Leonid Kogan - Tchaikovsky Valse-Scherzo in C major, Op. 34

Leonid Kogan plays Tchaikovsky's Valse-Scherzo in C major for violin and orchestra, Op. 34.

Alexander Gauk and the USSR State TV & Radio Symphony Orchestra.

May 29, 1952

HQ Audio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V883JPpd_Sc&fmt=18

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Leonid
• Kogan
• violin
• orchestra
• Tchaikovsky
• Valse
• Scherzo
• Waltz
• concert
• virtuoso
• Heifetz
• Oistrakh
• Menuhin
• Milstein
• Francescatti
• Rabin
• Perlman
• Zukerman

[UltimateViolin]

This is by far my favorite interpretation of this gem, played by a young Leonid Kogan in his prime. In so many other recordings, even great violinists treat this as a technical showpiece or get bogged down in their lack of musical conviction; Kogan plays this piece brilliantly on both points.

An important detail is the spiccatos; most violinists simply dash these off as if Tchaikovsky dropped some ink on the page, Kogan makes sure they carry musical value without braking the flow of the music.

[IVANKOVALE]

Agree that Kogan was somewhat 'rigid' in playing. I think, this was his way of expression. Nobody before him played like him. I think, with his expression Kogan was the best to express the 'spirit' of the time. Nobody could compare with him in expressing tragic feeling and pain. And as it usually happens also with great violinists that main feature of his style could appear in playing also soft and lyric pieces. Probably it could sound inaproppriate, but it always touches me.

[calloffthedogs]

Kogan had techinque to burn though. Personally I dont think it makes much sense to compare violinists of that magnitude. No violinist can be all things to everyone.

[82224561]

Brio,so precise bow attack,singing ,are in this Kogan's version!

[iluminada333]

Lol I listened to the introduction, the orchestra sounded archaic at first, I thought this would be a really old recording etc, then, Kogan's perfectly clear sound blew me! :D This is magical.

[Lukecash12]

@IVANKOVALE Actually, his could have been a more historically accurate perspective. People who interpret Romantic music nowadays are very angular and use excessive vibrato and rubato. Kogan, on the other hand, was very rhythmic and cogent.

[Lukecash12]

@UltimateViolin Precisely. His spiccatos are very indicative of the deep interpretation that is occurring all throughout the performance. What with his jumpy, almost folkish sense of rhythm in this performance, and cadenzalike segments of harshly intoned chords and dynamic scales, you get an entertaining and endearing recording.

[themusicdr]

technique style skill virtuosity, kogans version of this is MILES above any other i have heard (of course i dont assert to have heard every violinists rendering of this.......but...)

[DualThunder]

@da19lila38 :O where can i find recording of kogan playing vieuxtemps?

[DualThunder]

i just love his tone. its lovely

[themusicdr]

fantastic technique and musicality, the spiccato is great and the def b/w notes

[da19lila38]

@Khu827You'd better listen to Leonid Kogan playing Veiuxtemps than discussing things you have no idea of, young man.

"Judge not that ye be judged not"

[Khu827]

Well, take Oistrakh.

I'm not saying Kogan was a poor violinist (of course not), nor am I entirely accusing him of being insensitive and cold-blooded. I just wonder, as do many, how sincere he was - to humanity, or on the other hand, to the KGB.