Michael Rabin plays Hora Staccato

[AddictedToAndrea]

Why do people rave about Heifetz? Jesus, I'm not trolling, but I'm flabbergasted by the virtually uniform worship offered to him. He wasn't that great.

[SG14ever]

@AddictedToAndrea Says you. It's completely opinion. To me, Heifetz is the god of violin. I love his style and the way he makes the violin sound. And it's all technically perfect. Alot of violinists master songs technically but in the end, it's up to peoples' opinions.

[ciprianoravet]

It is suppose to be with all the glissandos,is as Dinicu wanted it ;)

[unetotaleincognito12]

my point was that i don't see how rabin could play it "better" than the genius violonist, heifetz, who did this arrangement. and who did it in a way that seems to glorify his own amazing (and rare!) bowing!

but if not "better", i do understand that people might find this interpretation "more enjoyable". i just wanted to point out that renditions couldn't be compared on a technical (they're both great technician) or quality basis.

[unetotaleincognito12]

great violonist, nice rendition but what were all those glissandi? just wondering...

as for people comparing rabin's and heifetz's renditions : please stop! they're both extraordinarily talented violonist! and i don't think there's any point in comparing them at this level! still, i have to LOL because rabin is here playing dinicu's hora staccato that heifetz himself re-arranged!

[An0niempje]

Very well played, but I can't say it's technically better then Heifetz.

The interpretation is different and I find it almost impossible to choose between the two.

[jeffersonfsoares]

Muito boa interpretação mais gosto ainda mais a versão Heifetz essa peça tem a cara do Heifetz

[stephenjoeagi]

Fantastic. I think that it is the best ever, as good as Heifetz, or maybe better?

[oneoctavelow]

Heifetz did once regard Dinicu as the world's greatest violinist. As a Romanian fiddler I find it flattering but I know it's not true. I regard Heifetz as the God of the violin - or it's Messiah. I think Heifetz was simply seduced by the sheer beauty and joy of life found in this piece.

[ahpedrami]

@oneoctavelow i think there's a point that some violinists reach; past that point, i don't think it's possible to say that one is better than another (say, enesco and dinicu surpassed that point). past that point, it simply comes down to the listener's taste - for example i prefer the emotion that menuhin poured into his playing over the remarkable technical perfection of heifetz.

[oneoctavelow]

(please read below comment first) Heifetz plays it with an accent so close to authentic Romanian (since after all he is Lithuanian - I believe) that I applaud his efforts - he obviously listened to Dinicu. At the end of the day Rabin is a wonderful violinist and this piece isn't the be all and end all :-)

[oneoctavelow]

Let me explain by way of an analogy; playing Hora Staccato is like trying to recite a Romanian poem. Naturally the poem will rely on the mechanics of the language for which it was intended to work. Dinicu plays this Romanian piece with a Romanian 'accent' Rabin does it with an American/Jewish one.

[zinofrancescatti]

Oh! this photo is with Zino Francescatti!!!

[oneoctavelow]

Doesn't even come close to Heifetz... Its rushed... its neglected. The highlights are dramatized with inappropriate glissandi.

[ItzhakRoxMySox]

@oneoctavelow Ignorant comment.

[oneoctavelow]

@ItzhakRoxMySox When you listen to Grigoras Dinicu play this piece (here on you tube) you will see why my criticism is justified. The trills are sustained and abundant. You will not find glissandi of this type in a Hora to any greater extent than in Mozart's violin concertos. A Hora does not have 'sirrupy' bits ! :-) The Hora cannot be re invented. Its already established. The manner in which it is played is clearly defined. A romanian will always know if the Hra is played well or not.

[oneoctavelow]

@ItzhakRoxMySox To shock you even further Heifetz doesn't play it all that well either. His up/down bowing is irrelevant. Dinicu plays it with spiccato and sounds a hundred times better. What I expect to hear from these world class violinists when they attempt a piece from my home land is to hear the Romanian 'flavour' of the piece. That unmistakable, specific Romanian 'accent'..... From what I heard they fail dismally :-) and being someone as famous as Rabin affords no excuses :-)

[oneoctavelow]

@oneoctavelow Ok I had a look at your profile; you look like are a man of fine taste - I adore Tchaikovsky's Violin concerto also. Ok Heifetz doesn't play it well either. There are a host of world class violinists who seemingly draw inspiration from Heifetz's rendition of this piece rather than... well.. the source. The Hora is a popular Romanian dance.... I know because I am Romanian and grew up with it. I have also played it for admission into a conservatorium of music :-)

[Flaminggential]

it doenst sound like he did the downbow staccato did he ?

[concertviolinist]

This Mr Rabin was better than both Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman, easily!

[violatione]

@concertviolinist not true! Perlman in his prime had a much better bow technique.

[xbasket12x]

@violatione Nah, Heifetz had the best bow control. There is no questioning his godly bow skills

[mainlymuzik]

It's actually harder to play this piece at a slower pace such as Heifetz's, especially with the bite of the staccato.

[petrenciu]

cea mai buna interpretare!

[00chebbie00]

I love his interpretation! Although... I am not a fan of the trill.

[Ivanhoe2]

This brilliant young man neither "outstripped Heifetz" , nor was he better. He was an incredibly gifted young violinist,,,,just as Heifetz had been. Why don't these bigots just enjoy the great skills of each virtuosi and stop writing such bollocks??

[SpeedyNeutrino43]

@Ivanhoe2 ..I agree....this young man didn't play it any "better" than Heifetz, just faster. There are times when I'd pefer to listen to a piece at a more leisurely pace. This young man was obviously a virtuoso however.

[MegaAntim]

frumoasa interpretare! mixailaggelos2004 grazie!

[gijlstra]

I do not understand the discussions over Rabin; when i was 16 years young, I got "zigeunerweisen" on a small record. Ya indeed by Rabin; nobody ever played better - think of the piccicato's in the fast end - then he did.+ extra paganini's "perpetuum mobile".Thank you for reading, Gerard B.

All the gypsiy-players will agreed.

[jd03150]

Today all we have are the recordings and the question, how good would Michael Rabin have become if he was still playing and recording today, rather than having died at only 35?

[xuplastic]

better than Heifetz

[ericgable]

And yes i play the violin and i look up to these guys especially Nathan Milstein. I want to be as good of a person and i want to show the world that the VIOLIN is a great thing and with out it well be missing sooo many tunes and classical music. I just hope i dont grow up comparing myself to any other violinists, i want to be well trained and respectful to all others who play the violin.. and accept if people think someone is better than me its ok. cause its their opinion.THATS all i have to say

[ericgable]

But, also you can not compare Classical violinists to each other. They were all different in every aspect and that leads to opinions. NO violinists was better than any other violinists. YOU pick the violinists you like by the way they present the music. By saying Rabin pissed on jascha heifetz and beat him, doesnt mean anything and its striaght up rude to violinists. CAUSE they both were great and theyre all awesome for even playing the violin. Stop comparing

[ericgable]

...Violin isnt about technique. SURE Rabin technique was awesome but Jascha heifetz was too. Heifetz raised the technique BAR, for all violinists.. even RABIN so dont even compare RABIN to Heifetz. to me Nathan Milstein was the only one who understood that its not about speed and technique, it was about the music and how to interpret it and to share it. Nathan Milstein, changed fingerings and never stayed the same, he is a true inspiration to all violinist even Jascha Heifetz.

[stuballs42]

To (Violatione) Sorry I pluked your strings!!, and upset you,but you have your favorite,and I have mine!!! As for pi--ing on Heifetz,

Rabin better get a tall ladder,cause in this recording all I get is hen-scratching!!!!

[violatione]

@stuballs42 AAD recordings are scratchy. Heifetz had a lot that were scratchy as well. It's not the way they actually sounded. All the professional string players know that in order to project one's sound you have to add some "edge" to it. Rabin was better than Heifetz. This is not opinion this is absolute fact. If you don't believe me, ask a violinist.

[stuballs42]

To fast ,Heifetz is better!!!!!! Everyone compares this guy, and that guy, to Heifetz!!

Why !!!!???simple Heifetz was the best ever!!!!

[violatione]

@stuballs42 Rabin pissed on Heifetz. Sorry he had better intonation and musicality, not to mention the absolute fact that his speed is unsurpassed.

[medre]

who is the man on the left side ?

[violatione]

@medre That man was Ivan Galamian. He was the greatest violin pedagogue of the 20th century.

[medre]

@violatione thanks for the answer...

[stupidstorm]

@violatione

Galamian was the guy who ruined violin completely.

get your facts right.

[violatione]

@stupidstorm What kind of asinine comment was that? Galamian trained most of the notable violinists of the 70's and 80's including; Perlman, Zukerman, Bell, Rabin, Steinhardt, Laredo, Kyung wa Chung... and so fourth. You're the one who needs to get his facts straight!

[stupidstorm]

@violatione as usual, a misconception.

[stupidstorm]

@violatione he DIDN'T train them! He didn't do anything. It was his assistants lol

I studied with kyung Wha chung by the way so yeah, i think i know what i'm talking about.

[carrottoponcrak]

i like this version almost better than heifetz simply for the fact that this sound is more clean and precise. not to say that heifetz wasnt clean and precise, but all the recordings of heifetz ive heard playing this piece arent that great of quality.

[Bachismydiety]

even better than heifetz! WOW!!! Rabin is amazing, such a pity he died so young :(

[fishpig20]

Heifetz would have been owned had this guy lived longer

[Flaminggential]

amazing....but heifetz is still much clearer even when he does it at this temp..and much more articulated as well

[gothiq]

@Flaminggential Well ... I will start with the fact I'm romanian, I had heared both Heifetz and Rabin and of course Dinicu's interpretations and I have to tell you something Flaming ... I do like more Rabin than Heifeitz because this is a piece wich should be played with the heart not with the brain ... it's roots are in folk music and even Dinicu had played it as a fiddler not as a classical violonist ... it's all about the flavour.

[Flaminggential]

@gothiq well I am ot a romanian so I don't really understand. I was only talking about

the technical aspect but thanks for the info!

[Obroten]

HE IS GOD!!!!!!

[evil2salad]

Wow, incredible!

I remember when I played this in an ensemble of 12 violinists. Needless to say, synching 12 violinists playing Hora Staccato isn't easy, and many had to fake it due to a brisk tempo (wasn't me, he he).

[talonboy5432]

I can't believe how fast and clean this is...If Michael had lived longer he would be regarded as Heifetz's equal.

[fishpig20]

some people consider his interpertation of zigeunerweisen equal to heifetz or even better

[SpeedyNeutrino43]

Once an artist achieves a certain plateau it IS hard to differentiate between "levels" of talent....for example try to find differences between Ole Edvard Antonsen, Doc Severinsen and Ronald Romm....it's impossible to say which is the "most talented" I agree.....just enjoy the music.

[mearogelio]

Michael is playng instrumental and the best violinists in the whole world are quite and respectful to him as each one of them have something over the other, you just shut up dont be degrading and stay in your song side, tradition. you have no idea of a violinists side, what's interesting and entertaining to them.

[avlieox]

this song used to be played at the festival of spring (ancient traditional celebration)called "Martisor" in romanian language

[Koganification]

So fast...and clean...AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[avlieox]

this is not fast, it's ok but not great and it's not the real name of the song ! i grow up with this song, my parents also...ancient song from Romania; Search for Ion Voicu - Hora Martisorului and you'll see fast; many other romanian violonists performed as well this song; the oldest links are from Grigoras Dinicu or George Enescu !

[Koganification]

I saw the video clip...you're right, it is much faster however the violinist does not do this bowing, and up bow and down stacatto is incredibly difficult....

[goroundit123]

Michael Rabin...thank you for leaving us this wonderful gift...sometimes they leave us wondering why they have to be taken away so early...Du Pre...Presti...

BTW...love the Yehudi version as well

[Nightsurf59]

The question is, can the average person ,not acquainted with the music of the great European composers of the 18th and 19th centuries...or the great musicians who give voice to those composition today , actually perceive the difference in skill exhibited by performers of this magnitude?. I think not. So for many the issue is beyond resolution.Its better to simply enjoy the music.Ciao

[SG14ever]

@Nightsurf59 They can on this song because if you're not one of them, you're gonna sound terrible. Such is the nature of a true virtuoso showpiece.

[gimaru1]

Awesome rendition!

[arielpesach]

I'm very much against who is the best,

because art is a language and not a sport,

but when it comes to Michael Rabin,

I feel very confused, because it's very difficut to find his equal.

[Nightsurf59]

THis will no doubt draw some boos...but that is the price of having an opinion on greatness. AS far as Rabin goes, Sophie has surpassed him in every way...I know that is hard to understand, given Michael's extraordinary talent...but it so.

Zukerman, Stern and of course Perlman are also transcendent and represent greater talents than Rabin.

[TimeStrider]

@Nightsurf59 Sophie surpassing Rabin in every way? Dude, you're kidding, right?

[avlieox]

man it's not about who is the best performer of this song but this song it's in my blood, is part of my culture and i know how it should sound and this is not quite right ! Search for Ion Voicu - Hora Martisorului; a romanian violonist knows how to play a traditional romanian song !

[avlieox]

it's about our soul, our feelings...it's who we are and we have a lot of songs like this played at different celebrations in our lives: birth, wedding, death, nature; This song right here it's about beginning of the spring which simbolize the resurrection of nature, a new beggining, a new year after the hard winter, it's about coming to life, joy, exuberance, power, health, virtuosity ...

[cattleman6420012000]

Michael Rabin had one of the greatests talents ever. A shame he died so young.

[paulostroff99]

Mozart99900-I too consider it to be the finest interpretation ever of the Beethoven. The more that I listen to my EMI version with the Berlin Philharmonic-the more that I love it. Many years ago I had it on vinyl as well.There are no better recorded performances-EVER!

[paulostroff99]

Michael Rabin was up there with Heifetz in skill,and was much more satisfying in performance. I much prefer this to the second best Heifetz version.

[paulostroff99]

Mozart99900-I have the Menuhin/Furtwangler recording of the Beethoven Concerto,and find it to be one of the finest of the twentieth century. There may exist other fine versions,but none IMHO to even compare with this gem. Anybody that has not heard it should reserve judgment on it. Needless to say that few conducted Beethoven or Wagner for that matter better than Furtwangler. Wagner's "liebestod " with Furtwangler and Flagstad are unbeatable.

[billyguns2]

Just received your latest comment. I don't know the Menuhin/Boult Sibelius, but will search for it. Could you upload it to YouTube? Do you know the Suk/Jasek recroding of the Bach Double from Prague? It is one of the most passionate, musical, and gorgeous performances I know.

[billyguns2]

Who do you like in the Sibelius and Tchaikovsky? Neveu and Francescatti made great recordings of the Sibelius, and Oisttrakh is terrific in the Tchaikovsky.

[billyguns2]

While Heifetz is my overall favorite violinist, I prefer Grumiaux in the Beethoven Concerto and Mozart Sonatas, Szeryng in the Brahms and Mendelssohn Concertos, Lalo Symphonie Espagnole and Bach Sonatas and Partitas, Neveu in the Sonatas by Debussy and Richard Strauss and Chausson Poeme, Suk and Jasek in the Bach Double Concerto, and Heifetz in almost everything else (especially the Sibelius, Korngold, Rozsa, and Tchaikovsky Concertos.)

[violindave2]

ipmoic - I saw Michael Rabin in concert in 1970 where he played this as an encore. Yes, he DID do the Heifetz bowings. He even played the Hora Staccato faster than Heifetz, if that's possible.

Dave

[ipmoic]

Can any violinists out there "hear" whether Rabin plays all the up bow and down bow staccatos as they are usually done?

His speed is so remarkable that I wonder if he's using more conventional (easier) bowings?

[takhirviolinest]

Fantasticque orangiment (edition)

[lanarv]

Well...:-) I watched aaall videos (Hora Staccato) on here,read aaall comments on here :-)..What I want to say is -- Every great musician has his own technique ,style to perform any piece.They are not robots,they have feelings too:-) We may prefer one over another one, but some of us are sooo strict judges!..LOL..Like we all are great,famous musicians ourselves !.. Let's invite Itzhak Perelman at least to this discussion ;-) As for Michael Rubin-- his playing is just EXCELLENT !

[billyguns2]

Rabin had a flawless technique, but for me it's Heifetz all the way in this music!

[freeqwerqwer]

Poor interpretation. It doesn't sound Romanian. It sounds generic classical. Rabin is a Russian, right? Well, obviously he doesn't get it.

[spinningwheel]

ah..Rabin is of Romanian descent and I have no clue what you are talking about.

[leopianotuner]

Well, I don't care that Rabin happens to be Romanian but he doesn't play it like the way his countrymen plays it. I have visited Hungarry, and Romania for long periods of months. I have heard a lot of their tzigane club music (gypsy music) as they call it. This kind of music is a carefree style, with rushing bravurat and a crazed spiri as if drunkt

Rabin plays it too polished, too classical, not the real thing..

[MadAznViolinist]

Damn, his staccato is amazing. Just listen to his Wieniawski Concerto no.1

[legman36]

As a technician on the violin I think Rabin outstripped even Heifetz.

[Curatica]

He plays it fast, but as a Romanian, I can confirm that he got into the rhythm and spirit of the music. This piece is based on a traditional fast folk dance. Heifetz plays it brilliantly and equally fast if not faster. Besides, the piece should be played staccato—even the title mandates this. Unfortunately, the performances of the few Romanian violinists on YouTube lack exactly the gusto and joyfulness which this piece requires and form its character.

[medicueu]

hora staccato ... Grigoraş Dinicu wrote it for his graduation form the Bucharest Conservatory in Romania. He played iti better then anybody else. I don't understand what all the fus is about. He was one of many romanian compositors that made national and international fame at that time... if it wouldn`t have been for the Russians many others would have made it. Why everybody is crying over something that isn't Michael Rabin's work?

[paganviodio]

well,dinicu didnt played it better than anyone else,you just think it this way.anyone could be anyone,nobody can say such a thing.rabin plays it excellent.well,a work has no nationalities,nayone from any other nation can play it better.what you say sound like,just germans should play beethoven good.this is wrong.

[alexandru19860202]

It has influences from romanian folklore so no doubt it has a nationality. It's ours.

[hophmi]

This is from the Hollywood Bowl recording. It's always more fun to hear these things with orchestra. This is without question one of the best encore records of all time; check out Massenet's Thais.

[likemyviolin]

Much faster, than usually. Faster than any of Heifetz's renditions, indeed.

[ipmoic]

Another cogent comment from TomBarrister. Not only are the balances poor, but who orchestrated this sappy arrangement? Horrible--just takes away from the lightening rod that was Rabin. Still, great to hear him under any circumstance.

[Sl4sH33]

Il ressemble à cauet le plus jeune xD (je sorts ?)

[Fabit3]

... écoute, tu viens de comparer une personne qui fut extrêmement talentueuse, que l'on entend ici jouer un morceau de musique très difficile, et qui désormais repose en paix à un animateur de TV grossier qui n'apporte rien à la culture d'aujourd'hui, si ce n'est, désolé si tu vas trouver ça méchant, de la merde!... Donc, à toi de voir

[TomBarrister]

The "best" is a matter of personal taste. Rabin plays this much faster than most violinists do, which was standard procedure for him.

[capsuna1]

he sounds so Romanian :D

i'm so amaze ! very very very good played

[Waeweas]

Wow the orchestra accompaniment in this is just awesome.

[relu58]

Best interpretation I ever heard, much better than Heifetz.

[DavidTorrez]

dito!

[josafadefreitas]

wonderful

[flioshk87]

listen to a real authentic and very impressive interpretation of the hora staccato by the young Simina Croitoru (16 at that time) then you will understand how this piece Dinicu wanted to sound. it is a huge difference, trust me. I am not saying rabin plays it badly...no way!!!but I am saying this piece has a profound romanian character, wich sadly only romanian players can feel.

[relu58]

I listened it, that lady REALLY understands the true spirit of the composition.

But there are slight tehnical problems with her ability to master the instrument.

That can be fixed with lots of practice. One day she can be the best.

[mariusfelix]

You are right. It makes fun to listen to her!

[TomBarrister]

Felix Slatkin was the conductor, and Rabin would have been about 23 at the time. The orchestra totally reams this work, and the sound mixer should have given Rabin, who often can barely be heard, more volume. None of that was Rabin's fault, and he played it in his usual virtuostic fashion.

[tennisballer17]

im very impressed

[legman36]

Awesome, had the fastest staccato I've ever heard.

[Shades2Of1Grey]

Ahh... truly fantastic. Heifetzian in style, but with a crisper and more gypsy-esque technique. I love it. Rabin's death was truly a loss to the musical community.

[sauret20]

Sencillamente maravilloso, que formidable y magnífica técnica, que deslumbrante energía hay en su interpretación.

Su estilo es muy especial y sublime. Gracias mixailaggelos2004 por este video.

[jordik1986]

Bravo!

[KyotoMelody]

Wish he could live longer! :( He would make many violinist green with envy! Thanks for posting, Mixa.

[mixailaggelos2004]

I m happy u like it...

yes, he had a unique style..like your fave violinist Hassid or Heifetz ...

Thanks for posting !