Michael Rabin plays Tzigane by Ravel

[peterlunow]

the only performance that comes close to this one is an old recording (fifties ,I think) by Leonid Kogan .These two are the very very top in this piece!!

[25sinpremio]

dios!! su sonido se parece mucho al de heifetz es perfecto!

[stephenjoeagi]

One should not be embarassed to shed a few tears when listening to Michael Rabin. His gorgeous sound virtuosity, and impeccable musical taste has haunted me since I saw the movie 'Rhapsody' where he dubbed Vittorio Gasman playing the violin, almost 60 years ago. We should be grateful for the existence of these recordings.

[wintercannon]

I just can't stop listening. It's... flawless. Hearing this is like the first time I heard Zuckerman play in concert. Mesmerizing.

[voxhunden]

Brilliant. Superb. Otherwise speechless.

[klavierspieler72]

Super playing. Some like Bell. Even though he is nice to look at and all, he is not one for me, in regard to playing. Rabin is pretty damn special though. Anne Sophie Mutter is also very nice to look at--and she is right up there with Rabin! The point being--we all get some charge out of the MUSIC and the MUSIC-MAKING. And, occasionally, we get caught up in the personality or looks of an artist because we project something of ourselves in our admiration for an artist. 'Nuff said!

[Lafo247]

No need to praise one musician by insulting another. They're all enthusiasts at the end of the day, each with their own style and a sincere love for music. You can praise Rabins passion and skillage without having to insult another musician.

Also, apologies for any misspellings. Very drunk.

[aarazra]

This is the ONLY piece of his I think Heifetz does better- in a different way. heifetz is gritty, Rabin is all of it but refined. No less gypsy!!!!

[ImHansHi]

who the fuck is bell?

[andreaandrewmilnefan]

@ImHansHi You tell me. Some 9th-rate Strad-waster, or so I heard.

[crowhurst1000]

the need to compare and rank and catagorise should be resisted as it colors perception and detracts from pure appreciation.

[thestringdreams]

Well, I think if you actually could dare write a negative comment about this spectacular violinist you are of poor listening skills? Yes, you have grown up listening to the wrong people! Bell is Bell. Honestly there is no comparison to Rabin. Bell is here on earth always has been; Rabin is in the upper levels of the heavens even while living his life on earth.

I saw Bell last year in concert. He made me dizzy! True story!. The excessive body movement really takes away from the piece.

[diefuhreroffunk]

Preview of this comment section: "Rabin is the best!" "No, I heard someone better." "We all have our own opinions." "Well actually, his vibrato in the adagio section is somewhat underdeveloped as compared to blah blah blah...."

[pcakesxl]

I am a serious violinist and I will tell you that every present violinist has to deal with every violinist of the past. Just like Kobe might be compared to Jordan, or Tiger, Jack Nicklaus. I heard Bell play Tzigane about a year ago and he did things I had never heard before and he made them work. That's all you can ask. To take a piece this well known and to make it your own after so many other greats have played it is a great accomplishment. In a way, Josh has a more challenging job than Rabin.

[MsJony1234]

Bell is bell, Rabin is Rabin, both are great and dissimilar,

[paulostroff99]

awesome

[rushwarp]

Rabins haunting sound is just so right, its otherworldly. Pure power!

[paoloXV]

NO ONE! AND I MEAN NO ONE plays like this today. PERIOD!

[calloffthedogs]

super clean rendering of Tzigane here. Stylistically superb too. Rabin and Kogan for me are at the top. Kogan's Ravel is a little more demonic I think. Probably I shouldnt compare. What difference does it make. Gods of the violin those two.

[lanarv]

...sound...PURE CRYSTAL.. :-)

FABULOUS!!!

[Horatiojk]

Hands down the best rendition i have ever heard of this piece. clean, aggressive, fascinating

[kevaughn1030]

i think pound for pound, considering the age at which he matured to such a sound as well, that rabin is absolutely unmatched

[violinmusicfan]

After his death in 1972, Ivan Galamian recommended the Kubelik violin to Kyung Wha Chung who then acquired it.

[noaxioma]

tragic story, SUPERB violinist

[paulostroff99]

Brilliant! Bravo! TY.

[yasmineyasmineyasmin]

it's pretty good.stop comparing and enjoy this amazing playing.

[UnlceJuniorSoprano]

A horrific recording--any recording is better than this half assed excuse for music

[cga2000]

Ravel goes to Hollywood.. but an unbelievable violonist all the same.

[mercilesscallousness]

Unbelievable that he can make such ridiculous sounds come out of a decent violin! Does he hide a cat inside and pull its tail to make it scream? My body is wretching to hold back vomit! Go listen to Bell if you want to hear a decent rendition of this piece. This is absurdity at the highest level. Uncle Junior--please do not return for fear of ruining your perfect pitch!

[mercilesscallousness]

So TRUE my musical genius friend--and brutality is the only way to go with these deaf idiots who know nothing of good playing! Let them go to BELL and listen for some true violin virtuoso sounds! FOOLS! How dare you call this violin playing? You should listen to Uncle Junior! He should be the only one allowed to make commentary--you know nothing!

[gitprofnikat]

I'm afriad it is you that is the fool!

[battleblades]

This may turn out to be one of my favorite renditions ever. The rubato is so well thought out that we know what the rhythms are, yet it is truly gypsy.

Rabin has been among the few individuals who was truly able to make his violin sing. His tone itself is enough to make me weep.

Thank you for this video.

[MercilessBrutality]

Thanks for posting this! What a violinist this young man was...

I know it's not the main point of this piece, but I do love it from 8:20 :D

[rlouie728]

a true tragedy

[alainrobynsds]

un tout grand violoniste.

[Draziw777]

Simply amazing!

[mercilesscallousness]

Simply amazing that you did not die of a seizure while you were listening! Go listen to Bell if you want a decent version of this.

[noaxioma]

??? I also like Joshua Bell, of course I do, but I can't acknowledge what is written above.

omg! enbelievable, politeness certainly isn't one of your strongest, nor open-mindedness....

[mantisofgold]

Straight from the heart.

[Fabit3]

His violin seems crying...

And it sounds very tragic...

This Tzigane is unbelievable !!!

[mercilesscallousness]

His violin is crying because it is begging to let the cat out that is stuck inside...this is ridiculous playing.

[jonathan12lo]

Bell will NEVER, I repeat, NEVER come close to Rabin's playing. Ask any serious violinist, and they will tell you the same

[gitprofnikat]

You are absolutely right! Bell is a fraud, in no way deserving of the fame the "sheople" have bestowed on him.

Rabin was one of the great natural violinistic talents of all time

[battleblades]

Bell is not a fraud. He has brought many great ideas to the pieces he plays, and he is very talented and plays well.

However, it is true, he is not as great as Rabin, without a doubt.

[gitprofnikat]

In my view at least, his playing nowhere near justifies his reputation. I agree, however, that "fraud" was hyperbolic and unfair.

His bow arm is very unorthodox, and he plays from his shoulder. I feel that he always plays from beneath the music rather than around it.

He is certainly one of my least favorites from the so called "first tier" these days.

[battleblades]

I have noticed that. He does play from the shoulder. I have always had an issue with his "underdeveloped" bow arm, but he plays well with it. My teacher, Zvi Zeitlin, said that Menuhin's teacher said, "Who am I to fix his bow arm?", when his elbow was too high,.

Your opinion is definitely viable, you have good reasoning. I personally love Bell, but to each his own.

[gitprofnikat]

My, it is a small world. I know Zvi, and played sonatas with him at Marlboro...it must be close to 40 years ago. In fact I remember we played Beethoven Op. 30#1 together for Serkin. I don't know whether he'd remember that! I hope he's doing well and is in good health.

[paulostroff99]

@battleblades -Who is????