Joshua Bell Concert

[ElaineOrlando]

these people seriously have no idea what they are talking about....unless you have a trained musical ear there is no reason to be judging Joshua Bells performance.....he is IN-tune with each note he plays here and i have only ever once heard him make a mistake at one of the many concerts I have been to, but then again I have been playing for twelve years....doesn`t mean I can play like him but can judge intonation.

[jhviolin29]

Again, every major concert artist I have ever heard plays sometimes plays out of tune. Oistrakh, Kogan, Perlman, Zukerman, Stern, Ma, etc. (Zukerman and Ma I have personally played with on a live stage).

Does Joshua Bell sometimes play out of tune as well? He sure does. Is there a quantifiable number of additional notes he plays out of tune more than the other artists I listed to which said sum can be considered a defect to his superb musicianship?

[snotberg123]

@jhviolin29 ...you've played with Zukerman and Ma? who the hell are you...?

[jhviolin29]

"I must be honest, Vanessa Mae is much more on-tune and skilled than Joshua Bell. "

That anyone could think this...sad.

"He plays incredibly out of tune, especially in this video. You must be tone deaf or distracted by his body contortions."

Every violinist plays out of tune. Unfortunately, the greater the musicianship of the performer, the harsher the amateurs' criticism seems to become.

[Twinkleh]

It seems that you're trying to mask his out-of-tunity with flash talk about musicianship and amateurs and criticism.

If the performer has musicianship then they shouldn't play out of tune.

You don't need to mask it to know that Joshua Bell is,at least, a halfway decent violinist. But in this video,he's obviously playing in tune and you can't shove a bunch of technical words on top to make it seem any better.

[marlkate]

So quick!xD

[brizil1302]

joshua bell and andre rieu are like the best violin players in the universe!!! i saw him in california and he also plays the cello.

[govibe]

Out of tune.

[brizil1302]

what do you mean out of tune, i mean your talking about Joshua Bell here!

[violinmadelen]

I agree!

[elliebabby]

well, we all agree that its amazing, right?

[wsrideabike]

Hello friends. You all seem to enjoy arguing over pointless things. My suggestion for you would be for you to get a life and stop using YouTube as a means of releasing your frustations due to your lack of any musical talent or ability whatsoever. None of you mindless critics will ever have a true understanding of music, so quit pretending like you do and keep your senseless and idiotic comments to yourself. Thanks, morons.

[BenChanViolin]

To add to it, if you DO happen to hang around YouTube at all, do something constructive. I find that posting my own videos of my violin playing creates some really lively discussions of violin that I enjoy- praise as well as constructive criticism. That to be is invaluable, as I'm currently not taking lessons and want to keep my playing level up. Otherwise, yes, get off YouTube!!!!

[happyfunnyfoo]

Christmas800 -

You sound like someone who is insecure about your violin playing and jealous of others who have the talent necessary to produce good intonation and CORRECT TONE. A good violinist pleases everyone, a violinist with quiet sound and poor tone isn't interesting (except to other crappy amateurs).

[DeeFL08]

well, thats also an opinion. So speak for yourself.

[Christmas800]

I see why no one payed attention to him on the subway, because his long strokes are too high pitched and hurt the ears. I know for all you trained musicians and the like out there you'll say it doesn't but too bad because to the normal person it does.

[sylvanair]

he played 6 of the greatest classical works of music in history in the subway; the piece in this clip is one piece of hundreds of others that he plays. he doesn't just play with "long high pitched strokes."

also just a comment, but it's not like people in the subway didn't like what they were hearing; most people didn't even register that there was a man playing a violin at all. it's a good article: Pearls Before Breakfast on the Washington Post website. :)

[Christmas800]

Well im sorry but my guess is since you seem into that type of music you are accustomed to the pitch. So to you it's not high pitched screeching, also there is plenty of other classical works of music that in my opinion that are superior to the works he played. Except to you and the people that like that music, who are also accustomed to the high pitch, so of course it wouldn't hurt your ears.

[sylvanair]

how do you even know what he played if your not into "that type of music?" so one of the pieces had high notes during a part of it; it's not the entire piece.

read the article. :)

[dernieremode]

If you don't know what you're talking about please don't attempt to criticise a PROFESSIONAL.

(long strokes too high pitced? And what exactly does that mean?... pfft!!!)

[VFiddlesV]

Its funny how Joshua Bell moves when he gets so passionate about his music.

[DeeFL08]

I don't really think anyone should criticize Joshua Bell's playing ability unless:

1) They can walk on stage and perform HALF as well as he can.

2) Your name is known all around the world.

3) You have $4 million to spend on a violin.

4) You've won the Avery Fischer prize.

=]

[marneedear]

Or you have knowledge and critical thinking skills. Geez. I love him but lets get real.

[lol1447]

Le plus grand violonniste vivant et de loin le plus talentueux

[anibeth39]

I LOVE Joshua Bell. He is my favorite idol. Oh, how lucky I was to meet him briefly in person!!!!!! Yahoooooooo! ( he signed his autograph on the cd I bought after I accidentally forgot to bring my older cd of his beautiful violin playing).

[knittingcellist7]

I want to see some of you people get up on stage and do that! I love Joshua Bell :)

[waxenwings89]

joshua bell holds his bow in an incredibly awkward fashion...

[SoccerChick5354]

omg joshua bell is ah-mazing! idk why yew guys are saying hes bad and comparing him with other people!!! he is ahbsofreakinglutely the bestt

[skippyskiptomylu]

LOL you snuck a camera into the concert hall... you sneaky bastard

[tobiasglass]

I must be honest, Vanessa Mae is much more on-tune and skilled than Joshua Bell.

[dagdas01]

i also must agree...but i have heard joshua bell in things such as the red violin...but umm...other than that...i dont like much of his stuff...

[edimigo2002]

I love his Tchaikovsky Concert performation, I recommend it

[govibe]

In both musicality and technicality, Kyung Wha Chung just absolutely butchered Joshua Bell.

[leviolonist]

She pretty much butchers everything, right?

[govibe]

nope, she doesn't butcher everything... You are thinking of Joshua Bell.

[govibe]

In the tchaikovsky concerto

[luvmyviolin]

I don't know what everybody's problem is with Joshua Bell! Why do you people have to use such nasty language when you have a clash of opinions? I have a few of his CDs and I think he is very talented. That is just my opinion though! It doesn't have to be everyone else's! some of you guys act like you're trying to conform everyone else to your opinion. Its really annoying to see you call violinists with great talent such horrible things.

[keithguh]

It's called elitism, you can find it everywhere.

[peteysgirl2]

Elitist? Embarrasing? Should work out his false notes with a coach. That you guys could write this stuff- IS embarrrassing

It never fails. This is the jealous ranting of critics and NOT artists- or, more likely, dilletantes.You guys should be ashamed, humbled, and count yourself as lucky that you've even been fortunate enough to hear this VERY un-elitist and brilliant musician play.

[keithguh]

Well peteysgirl2, you must have been thinking I was responding to someone else because I agree with you. :) At the bottom of a page on a video you can click "view all comments" and that will allow you to see who I was really responding to. I was agreeing with someone that he makes good music, and that these critics should stop being so snobby.

[operasmart]

josh, one more time: just doesn't sound right! sorry boy. time to grow up.

[OistrakhMilstein]

please go home and practice joshua bell!

[susieraihala]

Yeah right like you could do any better.

[jonnyviolinist12]

secondly, Joshy Joshy...Nice bow!!! big improvement from the Sibelius Concerto hehehehe.(I swear it went in a 90 degree angle) secondly, as an artist the technicality should already be there. Flare doesnt come from visuals...it comes from the place where passion burns

[jonnyviolinist12]

hey dude with the name that those dead people may curse you...cough:: milstein cough:: oistrakh...LITTLE WORK OF ADVICE, YOU STFU AND GO HOME AND PRACTICE...I saw your video of the bruch and lemme tell you; it was the most horrific recording I've ever hear. Dont even try to blame it on the camera your intonation was horrendous. And thats probably the easiest part of bruch. A player like you should be playing like a Bach A minor.

[OistrakhMilstein]

joshua bell, please go home and practice!

[A2Sauce]

OistrakhMilstein, you should first consider that he probably started looking at the piece about half a week before the concert, when i played with him in a quintet ar carnegie, he was sightreading the dvorak piano quintet. watch your mouth.

[mstrsims2]

Great. I have been a Josh Bell fan since the late 1980's. It is wonderful to see such an intelligent artist grow from "heart-throb" to a distinguished world class artist.

Next year he will be 40. We have a good 25+ years ahead of us to look forward to.

[kaikobird]

Joshua Bell is an interesting artist, but he plays so out of tune. It's honestly hard for me to listen to him.

[AngelinaTaylor]

You're kidding, right? I saw him today live, and not ONE note was out of tune. I was actually astonished as his presicion.

Did anyone know that his violin is $4 million?

[kaikobird]

I'm not, although I havn't seen him enough to fully judge! I was mainly just talking about this clip and a few others I've seen.

[AngelinaTaylor]

Ohh yeah. I didn't like this clip much either.. But listen to his newest album.. it's just amazinggggggg.

[ooziemac10]

wow for real?

[bit391]

Amazing

[fancyfiddler]

so who does OistrakhMilstein like....I certainly hope it's not Oistrakh the man that invented emotionless violin playing

[OistrakhMilstein]

what the hell are you talking about? Heifetz is the one who is "emotionless"... Oistrakh is a real artist. you fucktard

[OistrakhMilstein]

fancyfiddler, you post shows your ignorance...

[fancyfiddler]

oh really??? tell me how many years did you spend at the coservatorium to come up with an opinion? Just so you know, it took me 5 years

[OistrakhMilstein]

ask anyone in the violinist world if oistrakh plays emotionless... you fucktard. Just because he is fat doesn't mean he plays emotionless. I wish I can gouge your eyeballs out

[bit391]

Can someone find some more videos of Joshua Bell? Please I beg you.

[goticue]

damn , i wish i could play like him...... a lot of work...

[FoggyRoad81]

Bell is a technician, yes he doesn't ever drop notes, but he also has nothing to say about the music. Could you ever imagine him playing something with some real teeth like the Sibelius or Shostakovich succesfully? Yes he's very good at technical pyrotechnics as we see here and he can make the violin create some interesting sounds. But that's science, not art.

[xliltwinkystarx]

Wow, OistrakhMilstein is a fucking stupid bastard. I wish I could poke his eyes out.

[OistrakhMilstein]

xxliltwinkystarx, I wish I can bite your penis off.

[OistrakhMilstein]

ooh, I'm scared... A gay guy wants to poke my eyes out!!! OOH I'M SCARED (/sarcasm)

[Opinionated1023]

OistrakhMilstein, just tell me what's so bad about his playing....are his notes out of tune? No, does he go out there with a stand of music and read off of that, no. YOu need to get a clue as to what you're talking about. You suck at life.

[kaikobird]

He plays incredibly out of tune, especially in this video. You must be tone deaf or distracted by his body contortions.

[sidonie3]

I've gotten really concerned about the false notes in his playing. I wonder why he doesn't hook up with a trusted coach to work out the problems that accumulate with all violing performers.

[kaikobird]

who knows. :\ It is embarrassing, to say the least.

[OistrakhMilstein]

pretty bad actually

[ellegin88]

gibson strad... it does sound good

[Opinionated1023]

FoggyRoad81 you're an idiot. How the hell is Hillary Hahn better? Sonnenburg...lmao. I heard him play the Tchaik violin concerto in D Major, in it's entirety, perfectly. I know the concerto so well...he didn't drop a note. He has the most beautiful violin and tone I've ever heard. You can't do anything as well as this guy can play the violin.

[OistrakhMilstein]

looks like you need to see more violinists than your precious "joshua bell"... If you love him so much, why not make out with him?

even vengerov is soo much better, and I don't even like him!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QEx­K7XLFqdk

[bit391]

Right on!

[FoggyRoad81]

The guy is a hack. Sonnenburg is an artist, Milstein, Oistrakh, Hahn are artists. If you want good tone thats empty you can even listen to Shaham, who I love. But why would anyone listen to this guy.

[concertolover81291]

Hahn, Milstein, they are brilliant, but cold. No musicality, well very rarely in Hahn.  She also never varies her vibrato. Great players, but I don't consider them "artists." Oistrakh, however, I do consider one, he was full of passion and muscality. Bell has many colours and good phrasing. He's an artist if you want to recognize him as one or not.

[h4xXx0r]

Hahn? lol. As for Milstein, there is nothing at all cold about his playing, listen to his Bach recordings. To hard to judge Bell's tone off the aweful sound quality.

[concertolover81291]

When I say cold, I mean just flat out playing the music with not much phrasing or color. I have listened to Milstein's Bach. My aforementioned statement stands.

[h4xXx0r]

well why is it that Milstein's Bach is seen as the best recording of it? It's not because he plays it the fastest and most intune... because he doesn't.

[viperrocker]

I have seen Joshua live sveral times and I can tell you that he had wonderful tone. The video is compromised! I admire him for bringing something fresh to classical music! He is a passionate player and is not afraid to take risks! 5 Stars!

[DaComme]

saint-saens etude in the form of a waltz

[OistrakhMilstein]

what song is this?

[felicenatalie]

Joshua Rockzz!! My favourite Violinist ever!!!! Have you watched The Red Violin??? He is in it... All of the songs in that soundtrack awesome!!!! Played by him... Nice Video...

[thurizaz]

Joshua is great but I don't know how anyone could put him above David Oistrakh.

[jkky061190]

video quality is awful!

joshua is impressive

[flatteringxchild]

only slightly ;)

I do love bell--he's a wonderful inspiration

[genissimo]

er...isn't this slightly illegal?

[trebexein]

nothing really special of this guy. Plain tone and violin sound.... RIP Nathan Milstein and David Oistrakh

[ooziemac10]

are u serious......joshua bell has one the best stage presence and expression in his playing than any violinist living or dead.

[DarcyJ76]

"This guy"?? Do you have any idea who you are talking about??

[260989]

one of the best violinist with one of the best violin. What else could I say?

[ooziemac10]

he is definetely my favorite violinist living or dead by far, so much expression in his music and his overall presence is the best of any violinist. the tone he draws is absolutely silky smooth, the consumate violinist!!!!

[lilywang0214]

best of the best of the best. no doubt