Yehudi Menuhin plays Beethoven violin concerto

[alylie]

it cuts at the best moment

[robbiepeters512]

This vid is popular on Bangui

[sonfowler1127]

This video went viral on Lima

[MuzikantMuzikantMuz]

Мне кажется лучшее исполнение этого концерта у Когана

[KlasikKeyifler]

may be a little too late, but my humble answer to aghferi.... because Menuhin feels the same contradictions in his life as ludvig van.... :)

[AnnaGochenour]

I love the violin and I love this video. Just beautiful.

[daisies53]

Wow! Wonderful!

[BigBobbyWeiss]

Any idea if there is a copyright holder for this video?

[billace90]

I had the privilege to see Mr. Menuhin perform in a Casals Festival in the mid sixties, directed by Don Pablo himself at the University of P.R. Theater. Back then, the Festival brought the best world stars. Just good memories.

[stickitupyapipe]

Why not go to Frank Peter Zimmermann´s clips, or Claudio Arrau´s, or Angela Gheorghio´s, or Krystian Zimerman´s, and read my comments there. Or do you only view jewish performers? If so, it´s no wonder your musical tastes are so severely limited.

Also, I´m not sure you understand the meaning of the word racist. Either that, or our understanding of the term is very different. No one is above criticism. in my book, irrespective of their race or religion.

[123pfflyers]

He does not play by the ticking clock. This I love.

[dieschlange]

Is it ever possible for you ppl NOT to compare? Comparisons are pointless! "He's better than... " over and over again, in every single video of every skilled violinist. I mean, how can you successfully compare a great performer to another, and decide who's "best"? You may like one violinist's performances over others', but it doesn't mean he/she is actually better than any other skilled musician you don't like that much.

[stickitupyapipe]

@dieschlange Well, that may be true if you have never played the violin, but for those of us who do play the instrument, of course we can tell who is more or less proficient. Having said that, I doubt that includes many on here though.

I won´t comment on his technical ability, but, like so many non Germanic people who attempt to "reinvent" Beethoven, he fails hopelessly. Beethoven wrote the music, not the person playing the instrument.

[dieschlange]

@stickitupyapipe Remember, we're dealing here with Menuhin, not students. That said, if you're not judging technical ability, then what? Style? Can you really judge style? Your putative violin mastering doesn't qualify, I'm afraid. In the end, we only have interpretations. Subjective interpretations. Not good enough to objectively rank artists. Less so when dealing with players the size of Menuhin. By the way, I do play the instrument. And I'm convinced that is quite irrelevant.

[JPizzle1490]

@stickitupyapipe What great german performers recorded this concerto? The only ones I can think of are Kreisler, Schneiderhan, and Mutter, the Schneiderhan being the only one that I would rank among the greats. With some music, I will grant you, nationality can play a role, but not on this. Some of the best recordings are by non germans: Milstein, Oistrakh, Szeryng, Grumiaux, and MENUHIN. While you say he "fails hopelessly" I have not seen one comment that actually backs this idea up.

[iFreeThink]

What a skilled pinky! :D

I'm so jealous..

[clyde10ga]

1:46 

[clyde10ga]

1:46 

[clyde10ga]

1:42 humpf

[clyde10ga]

1:42 humpf

[clyde10ga]

1:42 humpff 

[clyde10ga]

1:42 humpff

[crazy77town]

sad to mention, but one of the few REALLY NICE interpretations by Yehudi since the problem on his shoulder...

but this one is really beautifull

[clyde10ga]

@crazy77town 1:46?????

[leomulder]

Who was conducting, please?

[MusicCloud1]

I prefer Kogan's rendition of this concerto. However, looking at Menuhin's pinky vibrato is like.....jaw dropping

[aviyahu01]

its true no matter what!!! yehudi menuhin defined this for the generation...i wish i could hear a fritz kreisler version...his cadenza is the best by far! where is the rest???

[dozemix]

Saving this to my favorites, I want to get used to the best.

[brumap1]

I prefere Josef Suk.

[cbuelens]

On peut dire qu'il fait pleurer son violon.

Chaque fois ue je l'écoute , j'en ai des frissons !

[lordbyronking]

Menuhin was great, but not consistently great. His strengths: Absoutely divine and expressive vibrato and portamento. His one huge weakness: The choppiest phrasing of any major violinist.

Basically, he was an expressive artist, not a great technician like Heifetz (Who was his polar opposite). For my money, David Oistrakh represents a perfect balance between the two, he is the best violinist of the century.

[100nemesis100]

@lordbyronking vibrato and portamento alone took him to the concert houses and hearts of the world for 1/2 a century ?

Yet you say he had poor phrasing? YM could handle a phrase better than any, that among many other virtues made him the artist and humanitarian he is.

[themusicdr]

@lordbyronking he lost some of his greatness when he got older after his breakdown but as a teenager and young man he was superlative. acc to the pianist gerald moore "the most incandescent child prodigy ever"

[mauricio131948]

otro grande entre los grandes, no se deben comparar, hay que apreciarlos en sus diferencias y similitudes.

[2LiveBoo]

raoultak, it's because people remember his prodigious recordings and legendary accomplishments from ages 9-21 or so. After that, he basically sounds shitty. But, during his unusually early prime, he was fucking sensational!

[citizenjosefk]

@2LiveBoo Absurd. Menuhin in his early 20s wasn't close to his peak. He grew deeper, truer, more communicative, and more penetrating as an artist up until middle age like most violinists. His recordings of Beethoven with Furtwangler in the late 40s and 50s are the standard by which that piece is judged and considered among the greatest violin performances in history, that was around age 40 for Menuhin. Later still, listen to his recordings of Bach with pianist Glenn Gould. Genius, period.

[stickitupyapipe]

@citizenjosefk

What a load of nonsense. Who said his recordings of Beethoven are the standard by which the piece is judged? Who considers his performance of the piece, "among the greatest violin performances in history?"

You? I really think you should qualify such sweeping statements by referring us to a creditable link.

Personally, I think you sucked that one outta your thumb.

I´ve been playing this piece for close on 20 years now, and I personally rate Menuhin´s version as very average.

[outoftunefiddler]

@stickitupyapipe Ahhh. Here you are again, after having finished another toke on yer stemfast pipe. Methinks thee protest too much, especially considering your other comments regarding the "fiddle" as the instrument of Jews and Gypsies.....Did you know that Yehudi, Madame,means "Jew"? Contain yourself!

[outoftunefiddler]

@stickitupyapipe From a review of some of your other "comments" on Yahoo,I see you don't think anyone,notwithstanding yourself, is competent and frankly, given the racist tone contained in some of your remarks ("[t]he fiddle is played by Gypsies and Jews..") I don't give too,too much credence to your ideas - and I think,perhaps, others may agree

[stickitupyapipe]

@outoftunefiddler For someone who doesn´t give any credence to my opinions, you sure are spending a lot of time replying to my posts. LOL

[outoftunefiddler]

@stickitupyapipe It is just, sir or madame, that I like to see real honesty here at Youtube. As I have told you a myriad of times, it is NOT your opinion I object to. I DO object to comments that are patently racist (See my other remarks regarding your comment that the "fiddle was played by Jews and Gypsies). As to your musical "tastes" (Here, I feel as if I am stretching that term), they are suspect because I have never heard you say ANYTHING about any performer that was positive.

[raoultak]

Why does mankind consider this violinist as one of the greatests? I have never understood this. Listen to Heifetz, Oistrakh, Francescatti, Zuckerman, Perlman,....and even a minor to them: Gytlis??? Where is the secret of Menuhin?

[violatione]

@raoultak Actually Menuhin was an extraordinary violinist. But the recordings that he did in peak shape are far and few between. Most violinist simply don't perform when they are not in peak shape so you don't hear them at their worst. I assure you if you go through every vid you can find you'll find some astounding Menuhin performances.

[pi6527]

@raoultak Gytlis, a minor to them? Are you kidding? the best one, you want to mean!! When he was young, dear God he was a fantastic artist, and technician at the same time, really one of the best!!

[blichilde]

@raoultak I've listened to all of them, and also Kogan, Rabin, Milstein, Stern. Everyone of them is fantastic, but I still prefer Menuhin. His secret? I don't know, maybe the emotion he shares with us as nobody else. Soul and musicality.

[shiveringflower]

@raoultak In the glorious sound and the emotional communication.Not to mention the ease of playing,immense power and the broadest tonal range of any violinist.

[karuspery]

Oh,God,Our Eternal Father,thank Ye!

[makasoona34]

this guy is a musical prodigy.

[aramian21]

What I never understood is why Menuhin has become so famous with such non-uniform and out of tune way of playing. He is no way as good as Oistrakh, Mintz, Perleman...

[sijas]

i don't hear where it is out of tune.

and because the moment you hear menuhin's sound, you feel as if it is going straight to your heart.

even through the crappy youtube sound and video, you feel connected with him.

[Mozart99900]

aramian21

This is untrue at. Meuhin after the II World War passed in deep period of evaluating himself, How and why I'm playing and How could conduct my performance in term of my thought. Kreizler, was the 1st one who worte about him; " Since Yehudi solved all technical problems of the Violin, and play from his Subconcious, I;m wory that he w'll face that while being older. 2nd menuhin developed tremors simulating Parkinson's Disease, but he found Yoga as a sourse of healing, to be continued

[Mozart99900]

aramian21, II, Whether this true or wrong, Menuhin start to play as a Musician and he is the only Violinist ever can and succeed to produce so Sweet Sounds of his Violin, which amaized so many Top Conductors, as Colin Davis, M. Tippett (as acomposer too), and above all K. Masure. Till his death Menuhin Was Invited by top ranked Orchestras,enjoying his lovers with the extaordinary sweetness of his tones regardless any out of tune (if present).He behaves as a Musician Philosopher Violinist

[goroundit123]

in his youth no one touched him...Ida Hendel said..."only one word to describe him...Magic..."

[FenianandLimey]

The only one to come close to this performance is Perlman.

Menuhin - not bad for a guy born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and raised in the Bronx.

[yanpan16]

such a shame about the crap sound quality :( but you can still hear his unmatchable greatness!!

[emilycoolstuff]

perfection

[aghferi]

Why is it that no one can get even close to Menuhin performing this concerto? It seems he defines Beethoven like no one else. Such a unique interpretation!

[Mozart99900]

aghferi ,

Not only in this one, but in all of his recordings to this Concerto, starting from 1926 to 1990. Menuhin beethoven is always Unique

[citizenjosefk]

@aghferi Menuhin had a special affinity with this piece, he began performing it as a child virtuoso of 12 (or so) years old and pretty much shocked both his teachers and the world because even his child performance of the Beethoven was considered better and deeper in interpretation than most adult virtuosos. He never burned out on it, his interpretation became deeper and more beautiful as his career progressed. Of course, he was an incomparable violinist just in general.

[stickitupyapipe]

@citizenjosefk

"Of course, he was an incomparable violinist just in general."

Good lord (raises eyes towards sky)

[MrBojeje]

@aghferi London symphony, so slow and so deep !!!

[Scalatti]

@aghferi Why? Because others play it better. There is one what's-his-name, oh yes, Jascha Heifetz that played rings around Menuhin in this concerto. Check it out, with either Toscanini or Munch. There are others.

[16StringsQuartet]

@aghferi He plays it effortlessly... which is amazing but to me this isn't the Beethoven I love. There has to be a storm brewing somewhere. Heifetz is my favourite... he has guts, beauty and power.

[jayahey]

marvellous

[checkoutmyprofile]

very nostalgic! Thankks!!

[gsbreath2]

Best version ever, even better than David Oistrakh's and Joshua Bell's, Know where to get the full version?

[gsbreath2]

Just so everybody knows, I wasnt making fun of them I love Oistrakh and Bell is my favorite violinist!

[freeqwerqwer]

I agree too. Listening to this interpretation one feels a pastoral bliss. One may be more impressed with the correctness of Perlman, the full tone of Oistrakh, the skills of Bell, but the essence of the message of this concerto is best rendered by Menhuhin.

[gsbreath2]

couldnt put it any more perfect =)

[raoultak]

2LiveBoo, thank you. You are so right. Menuhin had his top, at which he was one of the greatests. Yet, it didn't last that long which is a pity and had its reasons. You are right, for this Menuhin must be held up as a (maybe the) king of violinists. If not, then at least his compassion to music must be recognized. Thank you for your comment.

[kiroualekou]

did you compare to kogan's version??i think kogan's version is in no comparison better then oistrakh, menuhin, bell...it's heaven on earth...you have all 3 full movements just watch, listen and let us know....you get in love if you listen to leonid kogan's version...but you'll see for yourself!

[dilnazar]

@gsbreath2 you should however listen Kogan in this concerto ;)

[sijas]

@gsbreath2 i would like your comment, but you compared joshua bell to oistrakh and menuhin :/

[billyguns2]

@gsbreath2 Seek out Arthur Grumiaux with Eduard Van Beinum and Zino Francescatti with Bruno Walter, two of the most spiritual and musical performances I know, and both featuring more accurate intonation.

[mariusfelix]

@gsbreath2 @gsbreath2 BEST, BEST, BEST....when do you people realize, that MUSIC has NOTHING to do with stupid COMPETITON???????