Nathan Milstein 'Paganiniana'

[jipidibipity]

aah the Maria Teresa

[UlimorUdamenta]

And that, ladies and gents, is how you play a strad.....

[denniscontreras]

very nice

[gnatural]

Years later, nobody can come close to this performance. he wrote it after all.

[bikedoctor7478]

Every culture needs a ceiling and a floor. That's just the way it has always been. Our generation is a strong thick floor, No?

[heifetz14]

FOR YOUR INFORMATION HEIFETZ PLAYED AND RECORDED VERY LITTLE PAGANINI ONLY MOTO PERPETUO AND 3 OF THE CAPRICES OK

[mrwasbesonders]

I can't believe how lazy the applause was. I reckon they must have all been stoned....

[pzlavln]

His left hand articulation is ridiculous.

[ricaard]

@pzlavln Indeed.,,

[princhornrhs]

I love this ridiculous camera work

[yakimishi13]

I prefer Jascha Heifetz playing Paganini...

[TheFrancescaViolin]

Ah, that sound.

[noglemott]

Photographers always focus on the left hand...It's on the right that all of the good stuff happens! Wish I could see his spicatto up close.

[scientistpatrick]

@noglemott As I say, the bow isn't a tool to make the violin sound. It's actually the other way; the violin makes a note for the bow to sound.

[rendilkraesin]

To WishMaster2020: it's not just your generation. When Milstein was making this stuff, 98% of people listened to tripe like "A Tisket, A Tasket" etc. Not to disrespect the great Ella Fitzgerald (she was amazing), but pop culture is always a truckload of "lite" with a drop of real substance hidden in the corner. We remember the best bits of the past and ignore/forget the disposable junk. Led Zeppelin had no #1 hits (only 1 top-10) in USA; Chuck Berry's only #1 was "My Ding-A-Ling." Proof!

[rendilkraesin]

Curious note: In his tightly articulated taps and lifts, plus the almost scouring fuzzy effects on some of the swooping draws and runs, he seems to prophesy the evolution of electric rock guitar. Plus, from a guitar standpoint, he's mixing in a fair amount of, um, "violining" (post-swell) (heehee) on transitions. I know a lot of it is from the original Paganini bits, but he really accentuates these things in this "remix" piece. Gidon Kremer's interpretation of this goes even farther/wilder.

[SadisticMagician54]

This shows an understanding (and appreciation) of Paganini's music far beyond a simple recital of a piece, so those haters/shredders/purists "whiney babies" take a hike

[SadisticMagician54]

Hahaha this is such a cool homage

[posterboard2]

It might be the sound quality, and it's cool that he can play it, but it could be alot better...his bwv 1008 is awesome. Though he does play with alot of passion

[paulostroff99]

Awesome! TY zo for posting.

[voon200]

this vid id like my cockaine.............i can watch it a billion times and i still cant get enough of it =)

[zooders]

@voon200 agreed, but i find Heifetz rendition much better

[xick1]

those fingers...speechless

[jimmiecisco]

I never heard of the late Mr. Milstein until I saw him on tv on that classic channel that plays bits and pieces of different artists work. This is the same video. So He was born I believe in 1903 and he died in 1992 I believe this vid was made in 1964 .I am amazed at the never ending culture that is on tap . All you have to do is search a little bit. wasn't that fantastic

[puccinifan]

Can someone help me identify all of the Paganini extracts that Milstein used in order to write this piece? So far I can pinpoint Caprice no. 3, Le Streghe, Caprice no. 6, Caprice no. 14, Caprice no. 21, and the D major concerto.

[ahpedrami]

@puccinifan what about 24? or did you mention that by another name?

[CaptainIronhelm]

6 people got their eardrums blown out with modern music junk and couldn't hear him playing.

[KevosMagic]

Can someone please send me free sheet music of this.I have only 3 variations :(

[ItzhakRoxMySox]

@KevosMagic Buy it retard.

[KevosMagic]

@ItzhakRoxMySox Dont call me a retard.If I was able to buy it i would...

[ItzhakRoxMySox]

@KevosMagic Okay, but just because you're unable to buy it doesn't mean you oughta to get it for free while everyone else has to pay.

[KevosMagic]

@ItzhakRoxMySox You are right.The thing that bothered me is that you called me a retard...but nevermind

[ItzhakRoxMySox]

@KevosMagic Caught me on a moody day. My bad.

[takemyhandd]

wow he composed this??

[KevosMagic]

I cant believe 6 people did "thumb down" on this video.What a great composition!

[AbrahamMora]

SOBERBIAMENTE APOTEOSICO!!!!!!!!

[rifqi7san]

to create another variation of the this well known piece, caprice no. 24 by the greatest virtuoso ever lived, Paganini, is tough work. This is awesome!

[mitchimusmaximus1]

quite



[maggotk133]

Wonderful

[dwaynedibbly]

Looks like he enjoyed himself playing that :)

[yngwie8]

u must admire such players they play fast with accuracy as well as emotion unlike hip-hop craps

[yngwie8]

the fluidity is wat captured many heavy metal guitarist of today malmsteen,paul gilbert has all been influnced by classical to fuse with rock music dudes yeah

[runninriot15]

I almost started clapping at my computer seat

[Bukamura]

a hallucination..

[lakesidemourning]

I can hardly breath, there's so much rosin in the air!!!

Haha.

This is amazing.

[HardHouseMusic4Me]

I wish the youtube community would realize that commenting on a video doesn't change anyone's opinion... Everyone is so self-righteous nowadays. Christ, now I'm falling into that trap....

[rmcdaniel423]

What kind of cajones does it take to look at the works of Paganini and say, "That's alright, but I'm kinda getting bored. I need to spice it up a bit!!"

[mandoaaron]

anyone else notice how tight he bow is? you fire arrows off that baby...

and it is probably a million dollar bow by todays standards..

[yscslim]

Just a Master!

[yakov53]

da best

[karlwinkler66]

Playing like that with TV cameras in front of your face and in front of an audience... incredible, incredible concentration on the core of the music. Wow.

[SAKAIKAZUHIKO]

素晴らしいです

[trueviolinist]

ohhh myyy fuckin gooodddnneessss.this is ridiculous

[WishMaster2020]

Dude, our culture sucks, britney spear's videos can get 60 million hits but this only gets 90k... my poor generation and its successors are all about FAIL

[DED319]

Seriously...

[waikikit2]

Because music is a very high standard thing... not everyone are high standard enough to like this classical video... For pop songs, more people listen to them because more people can understand the meaning of pop songs...

[bountyhanz]

@waikikit2 True. Pop songs only require BIT of one's mind to fully recognize the pop music. But for classical, it requires alot of skills, hearing, knowing, imagination,etc.

[ericgable]

@WishMaster2020 True, good thing that people like su appreciate such great music. With out this music there would be no Brittany Spears, or rock. 

[Bobman4671]

@WishMaster2020 not me!!!! WOOOT

[bountyhanz]

@WishMaster2020 agree. In this world, most of us listen to those pulsating music , pop/heavy metal whatever crap . but this kind of artisic classical piece which requires one to have patience and understanding really isnt that appealing to the masses. Thankfully i'm not those 'Rock' kind but rather a classicist who plays violin:)

[SullivanChannel]

@WishMaster2020 so true

[Etherovamonas]

@WishMaster2020  Culture was never for the masses.We belong to the few ;-)

[milstein91]

@WishMaster2020 because the idiots and ignorants make 90% of the population

[Papagaio1994]

@WishMaster2020 I think there are space for both I love both types... I just think that this musics are musics to hear sometimes and pop music to hear other times :)

[ohaiderrrr]

@WishMaster2020

you are a narrow minded dumb fuck.

[milstein91]

@WishMaster2020 violin isn t interesting for everyone,specially virtuoso pieces while a pair of nice boobs it s much more interesting for most of people,that s why.

[ukepenviolin]

@WishMaster2020

Isn't that what everyone says about every genaration?

[animeimport]

look at his fingers o.o i think he's the one who used them in that way u.u amazing.. they are so "elegant"

[MosIonTaranul]

I like the white and black movies and also the people who used to appear in them.

This maestro is magnificent!

[toyouall]

Hillary Hahn is extremely accurate in terms of intonation. Technically she's right up on the top. Unfortunately that is also her greatest weakness.

IMHO, to be a successful musician, one has to have a fine balance of BOTH technical skills and 'substance'. Milstein for example has this, and that's why his playing sounds so interesting.

[mahermahamid]

nice

[InterlochenFan]

4:18-4:38 is absolutely brilliant......as is the whole piece. If you've never heard his version of Bach's Chacone, it's not to be missed. WOW!

[semisavage]

I name Milstein 'Old Butter fingers'. His hands are as melted butter; rich and smooth as silk. Just watching his hands is a thrill. If only the camera men had a clue. Hahn's hands look like something out of a robotics exposition by comparison. Of course it would help her to get rid of that sawhorse under the violin and get closer to her instrument. Milstein is holding the violin up with his left thumb and his whole body has to participate: thats Old School.

[gnatural]

@semisavage @semisavage the shoulder rest was invented for a reason, not everyone has a short neck that makes it easy to hold the violin, trying making my friend who is almost 6'4 play without a shoulder rest and see how comfortable it is since his neck is very long, he needs an extension on his chin rest also. so...yeah.

[christinebbb19]

Simply brilliant combination of clarity and passion!

I don't think that anyone else can play it this way!

[Juan19312010]

Magnífico. esto es arte en su puro estado.Juan Ramón

[danielearmuzza]

milistein the better ever

[elementrynub]

I like the older players better... Heifetz, Perlman, Oistrakh, Menuhin.. They express more feeling.

[cirecsc]

and..don't forget to Kreisler, remember that even he was cosnidered(at his age) better than heifetz

[wtfpwndzor]

@elementrynub thing is milstein was one of the very few players at the time that could compete with the intense virtuosity that heifetz had

[malikrox]

Haha, I love both interperetations. I think Milstein here assumes almost a humourous character, almost taunting Pagananini with the ease with which he can play the passages, where as Hahn's is more unassuming, but very musical and powerful. And I don't know how anyone could possibly say that one master of the violin is better than another. You can like or not like, that does not mean that one is better than another...

[Ahwellmaybe]

Depending on my mood, I prefer each player's version... Grading such great musicians is meaningless. They have different styles.

[FinaleFantasy]

What a great player!

[harpkeys]

Thanks so much for posting this video. What a great musician- such a wonderful sense of humor to combine great pieces of violin repertoire with the Paganini Caprice, and to have the virtuosity and flair to make it all musical and exciting.

[toyouall]

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!!!!!

[shawn1cai]

I did not know people were so partial to these superiors. Playing the violin myself for more than 13 years, I find all the people I listed proved exceptional prowess. I know there was no way to include them all, thuswhy i wrote "amongst many others".

I am truly sorry for stating my opinion. Are such "musical people" superior to the 20th century violin masters who admitted Heifetz's superiority?

Why argue? I simply replied that Milstein was not sloppy to a comment that also slandered Heifetz.

[jmccracken1963]

This is a WONDERFUL performance by Milstein!!! Thank you VERY much for sharing this with us!!!!! Out of curiosity, what TV show is this from? Is it the old ARTISTS' SHOWCASE program which aired on WGN-TV in Chicago???

[Lespaulludek]

OK SO:

1 Sarah Chang? Really? Her playing is about as interesting as Hilary Hahn's.

2 Hilary Hahn? I can't believe people are mentioning that name before one of the great masters of the 20th century.

3 Gil Shaham? REALLY?

Milsteins playing is incredible....first off, he composed this, so who are people to say that its sloppy? His left hand articulation is so incredible, I can hear every note in a run...incredible performance

ppl have become used to the age of digital remastering and cut+paste

[BeneBon]

How dare you compare Sarah Chang with Hilary Hahn!

Hahn is amazing, and if you don't find her playing to be interesting then there isn't much hope for you.

[alxteam]

@BeneBon Sarah Chang is better.End of story(:

[empoleon9999]

I don't know why, but I've come to quite enjoy Sarah Chang's style. Of course, it doesn't match up to Milstein, Oistrakh, or Heifetz, but still.

[fdapproved16]

Well, sorry to say, but in my opinion Hilary Hahn did a much better job of playing this than he did, although he did write this. It's just my opinion. He's incredible. Just incredibly sloppy. I mean, the performance was good, but his bowing and intonation just bothers me...

[moldyoreo]

While I respect your opinion, I think you're reacting to a difference of style and era preference than any fault of Milstein's technique. It's true that Hahn's version is a lot more palatable for younger audiences, but she lacks both the maturity and wisdom of this performance by Milstein.

[cageynerd]

I agree. The technical standards today are different and you can claim easily, that Hahn's technique really does transcend the music. I saw her play Ysaye 6 and it was just mindblowing. I think I came twice during that performance.

[justificator]

someone mentioned her arse smells much better also

[antoniojarf]

INCREÍBLE !!!!!!!!!

[Tinuviel11]

I'm amazed by his quiet and totally efficient left hand, contrasting with his loud and flamboyant bow arm. He played with an abandonment that was so refreshing! Too bad the cameraman was so clueless - shot WAY too close for most of the ending.

[ussenterprisecaptian]

Hifitz had a more refined technique. But Milstine has the souls a bit slopy but he had lisience to be so.

[shawn1cai]

@ussenterprisecaptian

Sloppy? You've got to be kidding me. It's a fact that Heifetz was king, but this is nowhere near sloppy. Milstein was known to be impeccably clean as well.

To those who think that Heifetz was not king, that is your opinion. The greatest violinists in the world admits that, and the world has accepted that. That is not a personal judgment - it was the judgment of the world.

[gnatural]

who is this worlds greatest violinist that admits heifetz was king? heifetz was one among many greats, but never the greatest, there is no such thing in music.

[shawn1cai]

It's not "world's greatest violinist". They're the "greatest violinists of the world" (note plural form).

Ricci, Kreisler, Stern, Grumiaux, Francescatti, Szernyg, Szigeti, Bell, Elman, Perlman, Kennedy, and yes, Milstein, too, amongst many others. They have all admitted this fact sometime in their career. I am not a living overseer, but I do not have to lie about anything of this matter. There might not be a true greatest because of opinion, but that doesn't mean there is no leader.

[BeneBon]

I agree with that statement, but how the hell did Josh Bell make this list?

More importantly why aren't David Oistrakh, Hilary Hahn, Ilya Kaler, and Oleg Kagan in this list? They are better than Perlman, Milstein, and yes JOSH BELL.

[BeneBon]

I find that most musical people find Oistrakh superior to Heifetz

[shiveringflower]

Don't forget:Albert Sammons and Vasa Prihoda :)

[ZuppiDaKidd]

but i also like mintz,perlman,krylov,hilary hahn...

[ZuppiDaKidd]

anne sophie mutter is my favourite!

[signorpaganini]

lol eat yout words please xD...

[violin1158]

My favorite violinists:

(deceased): Nathan Milstein, Jascha Heifetz, David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Misha Elman, Henryk Szeryng is also good.

(living): Gil Shaham, Hilary Hahn (Only for how clean she is). Maxim Vengerov to me is a hit or miss. Leila Josefowicz is also incredible.

But Milstein, Oistrakh, and Shaham are my fav. violinists out of all of them.

[violintaco]

WHAT ABOUT JANINE JANSEN??!!!!

[jasonform]

she sucks

[signorpaganini]

I dunno about Menuhin, i love his interpretations but his sound was really poor in my opinian

[Strad615]

@violin1158 I couldn't agree more. Especially with Gil Shaham in there and David Oistrakh as well. Both are my top favorites.

[fazlinamiza]

I glad youtube can help me hear some of greats.

that was good!

thanks for sharing

[intheknow7]

Fellow UTubers: Can u recommend other violinists on the level of Heifetz, Milstein, Issac Stern or Yitzchak Perlman? Trying to broaden my tastes - easy to get locked into favs.

Tx in advance.

[azas1949]

Sarah Chang ?

[DED319]

If you like Heifetz, try Kogan and Rabin. Szeryng is also excellent.

[themusicdr]

also zino francescatti, misha elman, tibor varga, david oistrakh (many others alos) -these are the old masters.

for modern soloists - vengerov, repin, chung, shlomo mintz, leila josefoviz -again probably more

[GKJusticar55]

and Krylov

[barcalonga]

(if there are multiple posts - sorry I'm having trouble with the reply buttons)

You could try Fritz Kreisler, Yehudi Menhuin, Anne Sofie Mutter or Joshua Bell...

[oldgoat5]

the younger menuhin

[cdavistwo]

Szigeti, and definitely Menuhin. There are some great recordings of Menuhin playing the Hungarian Rhapsodies. The trilled section is amazing.

[jayhl77]

You should keep an eye on Hilary Hahn. She's already one of the best violinists out there, and she's constantly improving, unlike many of her peers.

[carrottoponcrak]

Oh man, your missing Szigeti, Munuhin, Rabin, Elman, Ida Handel, Francescatti, Szeryng, Oistrakh, Zimbalist....theres so many old greats. And even with the modern violinists, Vengerov, Zimmerman, Repin, Kaler (one of my favorites)...the list goes on

[theoceanave]

To quote one critic, "You do not criticize this playing. You rejoice at its existence."

[gnatural]

what a beautiful quote.

[theoceanave]

i know, it is!! I love that quote too!

[violinhunter2]

@theoceanave A beautiful quote and a very wise and noble critic indeed!!!!

[imsleepyanddead]

for us mortal string players, this is simply not possible to perform legitimately.

[cdavistwo]

woah, his bow is so loose

[cdavistwo]

the trills section from 1:42-2:44 is completely ridiculous

[theoceanave]

how is it ridiculous?

[MexNortheastTaste]

Genial!!!!

[king3bsgx]

Mr Full Service, perhaps your brain and ears are faulty?! Get a life and stop criticizing obvious greatness. Learn how to respect and appreciate good and challenging music, as well as the performances. Don't be a moron...

[DiaboloJuggler]

Do you play Violine ?

[Yeshulion]

Mr Full Service is attempting to sound like he knows what he's talking about by critiquing a masterful performance. However, this is such a masterful performance that it actually backfires on Mr Full Service, and therefore he is revealed as the fraud he is, trying just to sound like he knows what he's talking about.

[surfboy]

the part strating at 5:06!  WOW. he has to have the fastest fingers of anyone ever playing the violin.!

[DiaboloJuggler]

Watch " Young Leonidas Kavacos plays No.5 " in Youtube! It´s maybe faster than this!

[empoleon9999]

Faster? Music isn't about how fast something it is.  Any music-lover or someone who has a clue about music can tell you that.

[IsaacDelarge]

heifetz had the utmost respect for milstein. every time milstein gave a concert near southern california, heifetz would require his students to attend as part of their course requisite.

[argentor16]

c'est incroyablement génial!

[slimbullet96]

Milstein just amazes me in every way possible. His composition is great too :)

[yagitori]

Is he trying to use melodies from the other Caprices to put into chord progression of the 24th?

[Trulashka]

я люблю этого скрипача и красивое проезведение а вобще круто

[giuseppeguarneri]

The best of all time.

[amargeaux]

Y'know, I just love stuff like this, it shows that the violin can be so good it can stand on its own two feet. this is where you get down to it's roots. orchestra is fine, but you can't really hear its true beauty.

[whoathere69]

classy

[MIchaelYiochalas]

Didn't know that Milstein was so impressive...Sure know it now!

[HerbicidalManiac]

You know how to see quality in music? No over the top theatrics. Not only is the music flawless the delivery looks smooth and painless and I am convinced I could do this with practice. NOT! hahaha

[RecalcitrantFunksaur]

"Över the top theatrics?"

[milstein91]

Why?

[sunyuloveu]

bullshit

[Edoom21]

never

[JPizzle1490]

The first variation he plays is different then what than what you hear others play. Why is that? anyone?

[Lecrob3]

Just cause he skips the original first variation of the sheet and plays immediately the second one.

[Lecrob3]

Actually I don't see the problem of my previous statement. This is exactly why it sounds different compared with other version. That's a fact.

At the same time it is true that it is his composition so he could do whatever he wanted.

[DGProDuckshon]

his composition... his right to play it any way he wants to...

[lawlaw122]

in my honest opinion, Milstein was and still is the greatest violinist when it comes to technique and tone, his sound is so damn perfect and his technique was just so far above everyone, excellent player its no wonder he was one of the few that could be compared to heifetz

[peteyXkid]

wonderful!!!!!

[violinhunter2]

Milstein - one of the GREATS. What a daredevilish virtuoso!!!! Reminds me of Gitlis.

[jasonform]

Gitlis??Come on Milstein's playing is much more intelligent and he has much better technique(Milstein)

[reichenau]

No one can play Paganini as cleanly as Milstein does.

[Lecrob3]

1) I love Milstein: he was amazing!

2) This is not Paganini (this is an extrapolation and modification of Paganini's themes made by Milstein himself).

3) There are just two recordings made by Milstein of Paganini's pieces and these are the caprices no.5 and n.11 (you can find the videos here).

[milstein91]

Why do you talk without knowing what you are saying?Milstein recorded also n 13.Youtube isn t everything.

[Lecrob3]

Sorry, you are right. However, I didn't base my statement on youtube.

In order to be precise, there is also a Milstein's registration of the n.17.

As you can see it is better to not be impolite and a bit nicer... nobody is perfect: even people that have in the nickname the name of the great Nathan! ;)

Peace and love...lol

[milstein91]

He played the 24 caprices of paganin for Ysayei but I only know the recordings of number 11,5 and 13.Where did you listen the 17?