Favourite Violinist
#3
Senior Member
Re: Favourite Violinist
Do you mean of all time or current?
It's a tough call because everybody has something to offer, and everybody is different.
Hilary Hahn is my favorite current violinist for a variety of reasons:
1) She has become very progressive in her playing over the years.
2) She has proven herself a great crossover musician playing with 2 singer-songwriters (Actually 3 if you count Chris Thile) and an indie-rock band.
3) She has such a great performance prowess and character onstage.
4) Not that this is something I always care about, but she's already won 2 Grammys and very well could get another one for her new album (Higdon/Tchaikovsky concertos--It's her personal best).
5) I daresay the cuteness factor plays a role as well. If it wasn't for those gorgeous album covers, I never would have noticed her in the classical bin to begin with!
I enjoy hearing a lot of others (Ithzak Perlman, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Gil Shaham, Joshua Bell, Yehudi Menuhin, etc.), but I've never seen any of them live. I have seen Hilary live several times now!
Rachel Barton Pine is another great classical violinist with an incredible story, and also, like Hilary, has crossed over into rock (Earthen Grave, a metal band, is her other regular gig). BTW, if you don't know her story, Google her, because it's too long to tell here! And I've seen her live too!
It's a tough call because everybody has something to offer, and everybody is different.
Hilary Hahn is my favorite current violinist for a variety of reasons:
1) She has become very progressive in her playing over the years.
2) She has proven herself a great crossover musician playing with 2 singer-songwriters (Actually 3 if you count Chris Thile) and an indie-rock band.
3) She has such a great performance prowess and character onstage.
4) Not that this is something I always care about, but she's already won 2 Grammys and very well could get another one for her new album (Higdon/Tchaikovsky concertos--It's her personal best).
5) I daresay the cuteness factor plays a role as well. If it wasn't for those gorgeous album covers, I never would have noticed her in the classical bin to begin with!
I enjoy hearing a lot of others (Ithzak Perlman, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Gil Shaham, Joshua Bell, Yehudi Menuhin, etc.), but I've never seen any of them live. I have seen Hilary live several times now!
Rachel Barton Pine is another great classical violinist with an incredible story, and also, like Hilary, has crossed over into rock (Earthen Grave, a metal band, is her other regular gig). BTW, if you don't know her story, Google her, because it's too long to tell here! And I've seen her live too!
Last edited by HUG-H; 06-15-10 at 07:43 PM.
#5
Senior Member
Re: Favourite Violinist
Of all time for me, I'd have to say it's a very close race between Heifetz and Nathan Milstein. I love the agressive romanticism of Heifetz, and Milstein's early recordings of the unaccompanied Bach music are such great listening!
Not sure where I'd put Sarah Chang myself, but I haven't heard enough of her recordings.
Hilary definitely would be in my Top 5!
Not sure where I'd put Sarah Chang myself, but I haven't heard enough of her recordings.
Hilary definitely would be in my Top 5!
#6
Senior Member
Re: Favourite Violinist
David Oistrakh, Menuhin, Stern, Milstein, and Heifetz are all really tough to put in any kind of order since any of them could easily rank #1 at any given time!
Fritz Kreisler as well!
Fritz Kreisler as well!