Leonid Kogan - Lalo Symphonie Espagnole (5th mov.)

[justingf15]

I just <3 the 5th movment of lalo symphonie espagnole

[occetina]

c'est comme si on entendait les etats de l'ame. c'est magique ce violon!

[izmir16loveyerevan]

kogan is greatest violinist in the world!!!!!!!!!

[SzalonaSzymonka]

Kogan is the master. I was marvelling at Kogan's note-making speed in his performance of Carmen Fantasy, and this is another joy to listen to. Such a rich sound with such technical brilliance - a rare combination indeed. Bravo, Mr Kogan!

[megaluna2]

He sounds like crystal. Bright, shiny crystal.

[violinpiddlingfrog]

This is my new favourite recording of this piece! just amazing!!

Where did you get the recording if this? I would love to have it in my music library.

[SzalonaSzymonka]

Friend: there be some free straight-to-mp3 downladers. Try DVD Video Soft's Free studio Manager. Then you can just download this video as an mp3, then you can wack that mp3 on your player or burn it to CD.

[lezare2012]

Kogan is the best at this...even better than Heifetz!!!

[timmy998877]

The reason why Kogan didn't get as much attention as Heifetz or Oistrakh is because he shunned publicity. Ironically, Kogan used all steel strings, trading warmth and sweetness for the clarity and articulation inherent in steel.

[Khu827]

He was also allegedly a colonel in the KGB, which is usually a thumbs down to your public reputation.

P.S. " 'Iron'-ically, Kogan used all steel strings" hahaha... haha... ha... okay, end of terrible pun.

[themusicdr]

just superb despite all the prob w recording etc. kogan is far too under-rated

[themusicdr]

my fav movmt of the lalo. by my fav violinist

[OriginalMoonbeam]

Also have to consider what happens at the time of recording..older recording equipment if "off" just a bit in speed throws off intonation (I worked in a recording studio)The violin is the most difficult instrument even today to record with accuracy but digital equipment has changed the face of recording dramatically. Taking recording equipment to a site in the past could be difficult and results unpredictable.

[gawgul]

When I listen to Kogan's performance, I feel like his mind is racing ahead of the emotional demands of the piece. I still go back to Silvia Marcovici's performance for inspiration--available on youtube, and I feel she's grounded in the dramatic and emotional aspect of the music, and believe it or not plays the 5th mvt. more cleanly than Kogan, though not quite as fast.

[UltimateViolin]

To each his own...though I do admire Ms. Marcovici's performance. I don't think she's cleaner than Kogan though...perhaps she has more emphasis on the notes, but if you listen to Kogan's CD, the notes sparkle gloriously. Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to get that kind of fidelity past YouTube's encoder. However, if you add &fmt=18 to the end of the link, you get much improved audio.

[gawgul]

Much better sound with &fmt=18. I expect perfection from Kogan--noticed distortion of intonation that I would be more likely to excuse in lesser mortals. Something very cerebral or academic about his playing that I can't put my finger on--to each his own, as you say. Kogan's a bit of an enigma to me. Thanks for posting. He plays rings around most everybody.

[NestorAudinotviolins]

respectfully disagree a 1000%. She is a wonderfully dramatic player no doubt, but she is not in Kogan's league. Not even close. Not with this piece or any other I've heard.

[gawgul]

I was surprised that I had to take so many points off for intonation alone. He makes this little ditty sound more like a hastily prepared etude--I'm sorry--I give Marcovici credit for a more drmatic and courageous performance, and I liked her intonation better. In theory, she's not in his league, I'll grant you that...but there's a fullness there I prefer to Kogan's lean and mean machine...

[NestorAudinotviolins]

I just listened to her performance again. She does a very good job even though her tempo is plodding, which is why I downgrade her slightly. I hear all of the notes clearly in Kogan's rendition - wonderfully articulated. I thought his intonation was good. Maybe I'm missing something. To each his own.

[gawgul]

I listened to Kogan again--I hear the incredible clarity--he's great- I've got to just listen and resist the temptation to compare--takes a lot of discipline. I'm a fan, too, or have been--I have some great recordings of Kogan on the big concertos.

[NestorAudinotviolins]

Sylvia is easy on the eyes though :)

[gawgul]

Lol. She scored much higher than Kogan in that department.

[NestorAudinotviolins]

I understand what you are saying about Kogan. I only have this to say: The fruits of Kogan's artistry are not always offered up at first encounter. Heifetz, Perlman - one immediately says "wow". Kogan is more subtle and difficult to comprehend I think. But once one understand him - shizam!

[violin03]

Thanks! Pretty rare stuff.