time (as an older, talentless fellow student).

[Composer_Fan]

.....Grumiaux, Oistrakh, Kogan, Szeryng, Menuhin, Rabin, Milstein, Vengerov, Hahn.....

Answer to the question: "Who's the best fiddler?"

The one who's name I can pronounce......



I'm not too familiar with Josh Bell's work. I've heard him featured in a Josh Groban song.

[Morn]

Red Violin, that's a great score!

[Hitch]

Although I must say, Hilary Hahn's violin work on THE VILLAGE is extraordinary. Sublime playing. After seeing this movie in London, I knew straightaway it was going to get an Academy award nomination for Best Score.

Hitch, who must get this score. I didn't even have a complete JNH score.

[scissorhands]

Red Violin, that's a great score!

Am I the only one who still thinks "Red Violin" won the Oscar for best score because it has the word "Violin" in its title?

I agree it's a masterpiece (both the OST and the chaconne), but I really doubt academy members have such a good (contemporary) taste.

If "The Piano" had got a nomination back in 1993, I'm pretty certain it would have beat "Schindler's List".
And just because of the title or the plot, "oh, a movie about music, the soundtrack must be pretty good!".

[Alexcremers]

Red Violin, that's a great score!

Am I the only one who still thinks "Red Violin" won the Oscar for best score because it has the word "Violin" in its title?

I agree it's a masterpiece (both the OST and the chaconne), but I really doubt academy members have such a good (contemporary) taste.

If "The Piano" had got a nomination back in 1993, I'm pretty certain it would have beat "Schindler's List".
And just because of the title or the plot, "oh, a movie about music, the soundtrack must be pretty good!".

You could be right, good ol' scissorhands.

[Morn]

Yeah, though really, nothing was clearly more suitable for the award than red violin. It's hardly like awarding the piano over schindler's list.

[Luke Skywalker]

They could at least have nominated TPM...