Kogan's Cadenza

[ssw4m]

This Shostakovich concerto is astonishing. I've played some part of it (the slow movement!). It's tonal music, but uses the full color of the 12 tones. I'll take this over truly atonal music, any day of the week!

[seattlegrrlie]

This is the scariest version of this piece I've heard so far. Yes, that's a good thing!

[Oistrakhfollower]

Oh yeah right Kondrashin^^

[loboris1995]

Kondrachine for me^^

[Oistrakhfollower]

Oh, I think it's Kondrashin... or Svetlanov...?

[Oistrakhfollower]

Alright. Who is the conductor?? Shostakovich? Khachaturian? Rodzhestvensky? Temirkanov? Kondrashin? Svetlanov? ... ??

[bookish409]

I can't get over this.

Amazing.

[OriginalBasaliskos]

This is probably one of my favorite pieces of music. The third movement is one of the most sorrowful things I've ever heard, then it moves into something entirely frightening in the fourth.

[Waeweas]

So... fucking... GOOD.

[yellotheemcee]

iono if its kogan or just crappy recording technoledgy back then but this recording sounds kind of scratchy -.-

he's sounded better i feel

[dududevynidu]

Fantastic!

[dunjalavrova]

is there no full version of this cadenza on video? : (

[ILoveElena864]

This video is slightly speeded up.

[OriginalBasaliskos]

@ILoveElena864 No it isn't.

[TooMansuetude]

@OriginalBasaliskos

Sure it is! Are you blind?!

[OriginalBasaliskos]

@TooMansuetude Tell me, what leads you to believe it is sped up?

[flowforms]

@TooMansuetude sorry - I am violinist for 35 years. People can play at this speed. Not me but I know top people can. Anyway if it sped it will become out of pitch with higher frequencies

[OriginalBasaliskos]

@flowforms Exactly. Besides, I have the recording of this on CD and it's the same speed. People can play even faster than this too.

[SzalonaSzymonka]

Right the end, 5:15 onwards! Outstanding!

[SzalonaSzymonka]

I've just watch other truly great violinists playing this, but Kogan is still just in a class of his own.

[calloffthedogs]

I like the way Kogan just plays - he doesnt go overboard with body movements and facial contortions.

[takhirviolinest]

How Kogan's cadenza?

[PassionateViolinist]

Guarneris and Tourtes is easier for the violinist to express his/her individuality, unless in the hands of the master there are only "subtle" differences that even without it wouldn't hurt the quality

[PassionateViolinist]

"Got to be able to play" is another example that you lack emphasis on the art mastery. You probably said it the wrong way that everyone else is misunderstanding you i hope. And i assure you i am not the only one whether you agree or not

[symfotroll]

I did not feel the need to make an emphasis on the art mastery in case of somebody like Kogan. Guys like him are gods of the violin, who am I to even start talking about their mastery let alone emphasize something here? I just skipped this bit. Someone here was wondering how Kogan was getting away with smashing the strings with his bow. All I meant to say was that it's not JUST mastery, you can get away with a lot if you have the right tools.

[PassionateViolinist]

I see I see. I was assuming you were referring to the masters in that case. Yes the tools make things easier to a certain extent. To the average joe violinists yes the instruments make a huge part. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

[PassionateViolinist]

"It is mostly from quality of instruments" and "quality of instruments (violin AND bow) has a lot to do with it" sounds awfuly the same to me especially "a lot to do with it" if not in that terms what do you mean by "it"?

[symfotroll]

"It" means quality of playing, what the hell else are we talking about here? And good instrument (yes it's just a tool, nobody says it plays by itself) is a necessary component of the "IT". Btw, I'm still waiting for the answer to my question as to why all the Great violinists played on Guarneris and Tourtes?

[PassionateViolinist]

Like i said. No one in the audience could tell if Heifetz was playing on his Guarneri or a 5-dollar violin. So in that case instrument and quality is irrelevant. If you are asserting that the instrument deals a lot with quality in playing in ALL cases then i would disagree with you. If you mean most cases then yes i would agree to a certain extent.

[symfotroll]

Where did you get this anecdote from? I've not heard this one and I should have by now. What was the concert? who were the audience? for purity of the experiment one should play on both Guarneri and the 5-dollar one after another. I'm sure Heifetz could hypnotize the audience with a cheap fiddle, but when you play with the orchestra and you need to project and overpower the whole band playing say double forte...it's just not possible.

[PassionateViolinist]

There were many critics at that concert. Even to the point where a women came up to him and said "the sound of your Stradivarius was amazing". All i know is that it is a recital where during that time his 2 instruments were with his luthier. If it was an Orchestra then of course he would cancel the performance.

[symfotroll]

Oh well, those women...I guess that's possible, still I would love to know more. It's always the details that are interesting in such cases. Like what the critics would have to say off the record, and exactly what the fiddle was like, there are 5-dollars and there are 5-dollars. I doubt that Heifetz would lower himself by playing on total rubbish.

[PassionateViolinist]

I don't know his sentiments exactly. The 5-dollar violin was in pretty bad shape based off of the records during that time too. Mr.Heifetz is a very unpredictable violinist yet alone as a person, Maybe he was going for it just to test the audience or just for the heck of it, I don't know.

[symfotroll]

well...Heifetz is Heifetz of course. Still I would like to see that 5-dollar violin. I know from my little personal experience how frustrating and disheartening it can be - playing a crap fiddle, have to do it too often myself while teaching. Believe me, it's a torture. It's like you're made to make love to an ugly woman. Yak.

[PassionateViolinist]

I don't know what a 5-dollar violin quality is like, during that time. Another occassion where Mr.Heifetz once again played on a crap fiddle with his student quartet. No one noticed until he stopped the performance abrubtly and broke the violin across his knees. No one knew until then he was playing on a 5 dollar violin

[symfotroll]

So they did not realize that it was a cheap one till he broke it? it's quite funny

[calloffthedogs]

LMAO!!!

[PassionateViolinist]

With Mr.Heifetz or Mr.Kogan playing a piece of junk does not make his playing a piece of junk either. It is all in the player whether you want to admit it or not.

[SierraNeef]

I dont know ho's face scares me most: Kogan's or Oïstrakh's (at playing, otherwise he's quite friendly). Both are magnificent, dough.

[dxhaloxc]

i don't understand how he can get so much power and cleanliness on those upbows starting off the string.

[kelamuni]

upbows: i was asking myself the same thing watching the passacaglia two minutes ago. it's uncanny.

[symfotroll]

quality of instruments (violin AND bow) has a lot to do with it.  don't listen to those who say that it's just mastery.

[PassionateViolinist]

Thats a load of %$%. I've heard players play on Guarneris and Strads even Tourtes for a bow and it sounded awful. In that case i might as well have a 3 year old play on a strad and call him a master

[symfotroll]

Really? You've heard crap players "play on Guarneris and Strads even Tourtes"? THAT sounds @*&^ to me. By the way, I did not say that mastery does not matter, that your line about a 3 year old is idiotic.

[PassionateViolinist]

It may seem crap to you but there are players who sound like they are scratching on the Guarneri or Strad. Whether you want to argue or not it is all mastery. For example Mr.Heifetz played on a 5 dollar violin and no-one even noticed. Therefore it is not just the instrument or bow...you have to realize what i am trying to say from my metaphor. You are taking it too literally. It is your logic that is idiotic. "It is mostly from quality of instruments"...Bull$#$%

[symfotroll]

"It is mostly from quality of instruments"-who are you quoting here? I never said anything like that. Learn to read.

[PassionateViolinist]

The instruments in itself is nothing but a tool to make the player's job easier to demonstrate their mastery. Basically your saying mastery is irrelevant in general and as long as you can play the right notes and rhythmn you are a "master". It is nothing but a farce that it is the instrument that dictates whether you are a master or not.

[symfotroll]

Hey, stop putting words into other people's mouthes. I've never said anything as idiotic as that crap you posted above, don't even want to quote it. Of course you've got to be able to play, it goes without saying, for f@#$'s sake!

[PassionateViolinist]

"putting Words"?! I am just quoting of what you exactly said. You may not think that everyone thinks that you are implying that quality of instruments deals a lot with mastery and saying mastery is irrelevant in making a great player but i am well sure everyone else thinks you are.

[symfotroll]

And why the hell all these great players spent the money on Guarneris and Tourtes if according to you it matters not? With all their mastery why couldn't they just play on any fiddle and with any bow?

[PassionateViolinist]

Very well then "quality of instruments (violin AND bow) has a lot to do with it", it is still the same thing. You should know that there are not so great players who played on a strad or Guarneri.

[symfotroll]

What? No, It is NOT the same thing! You have misinterpreted my very first post and got yourself all worked up here.

[Violinboyhere]

Wait, what happened to the first 9/10ths of the Cadenza?!?

[yellotheemcee]

u realize this is PART OF THE CADENZA

and then the burlesque...

[DaveS12382]

Was anybody seriously critisizing this? I know next to nothing about classical music and its quite apparent to me this guy is a virtuoso and it sounds awesome. I love the sound of the violin.

[bbiguy]

1:57, he gave me a death glare by peering into your eyes !

[spress15]

3:57, I think you mean. No matter, the intensity throughout is awesome!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Where's the beginning of this??

[PassionateViolinist]

I believe in my opinion that Kogan really nailed Shostakovich concerto in a positive way.

[issavestheworld]

He's god with Shostakovich

[takhirviolinest]

I like Mr. Oistrakh's playing

[issavestheworld]

I love Oistrakh too!

[takhirviolinest]

He play realy with meaning and with ,,, I can not speak with words

[x1235791113x]

there's no reason that there should be any negative markings on this comment, first, there's a reason shostakovich wrote this for oistrakh, second this isn"t even the cadenza, but mostly just the last movement

[dmelkumo]

kogan is incredible! too bad not many americans know about him

[kehwa]

I don't know which American's you know, but Kogan is a well known historical figure with many I know.

[dmelkumo]

I am happy you are surrounded by people with such great expertise in violin playing. You should be feeling blessed to be part of that community.

[kehwa]

It doesn't take great expertise to realize what a great violinist Kogan was. It is just the culture of classical music that is fading. When this happens, you might see as Americans as uneducated. However this is the case in the rest of the world. Classical music has been dying for a very long time.

[calloffthedogs]

sadly I think you are right. The world as a whole (and especially the US) has been retrogressing for the last 20 years. Not only in terms of music, but education and the quality of students being produced.

[naumrenato]

where's the rest of the cadenza?

[violinchick25]

ditto!!! where's the rest?!

[bassozgur]

he is the only perfect Paganini concerto player ever..

[plemax]

Totally agree!!!

[cromulentinnoc3nce]

Some folks can't take a fuckin opinion. Kogan is my favorite, with that raw intensity, but I love Vengerov too. Sure, he goes a little over the top in his interpretations pretty often, adds accents and crescendos where there shouldn't be any, can be sloppy at times, and makes funny faces, but he sure as hell ain't no boring cookie cutter virtuoso like the vast majority of them. It's hard to match his charisma.

[kzm1]

kogan is a sirious artist. not to be put in the same sentence with showmen like vengerov.

[shake69585882]

How come so many people have so little respect for "showmen" like Vengerov when some of the most respected names in violin history are "showmen." Think Paganini.

[MIchaelYiochalas]

Yes but Paganini could actually play.Vengerov just scratches the violin.He cannot even produce strong and loud sound!The problem with Vengerov is not the show but his playing,which could be much better without the show.Paganini could play and show off.Vengerov cannot.

[kzm1]

thank you.

[mophoplz]

I have to disagree strongly, Michael. Vengerov is one of the stronger players today. In fact, I think he often overpowers the instrument. Listen to him play Ysaye's Sonata No. 3 'Ballade' or the Wieniawski Variations on an Original theme and tell me he is incapable of producing a strong or loud sound. He's quite a showman, yes, particularly with the gestures and movements, but to say that he can only scratch the violin? Bollocks.

[iluminada333]

we don't know exactly how paganini was expressing his showmanship but vengerov is too obvious sometimes; and also he doesn't have 24 caprices or concertos... Vengerov is a good musician though; i'm not saying anything about that...

[benopus111]

These are the least productive conversations. It's fair to criticize musicians of great skill, but it's first and foremost important to ground critique in something substantive. Vengerov is not one of my favourite violinists, but I do admire him - and the comparison with Paganini is really out of place. Comments like that just encourage having youtube threads fall apart at the seams. Kogan's tone is incredible here: less warm than some, but ideally suited to Shostakovich's sound. Brilliant.

[Lespaulludek]

@kzm1, yeah, he was serious all right. He didn't make grimaces like Vengerov does, and didn't ever look as if he was smelling shit while playing.

[scottydscottd]

@kzm1 you spelled serious wrong.

[vonlubcke]

@scottydscottd well, most likely kzm1 at least bilingual, what other language do you speak?

[MrHalych]

@kzm1

Absolutely truly

[fiddlinmatt]

everyone argues so much about all of the interpreters and interpretations out there. While I think it is up to debate, I like go back to these old soviet masters. If you think about it, Shostakovich was probably at most of the live performances of this piece in the Soviet Union, or at least the ones by Moscow/Leningrad. Or he at least had to have worked through it with them. I'm not saying it's absolute, but these guys probably got the closest to what Shost. had in mind.

[leonidaskavakos]

very true

[dagdas01]

I love Kogan, I just recently discovered him, but I will always love Oistrakh's just a bit more I think. I've heard it was written for Oistrakh. But Kogan has that intensity that I love in violinists.

[waxenwings89]

Lmfao.  What? That was so absurdly amusing.

[dagdas01]

ooo i like this...but I like how Oistrakh plays it just a bit more

Why haven't I found this guy yet!? he's amazing

[ellegin88]

you haven't heard of leonid kogan...?.....

[maestro8bowser]

Wow, bravo!!!

[kogan15]

the best forever

[Gallipoli717]

Agreed...where are all the Vengerov lovers? They need to listen to Kogan.

[JohnBucketHoweVai]

yep

[OtsoB]

Kogan is an astounding violinist, yet I much prefer Vengerov's recording of this concerto, especially this movement. Kogan just sounds, well, a bit sloppy playing this.

[Gallipoli717]

You should get his recording of the piece. It's made to fit...and I disagree, his playing in no way compares with Vengerov's. This is so much more a tour de force...No Comparison!!

[Nikodym]

The Vengerov lovers have never heard any real violinists, that's why they are not here.

[khanbass]

Ive seen Vengerov perfom this concerto live twice and once you see him in person. He is without doubt one of the greatest violinists of all time and possibly the best interpreter of this concerto... It's not just the technique, but the absolute power of his musicality and understanding of the concerto's meaning. Also because most of the performances including recordings were done with Rostropovich, its not hard to say its authoratative.

[Hopfensperger]

I don't think there is anything wrong with his performance of this movement, which has the least room of all four for individual interpretation by the violinist.  This movement relies far more on technique than musical sensibility, and Vengerov's technique is simply phenomenal.

[Gallipoli717]

If you want technique, then maybe you need to listen to Leonidas Kavakos! And he is a phenomenal musician. I'm not saying Vengerov is bad, just that he is over-rated! And he has gone over-the-top with some of his interpretations. Where's the simplicity!

[Freshmanwave]

Sorry, Kogan is much better. Enough said.

[xxxxxx06]

I think Kondrashin doesn't know how to follow soloists. Or he doesn't know how to organize an orchestra. Kogan and Mravinsky would have been the ultimate combination.

[mrviolinman]

from all thebest i whant an apenian who is better hifets or kogan

[bitchass888]

Da best ever!

[bahotheviolon]

it is great

very good.

[Jeandebolanos]

Thank you so much!!

[dustinzev]

was the timpani off, not beat wise, but...idk...sounds a little off

[Freshmanwave]

I think they are off a bit.

[ellegin88]

so intense

[violin144000]

for five minutes this piece is full of notes!

[fsolanod81]

Man, this interpretation and the video are awesome!! ... but you should change (if possible) the title of the video.. this is the Burlesca of Shostakovich Violin's concerto, it's its 4th and final movement.. not anymore the cadenza. It could make it easier to find... I got it by chance.

[KoganSvetlanov]

Ok, let's gonna say Cadenza-Burlesque , much mor einteresting to see him playing the cadenza rather than the burlesque ( In my opinion ), Kogan plays this concerto much better than oistrakh

[abburidotakaria]

Better than vengerov?

[topogordo]

and who is the conductor? No one shoot showing the conductor...

[KoganSvetlanov]

the conductor is kyrill kondrashin, , you can see him conducting at 2:57

[KoganSvetlanov]

don't think this recording was from 1968....

[KoganSvetlanov]

where the fuck was this video ??? ARHGGGGGG YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS­SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[mrviolinman]

i think heifetz and kogan are very close but i'LL GIVE the edge to heifetz but not much

[kotomalamitsosos]

hm...I believe that Oistrakh and Kogan were more cloose to each other

[tzhdu]

Bravo. A heartfelt thankyou to frye for posting this, as well as the Oistrakh cadenza. Each player is wonderful in his own way, and every music lover has their own preferences, so I shall not insist that one is "better" than the other. I have only just discovered Kogan, after years of admiring Oistrakh (where have I been?), and I think choosing between these two virtuosi would be a really tough call.

[waxenwings89]

YES! i've been looking for this. Thanks!

[BowTieGuyUK2000]

Oh I think so many of these so called youngster "musicians" could learn so much from this man (and others of his ilk).

[typicalmusiclover]

Kogan rules! look at that face, so determined, I wish all violinist today could look and play seriously like oistrakh, kogan and other great violinists.

[kzm1]

if heifetz is our king, kogan is our god

[stradivariusone]

thanks for the video ... this guy can flat out play ...speed and articulation ..

[xxSugerxFreexMexx]

look at the determination on his face, this is just amazing

[S0NNABEND]

This is one of the most phantastic play ever been played and you are worry about the "facial expression"?! Unbeliveable!!!

[bryanmurray]

hey hungwildparti , isaac stern died september 22 2001 so its impoosible for you to hear about his death the same morning of 9 11

kogan is incredible

[weikko79]

Perhaps Hungwildparti only heard of 9 11 on 9 22?

[bryanmurray]

yea i guess if he lives under a rock

lol

[cloverahhh]

ianchow-hes playing shostakovich, he has the perfect facial expression!

and this isnt so much a cadenza as the very last part of a cadenza and the last movment...

[ianchow107]

The only bad thing is his facial expression

He seems thinking how to kill himself all the time AHAHAHA

[ianchow107]

WOWWWW

That was so exciting

[CincyDude5]

Great playing, poor camera work. Enough of his face, already- how about his hands, bow, violin...

[shlomzion]

Yes, the cameraman could have been a bit more imagineative

[Freshmanwave]

I like the aggressiveness behind the Russian technique. The sound is very sharp.

[electriscape]

this is one of my favorite videos on youtube, thanks for posting it

[hungwildparti]

BUt how absurd to make a statement that the russian school of violin playhing was far better than any other. Surely the people that say stuff like that are simply trying to get a response from the peoiple. Sahme on the people for not responing in abhorance. if you knwo i damn thingk about music making you realize that there are 1000 or more violinist, pianist, cellis, singers in new york city alone that play as well as those you mentioned. HEllo, open them eyes, and mostly open them EARS

[Ulvsblakk]

each person is very different from another, the same for countries...not all countries are the same, not all people feel the same way, there are somethings that happened in some countries that made the people be what they are, thats personalty (of a person, of a country etc) im sure that there are excelent musicians in usa, in mexico, in chile, wherever you want, but russians are unique (like all off course), well this is so subjective, lets enjoy music...and beers

[KMC1986106]

There are 1000 musicians who are better than Heifetz, Milstein, and Oistrakh?

[weikko79]

OK. Could you name them?

[don123cc]

This reply is for KMC1986706. Before you make such a stupid unverifiable factual assertion such as the one you made please learn to listen with your ears and not your eyes. Oistrakh, Milstein and Heifetz are great violinst in there own right. Most of todays Violinst don't have much to offer as far as musicality is concerned, but as for technically yes; which may I add can only get you so far. All I am trying to say is don't be ignorant.

[sofly09]

I think KMC was being rhetorical. Look at hungwild's post saying that there 1000 more players better than so and so, and KMC was just being sarcastic...

[hungwildparti]

well so was issac stern, he wasw actully born in russia.he was a profoud intellect and one of the finest musicians of the 20th and 9 months into the 21st century.

i recall tuning in on 9.11 and as sad as the planes flying into the buildings was on that same morning, hearing of the death of the great isaac stern.

[dgrin]

Yehudi Menuhin was of Hungarian extraction, not Russian, but still a remarkable violinist.

[joanna4591]

im still amazed....:0

just simply spectacular....

[ladyviolinist]

LOVE it. ADORE it. practically WORSHIP it.

[trevorpinnocky]

SamLee0519 i'm from the Russian school. Specifically David Oistrakh. ; )

[egonsky]

f*ck Menuhin... i dont even think he even recorded that concerto!!!

[Freshmanwave]

You forgot one guy: Yehudi Menuhin.

[Laprevotte]

Y. Menuhin's parents came from Russia just before he was born. It's not the "method" as much as it is the mentality. I was born in Ex-Soviet Union, and the MUSIC there (not the BUSINESS) was the most respected occupation one could have. More kids took music classes than in any other countries. And they took it seriously!

[electriscape]

wooowww

[trevorpinnocky]

great player. the russian school produces the best players...; )

sorry, just playing favorites... lol

[SamLee0519]

And yet, that's true. But it has nothing to do with race. It's just the method of teaching of Russia. Not Russia itself.

If you don't believe that Russian schools produce the best violinists, look at Milstein, Oistrakh, and Heifetz. There's tons more but from looking at those three, it's the end. No competition.

And of course, Leonid Kogan.

[Freshmanwave]

I love the cadenza.

[misterbg1]

motherF-----

[squarezzhao]

Simply awesome, as is the accompaniment by Kondrashin.

[OistrakhMilstein]

whats this piece?

[thurizaz]

I'ts a part of the Cadenza and the 4th movement (Allegro Con Brio) from Shostakovich's Violin Concerto.

[robotnik77]

Wow. Leonid was 'ON' !! Great video.

[andrewchwong]

A very powerful playing indeed. Make a contrast with Oistrakh's version!

[marking99]

Kogan rocks!!! I like his interpretation, very intense~

[boydxun]

OH WOW kogan is on fire