Leonid Kogan - Paganini Violin Concerto in D (1st mov p1-3)

[safari5336]

Absolutely great

[electricviolnist]

7.26 makes me squeal with happiness like a little girl!

[beautifuldana]

Мне очень нравится Хейфец,он непревзойденный виртуоз.Но это лучшее исполнение концерта Паганини из всех,что я слышала.В его исполнении столько чувства,что я понимаю,почему в фильме Никколо Паганини использовалось именно исполнение Леонида Когана.БРАВО,МАЭСТРО!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!

[CaninAble]

Stunning. Thank you.

[milstein91]

Kogan is paganini nobody plays paganini like him

[pianofolle]

GOSH! the low sound he makes at 5.56 is not of this earth!!

[doritosmusic1]

What kind of people dislike that music??

[MrVko94]

Leonid Kogan == Nicolo Paganini!

[lorelea131]

Обожаю эту запись ! Леонид Коган , как всегда , великолепен ! Исполнительская версия - просто слов нет ... Наверное сам Паганини именно так и сыграл бы ...

[Flaminggential]

forgive me if i m outta line, but pitch of the recording seems a bit off at times?

[utra1337]

@Flaminggential where?

[Flaminggential]

@utra1337 did he tune half tone higher? my ears rn't very sharp

[utra1337]

@Flaminggential well, intonation is relative, to the intervals between each note. His A string may be tuned above A 440, but that really doesnt matter, Paganini used to tune his strings higher and lower all the time.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Why is this concerto so damn good? There's nothing remarkable or spectacular about it aside from the fact that it's somehow become one of my favorite concertos of all time. I don't know what it is, it must contain some sort of intangible artistic quality that can't be described.

[assindiastignani]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 I think it's because the piece is just one big, sun-drenched, gorgeous Italian opera meoldy after another. The second theme of the 1st mvt. exposition is right up there with Bellini's "Qui la voce" (Puritani) as one of the most beautiful melodies of all time.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@assindiastignani That makes sense, even though I don't like Italian opera or even opera in general. I think what makes this piece stand out is Paganini's control and mastery of melodic direction. As you said, it's very operatic, and every line/part in the non-melodic lines serves only to further expose/support the melody rhythmically and harmonically, making the actual melodic line sound as fantastic as possible. Also, I feel that he's pretty good at manipulating simple harmonies to intensify

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@assindiastignani the melody itself. Obviously, Paganini was no Bach when it came to harmony or counterpoint, but because he was weak in those areas he made up for it by being as great as possible at melodic writing. So while Paganini's music never reached the textural depth of Bach or even his contemporaries, he mastered melodic writing to the same degree as some of the greatest composers of all time, hence why the theme from his 24th caprice is the most common subject for theme and variations

[violinstupid]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 i love you

[ThR3742]

Kogan avait vraiment un don tout particulier pour les œuvres de Paganini ! Mon interprétation favorite de ce concerto !

[nirs1975]

It's my favorite performance of the Concerto No. 1 by Paganini.

Thank you for uploading it.

[QwertyAzerty2009]

this piece reminds me of Wienawski's Op. 20 Faust Fantasie for Violin and Piano!

*please forgive my spelling

[cassandra5322]

it's good that you have this recording, it's hard to find much Kogan around.

[kamjew]

Kogan plays Paganini's Concerto #1 in 1951 "Queen Elisabeth Music Competition"

and got 1st Prize.I love his playing all way expressing passion and excitement!

I have been listen to his playing at Canton, China during Soviet Artists 1952 Visiting Concerts: He plays Gypsy Airs, Banjo and Fiddles... kamjew  07/13/2010

[arubian06]

kogan was the man,he brought seriousness to his playing,there is no joke or crack anyone can make about his playing or technique.a true legend

[jcocupa]

GREAAT!!! THE BEST PAGANINI PERFOMANCE

[Maverickrad]

Simply amazing. I just do not understand why some people give some lousy comments about great musicians. This is music and there is no plate for criticizing anyone, We people are not in position to criticize any of these musicians. Once I've heard that some people have criticized even Paganini himself.

[MarcheseCadmio88]

Quale suprema pulizia in ogni nota emessa!

[yscslim]

the BEST!

[yscslim]

MY HERO!

[QwertyAzerty2009]

KOGAN!!!!

[Pashapopov75]

The way of his playing Paganini is ABSOLUTE!

Untouchable...

[Rinhos]

Kogan is probably one of the few "historical" violinist that I love!! ♥

[GirlMusicVideoMaker]

omg, and Iam about to play this piece...it's kinda difficult ^^'' T-T

[alexeyrojas]

very good cut!

[jayadsilva67]

And please address him as Mr. Kogan. I think being the finest violinist that ever lived he deserves some respect. Also get his name right for there will be and there has been no other like him

[jayadsilva67]

Also Oistrakh was not as good as Mr. Kogan. Oistrakh was mainly promoted by the Commis. For Mr. Kogan his music did the talking. He needed no promotor. OIstrakh cleverly treated Mr. Kogan as his equal. But really Mr. Kogan was far superior.

[Rinhos]

@jayadsilva67 I absolutely agree!

[assindiastignani]

@jayadsilva67 That's just plain silly. "Oistrakh was mainly promoted by the commies." Where do people come up with such nonesense. Whereas ist is true, that Kogan was to a certain degree in Oistrakh's shadow (as was the case a little with Milstein and Heifetz) to say one is better than the other is so unnecessary. The were both great and very different,and I know what I'm talking about - I heard both live. P.S. David Oistrakh was completely unpolitical.

[crazy77town]

the true respect is hiden behind the words, and each person has the right to express its respect upon to a person in the way that it feels it the best... all this savoir seems to me completely plane, without any real point !!

and by the way, the name should be written in kyrillic alphabet if you want to pronounce it right

[evil2salad]

love how he handles those high g-string notes

[MrsLilic]

I agree that 10% of natural talent is not enough to become a top musician. It must be much more.

[11777766]

Kokan's Paganini is as masterful as Paganini himself was so musically gifted.

[Lukecash12]

Is this on Paganini's Cannon Violin?

[daughtersprince]

I was 10 years old when I heard this music and fell immediately in love with it.

[calloffthedogs]

Hilary would readily admit Kogan's superiority. She is just a kid. A wonderful talent no doubt, but still just a kid.

[Lukecash12]

Vomit....

[einekleineblues]

Kogan is king when it comes to the D major concerto

[MusicologoUAM]

Perdonen que no sepa expresarme bien en inglés. Soy múscio y crítico musical desde hace 25 años.

Yo admiraba esta versión, pero creo que hoy en día la mejor es la de Hilary Hahn por encima de las demás. Ustedes son la mayoría americanos, creo; no desprecien lo suyo, tienen a la mejor violinista que ha habido.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

I understand Spanish quite well but do not speak it. There's NO way you can compare Hahn to Kogan. Kogan is MUCH better. Kogan es mejor que Hahn.

[calloffthedogs]

Hahn should not appear in the same sentence as Kogan in my opinion. She is VERY good no doubt, but not comparable to Kogan.

[maxohpne]

as soon as two performers play the same piece, they are comparable. I'm not saying that one is better than the other, I keep that for me, some people think their thoughts are the good ones...

[utra1337]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 Yea, Kogan is a legend when it comes to technique. He is basically the reincarnation of Paganini himself!

[pianofolle]

i like the comment on this page. as for me, im far more crazy about kogan's "musicality" than technic - not bc his isn't the very top of violin art, but simply bc technic enters the ears while musicality enters the heart. And my heart is mostly filled with Milstein and Kogan

[sivery70914]

Kogan is to Paganini same as Rubenstein to Chopin. only thing are : they don't compose, Rubenstein was better player than Chopin, but Kogan, I bet he was about same.

[danielwowman]

this is very good but i like maxim vengerov some more still

[Zhou9]

What I love about Kogan is that his sound is solid on every bow stroke. His weight is always there, in just the right amount.

[junkfromtg]

listen to the menuhin recording of this concerto on youtube...none better...in fact the young yehudi would have held his own against anyone...shame about the atonia due to a car accident

[milstein91]

Well if we are talking about technique,there are violinists on the same level as Kogan,Milstein etc...There is Kavakos,Hilary Hahn,Mintz very few.I mean technical mastery only.

[calloffthedogs]

No! Not quite! Those folks are all fabulous, but not on the same techical level as Kogan, Milstein AND Heifetz.

[calloffthedogs]

Kavakos does have a tendency to blow one away though! Technically speaking. Hahn's Paganini is technical but plodding bc she does not have the techical resources. Her intonation is outstanding though and she is a marvelous violinist overall. Not on Kogan's level though.

[pianofolle]

can we really put Hirshhorn aside from this list...?

[calloffthedogs]

Hirshhorn wsa UNbelievable

[pianofolle]

he truly was. destiny wasnt generous enough with his life.

[themusicdr]

fascinating debate. i thnk p'haps many modern violinists would find it hard to reach kogans immense level of style technique but more importatnly virtuosity and musicality. but i dont think we should give up there is still hope.

i do thnk it does have something to do w work ethos also. talent can only go a certain way but there is no doubt that kogan worked and worked to perfect his style and this is what made him so great.

nonetheless this is superb to listen to

[calloffthedogs]

again, another keen observation by the good dr.

[themusicdr]

thank you sir for your kind comment. indeed talent (whihc kogan had in abundance) on its own will not suffice. how does roger federer look so graceful and effortless on the tennis court b'cos hes supremely talented but also works damn hard. in fact i like this analogy! as for violinists the same applies look at vengerov -immense talent but also grueling work ethic. i understand when he had a quite yr he only played 52 concerts! i hope he stops conducting and starts playing again soon

[maxohpne]

what I'm always being told is that in music you need only 10% of talent and 90% of discipline.

[themusicdr]

i think one can extend that to many fields of endeavour. in fact someone told me (in terms of studying medicine) it's 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration .

however in this field (music) i think there has to be more degree of natural talent than 10%b'cos not everyone who works so hard will achieve such a level of kogan ostraikh milstein heifetz etc etc

[joanna4659]

Seriously a GREAT violonist

[ultimat3gangstarr]

PURE OWNAGE!!!!! lol

KOGAN is my favorite violinist, besides Anne Sophie Mutter. Although I do recognize that he could beat her in a competition any day!

[calloffthedogs]

ASM is easier on the eyes though!

[Violinjunky]

For SAB3156-Who are you to say what is garbage and unworthy of being remembered? Why have you put yourself on a pedestal of saying who is worthy of being listened to and who must be discarded? This is certainly up to each individual, the person you directed this comment to happens to be a violinist AND a avid researcher on violinists history..you have no idea who you directed this comment to. I have great respect for her and her opinions and you have proven yourself to be without discernment

[bbiguy]

I dont see how, Paganini did write the music Kogans playing.

[littleridinghood28]

i think he/or she means that paganini would appreciate that Kogan played this piece.

but without Paganini, this concerto wouldn't even be around!

what a great piece!

[Violinjunky]

I agree, I think Paganini would be blown away by a couple of our modern day performers-yet pleased by our love for his music.

[sab3156]

I doubt he would even care for the modernists, but I do think he would love the depth of artistry displayed by the late romantics. The appreciation for Kogan that he would have would be akin to the appreciate Rachmaninov had for Horowitz, or Albeniz had for Tarrega.

[OriginalMoonbeam]

Many of Paganini's contemporaries referred to his musicianship as utter garbage--some called it "cat scratching"; they referred to it as an utter outrage. He was quite a modernist for his time, playing with and updating some of Locatelli's work, adapting his violin, traveling as a solo artist. Ever adaptive and creative I think he would just take the modernists on up another notch. Many people have eclectic taste in music and art, having the ability to appreciate a broad scope.

[sab3156]

Indeed. However, their inability to understand his virtuosity came from a deep-seeded need for uniformity in such cultural times. Also, the technique was still developing, and it is normal for people who push the boundaries to be criticized. However, the criticism that an artist would give the new generation isn't based on these traits, but on the fact that they TRY to perform at the level of the older generation, yet can never deliver the same sense of soul-stirring excellence.

[OriginalMoonbeam]

are you familiar with Shlomo Mintz? Ilya Kaler? We have a number of living violinists who are most excellent in technique and artistically--and some that are clearly moving in that direction. I will remain open minded and appreciative and in support of artists who are working towards achieving excellence in music whether they are just starting out, whether they just "community orchestra" muscians, or top soloists. Art and music is for everybody-not just the supremely gifted.

[sab3156]

I agree with you that Art and Music are for everyone - yet the points still remain. We can see that the world has not produced another Horowitz or Rubinstein, Milstein or Oistrakh, etc. And if it intends to bring more excellence to the artistic world, then it has to break out of this mindset that you can place the lesser talented generation on the pedestal of sublimity. I'm not bashing anyone, but stating the philosophy.

[Krantll]

You are correct, but you also have to consider the time period these people lived in. Oistrakh and Kogan for example, lived in the back then Soviet Union, a communist country where flawlessness was a necessity. These artists not only strived for perfection in themselves and to give a spectacular performance, but this was also their bread and butter, their income. Many hours and hours of practice went into the hard earned technique they have developed to be recognized by their homeland.

[Krantll]

Sorry about the double post, but continuing on from where I left off, times were hard back then. Lots of competition to be recognized, the pressure of being great and creating an excellent technique, and also to create excellent beautiful music. My point, they were under a great deal of pressure. Pressure violinists of this time have not seen. Sure some have amazing talent, but these violinists set themselves apart where they underwent extreme training to produce an amazing sound unmatched today

[plemax]

What a bullshit are you talking about? He is amazing violinist not because of communists pressure, but because of his talent and russian-soviet violin school, that begin its development far before communists took over. Also he didn't worry about bread and butter, he worried about been famous and above average. Bread and butter is capitalism thing. He got his education for free from most talented people in USSR and in most strongest school of that time. From there his success came from.

[Violinjunky]

You are showing utter ignorance in what superb violinsts have lived and played in just the span of one life time--if a person has live just 50 years they have heard the likes of amazing violinists like Heifetz, Kogan, Francescatti, Menuhin, Mintz, Kaler, Ehns, Hirshorn, Kremer who is AMAZING an amazing violinist. You are limited in your thinking and your listening. There won't be another Kogan, or Heifetz or Francescatti because each is original-you are listening and thinking very negatively.

[Lukecash12]

Hey, don't forget the Oistrakh's! Thanks for illustrating your point so well, though.

[lucifart]

@Violinjunky is the best permormance

[DualThunder]

@Violinjunky i know this makes me sad :( had we not been born a mere 50-80 years ago we would have had the pleasure of listening to such original genius. we really did miss a golden age in the world of music (in some respects)

[violinstupid]

@Violinjunky Thank for mentioning Kaler. One of the most underrated violinists of all time!

[lamsalgado]

Wonderful Kogan! Almost addictive to listem to him. I thought we here have used all the adjectives to describe and praise Kogan´s artistry! But I found a new one...This performance is simply delicious!!!! Bravo

[stradivari87]

Great performance! Kogan the technique is fantastic, it was a really great violinist. Paganini ... certainly was his strong and the few violinists are comparable in my opinion.

[calloffthedogs]

best violinist ever.

[angus24402870451]

Kogan is absolutely a Paganini expert!!!

[CKOPOXBAT]

Переслушал здесь несколько вариантов исполнения.... я думаю Фриц Крейслер все таки лучше сыграл...но это мое имхо ))

да и его исполнение хрен найдешь...я купил на виниле --- диск "Мелодии"

[CKOPOXBAT]

Для меня Первый концерт Паганини-одно из самых страшных произведений.Страшных-по тому что сердце рвет,именно рвет...Прочтите книгу А.К.Виноградова "Осуждение Паганини" там очень многое о Нем сказанно..сказанно душой даже не умом или сердцем а именно душой.......

и я считаю что Леонид Коган сыграл этот концерт тоже душой,даже не сыграл....ПРОЖИЛ Поклон ему за это...

А еще есть гениальный советский фильм "Никколо Паганини"я его качал по eMule

[calloffthedogs]

could you translate this to english?

[hpt91]

he's saying the concerto is one of the scariest pieces, because it "tears your heart apart". he recommends to read a particular russian book about paganini. and then he bows down to Kogan for "living" this concerto... hope this helps! =)

[mexindian1]

This is extraordinary - fabulous!!!

[NestorAudinotviolins]

This is a stunning "tour de force" performance by my favorite violinist. Dare I say that Kogan is THE best Paganini interpreter ever. Somewhere Kogan and Paganini himself are playing gigs together - with Paganini being awestruck by Kogan's talent, facility and emotional projection. Thank you very much for posting this treasure.

[masael255]

Ahh...up in violin heaven...I want to be there. I agree, Kogan interprets Paganini incredibly. Have you seen the videos of him playing Paganini's "Il Cannone" violin? Truly jaw-dropping.