Mischa Elman - Tchaikovsky Concerto and Dvorák excerpts

[Oistrakhfollower]

Conductor is way too enthusiastic

Elman... toooooo much swag is going on

[weezeedee]

once or twice a week soundpost adjustments! :)

[2ndviolinist]

I believe the Tchaikovsky is the 1929 Elman/Barbirolli with the LPO - the finest recorded Tchaikovsky Concerto I've heard. It suits him perfectly. It is available in it's original 78 form from merrihew - look right in related videos. The tone is much richer than the LP I have.

[SpatsLondon]

I first came across Elman as he threatens to outperform Caruso on the 1913 recording of Massenet's Elegie. More recently, I can't decide whether I prefer elman's or Heifetz's version of the Tchaikowsky Concerto. A wonderful dilemma to have!

[curlyman217]

he's fantastic! although, i would rather not be the conductor or accompanist for him... ha

[takamori400]

His violin is superb!

[aloysiusmiller]

I suspect that someday Ms. Hahn will regret appearing on that video.

[violinist102]

Why do you think that?

[HeidiHo2001]

oh that I can play like this still at this age!

[skripkaman]

No, Hillary, he doesn't lower the scroll in order to "reach" a higher position. That would be counter productive. He lowers the scroll probably to allow gravity to loosen his left arm. Try it, Hillary. It works!

[VIOLIN1786]

Every violinist who pursues and masters the violin are different. With experience you find yourself, your individual voice on the violin. So what, that he is short and has fat fingers, Elman found his voice and he sings beautifully.

[canttunafish]

You're right, Mr. Elman. We do all owe you a debt of graditude.

[masael255]

I second that. We all owe the old generation a debt of huge gratitude.

[Mancuspia01]

Heyy. What the hell are you talking about?

You can´t hear? You can´t hear his soul, stupids? Is there, in the Humoreske. You are the wrong thing here. His sensibility of sound is amazing. He has an anormal body, but he still can do it, he can found an incredible emotional force. Fuck you all with yours contemporany clowns.

[KoganSvetlanov]

I strong believe that one of Auer's teaching success was , apart from the musical meta physical stuff, was the pòsition that he taught to Elman, Heifetz, Zimbalist, which allow them to had such a good bow control and incredible sound projection...Just fucking great, some contemporany professors need to learn about this...

[MarlowStardust]

man you damn right i mean just look at those fucking new age violin players like arabella steinbacher or janine jensen - they simply don't have a position (a main position) and i am as sure as hell that they'll get some physical problems very early

[zwerskij]

Brother did you have to use the word"f.cking" to express yourself? Be well.

Edward Limonov´s "It´s me, Eddie" publisher.

[KoganSvetlanov]

It's a beautiful word dude ;D

[zwerskij]

OK. Keep it and enjoy it!

[nibelungensohn]

Hahn and Elman might be antipodal in terms of style but I happen to like both of them very much.

[kaikobird]

Maybe you should gain an ear and realize that Hahn uses countless variations in her vibrato.

[pppsssssssss]

Hilary Hahn...what is she talking about? She's a wonderful violinist...but as an interviewee...what the heck?

I love Ivry Gitlis' comments on this documentary.

anyway, this is from "The art of the violin: the devil's instrument" right? I think i saw this a couple of years ago.

[scottbos68]

yes it is

[scottbos68]

ummmmm shes talking about how he holds the violin because of his short arms

[scottbos68]

elman was awful when he got older

[ItzhakRoxMySox]

Haha I cant argue on that one

[pppsssssssss]

why must you feel the need to post something like this? Elman was one of the premier violinists of his generation and he had one of the most lush and beautiful tones ever to be recorded.

I don't understand why people make such comments...

[scottbos68]

because i cant understand why people like it when its so poorly played infact i have yet to hear 1 thing he played well

[pppsssssssss]

then I doubt your judge of violin playing...

Listen to his recording of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto from '38 (i believe?). It's one of the most romantic and lush performances I have ever heard.

Obviously...if the likes of Itzhak Perlman, Hahn, Gitlis, etc believed that Elman was a master of an instrument...he probably is better than you think.

[scottbos68]

i would like to hear it and see what the fuss is all about

[scottbos68]

and if you think this this is a good performance i doubt yours

[pppsssssssss]

then you'd be doubting the likes of Perlman, Hahn, Gitlis, Zukerman, Auer, etc...

I think they have a bit more credibility than you.

[scottbos68]

like i said i would like to hear it and see what the fuss is all about

other than that someone already agreed with my original statement: elman was awful when he got older

[pppsssssssss]

by all means go out and buy it! I do hope you listen to his recordings...his interpretations are very unique and his use of vibrato is most unusually beautiful.

I'm just saying I hope you don't question the judgments of these great violinists who knew Elman was a master (Elman was the biggest soloist at that time pre-heifetz era)

[scottbos68]

i know he was, ive heard all about the elman tone and im just saying this:

i question anything by anyone and ill make my mind up for myself and so should you

[sneddley]

The difficulty I see for us who didn't hear him in person (myself included) is that we must rely entirely on recordings and recorded live performances. Virtually anyone can appear to have an impressive tone with modern controlled studio conditions. Just something to keep in mind as you decide for yourself as everyone must.

[scottbos68]

i know this already

[RimmelLipstickLover]

You have to have a mind in order to make it up.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

This sounds great, what are you talking about?

[RimmelLipstickLover]

You are a cloth-eared fool.

[RimmelLipstickLover]

Elman got better and better as he got older. He is thegreatest violinist who has ever lived.

[rabinEXPRESSO]

@RimmelLipstickLover why is this getting 3 thumbs down? isnt he the greatest?

[HeidiHo2001]

I just love this!!

[ipmoic]

I hope anyone who has film, or simply recordings, of Elman will post them. I need to get a new turntable so that I can post Elman playing the Meditation from Massenet's "Thais". Truly "playing like a god".