LeMaster Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Trying to make a list from the instrument's illustrious history is like trying to guess the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin. (Rabin? Puh-leez! He'd never be able to separate from mommy and give up drugs. Similarly Fodor.) I'm...uh...experienced....enought to have played with some on this list, but in the end, there will always and ever and only ever be the one Heifetz at the top. He was a "superstar" before the word was ever invented. If you don't believe me, listen to anything in his discography. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Violadamore Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Trying to make a list from the instrument's illustrious history is like trying to guess the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin. (Rabin? Puh-leez! He'd never be able to separate from mommy and give up drugs. Similarly Fodor.) I'm...uh...experienced....enought to have played with some on this list, but in the end, there will always and ever and only ever be the one Heifetz at the top. He was a "superstar" before the word was ever invented. If you don't believe me, listen to anything in his discography. Ummm, excuse me, but did you mean to insert this post in the "Historical" thread? Who are your 10 favorite living soloists? As you are a pro, I'm rather curious. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kat Dunham Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Augustin Hadelich, Alina Ibragimova, Janine Jansen, and, though she's not so well known, Bella Hristova Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roderick Quiros Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 I'm surprised Gil Shaham hasn't been listed yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutchViolins Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Schlomo Mintz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Carl Stross Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 I'm surprised Gil Shaham hasn't been listed yet. Is he alive ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Posted November 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Is he alive ? Yes. Shouldn't he be? Isn't he like, 47? I'm waiting until the last instant in case they mess up on stage or have some email trail of nefarious activity revealed. Sure you are. What do we mean by 'TOP' soloist....The most famous? The one who makes the most money or has the biggest concert fee...the one who is the best player in technique or integrity or interpretation? etc...All being equal, could it be the one who like Menuhin gives back in terms of spreading the gift of music to those who it might otherwise not reach?.... Yes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Carl Stross Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Is he alive ? Yes. Shouldn't he be? Isn't he like, 47? It's just that I saw him playing and didn't look like that. Sorry... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Posted November 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Accardo, Salvatore Akiko Meyers, Anne Barton Pine, Rachel Batiashvili, Lisa (2) Bell, Joshua Benedetti, Nicola Chang, Sarah Ehnes, James (4) Fischer, Julia Goebel, Reinhard Hadelich, Augustin Haendel, Ida Hahn, Hilary (5) Huang, Frank Ibragimova, Alina Jansen, Janine Kavakos, Lenonidas (2) Khachatryan, Sergey Lautenbacher, Susanne Lin, Cho Liang "Jimmy" Mintz, Schlomo Mutter, Anne-Sophie (3) Perlman, Itzak Podger, Rachel Salerno-Sonnenberg, Nadja Shaham, Gil St. John, Lara Vengerov, Maxim (2) Zuckerman, Pinchas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Merkel Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Sure you are. Our most basic responsibility is to not vote for a violinist-in-chief who belongs in JAIL. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Carl Stross Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Accardo, Salvatore Akiko Meyers, Anne Barton Pine, Rachel Batiashvili, Lisa (2) Bell, Joshua Benedetti, Nicola Chang, Sarah Ehnes, James (4) Fischer, Julia Goebel, Reinhard Hadelich, Augustin Haendel, Ida Hahn, Hilary (5) Huang, Frank Ibragimova, Alina Jansen, Janine Kavakos, Lenonidas (2) Khachatryan, Sergey Lautenbacher, Susanne Lin, Cho Liang "Jimmy" Mintz, Schlomo Mutter, Anne-Sophie (3) Perlman, Itzak Podger, Rachel Salerno-Sonnenberg, Nadja Shaham, Gil St. John, Lara Vengerov, Maxim (2) Zuckerman, Pinchas I think this is somehow unfair - there is many more people we heard about. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greg F. Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 I think this is somehow unfair - there is many more people we heard about. So to add another, I enjoy Enrico Onofri. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Posted November 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Our most basic responsibility is to not vote for a violinist-in-chief who belongs in JAIL. Excuse my apparent ignorance...but...huh? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Posted November 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Carl: Who did I miss? I have it in alphabetical order now. This was supposed to be a list of who you think is a Top 10 contender (and everyone was supposed to submit one vote only), not a list of all of one's favourites. My favourite players are not necessarily 'the best' player. Even I can tell that much. However! For fun I have included all the names! We will still end up with a Top 10! Accardo, Salvatore Akiko Meyers, Anne Barton Pine, Rachel Batiashvili, Lisa (2) Bell, Joshua Benedetti, Nicola Chang, Sarah Ehnes, James (4) Fischer, Julia Goebel, Reinhard Hadelich, Augustin Haendel, Ida Hahn, Hilary (5) Huang, Frank Ibragimova, Alina Jansen, Janine Kavakos, Lenonidas (2) Khachatryan, Sergey Lautenbacher, Susanne Lin, Cho Liang "Jimmy" Mintz, Schlomo Mutter, Anne-Sophie (3) Onofri, Enrico Perlman, Itzak Podger, Rachel Salerno-Sonnenberg, Nadja Shaham, Gil St. John, Lara Vengerov, Maxim (2) Zuckerman, Pinchas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Merkel Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 My favorite living violinists I don't know the name of. One was a soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic who played the Mozart A major with a really profound sense of style. He had a long name with not enough vowels that doesn't work in English. Another was a local guy I didn't know who made the final round of the Tchaikovsky competition or something. I was sitting pretty close at a recital and it was like a synesthesia light show. Zukerman and Vengerov, I've enjoyed teaching videos by. If I had to vote it might be Kavakos. They're all a cut above, but K. might be a cut above that even, for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Posted November 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Is that your final vote? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gowan Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Jennifer Koh Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Posted November 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Accardo, Salvatore Akiko Meyers, Anne Barton Pine, Rachel Batiashvili, Lisa (2) Bell, Joshua Benedetti, Nicola Chang, Sarah Ehnes, James (4) Fischer, Julia Goebel, Reinhard Hadelich, Augustin Haendel, Ida Hahn, Hilary (5) Huang, Frank Ibragimova, Alina Jansen, Janine Kavakos, Lenonidas (2) Khachatryan, Sergey Koh, Jennifer Lautenbacher, Susanne Lin, Cho Liang "Jimmy" Mintz, Schlomo Mutter, Anne-Sophie (3) Onofri, Enrico Perlman, Itzak Podger, Rachel Salerno-Sonnenberg, Nadja Shaham, Gil St. John, Lara Vengerov, Maxim (2) Zuckerman, Pinchas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LeMaster Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 Who are your 10 favorite living soloists? As you are a pro, I'm rather curious. I wish I could pick just one; often it's the last one we worked with. There is an astounding amount of top talent out there no one's heard of. Yet! Starker once posited that developing a "career" just begins with talent, hard work, and good reviews. But to reach the top, there must be something more. Charisma goes a long way. Excellent stage deportment (see: your favorite classical singer!). Connections. It most certainly helps if you're a pianist or violinist. I'm sure it helps to live in a media capital, like New York, at least until you're firmly established. Kavakos has played with us twice. Certainly he's extraordinary, but then there's a whole lot of competition. They all have technique to burn. Keep in mind Midori recorded the Paganini Caprices when she was about 16 years old! Mintz I'll pass on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Violin Beautiful Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 From the list, I'd pick Mutter, although I feel like Aaron Rosand belongs there, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Merkel Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Augustin Hadelich, Alina Ibragimova, Janine Jansen, and, though she's not so well known, Bella Hristova I remember Bella well from a night of intense Youtube surfing and suggestion clicking. Janine has it all going on too. They all have something worth hearing. Top 10 is really stupid. But not as stupid as top 100 or 1000. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Merkel Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 I'll always have a warm spot for Leila Josefowicz. I mean that literally -- get divorced and come on over. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uguntde Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 I also like: Vadim Gluzman Kristof Barati Patricia Kopatchinskaja Quote Link to post Share on other sites
martin swan Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Where is Gitlis? Love or hate him, he is a force. Creatively and intellectually I think he is way ahead of many on this list. James Ehnes seems to make a deep impression on orchestral players who have worked with him, perhaps because of his extreme competence and his lack of posturing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Carl Stross Posted November 4, 2016 Report Share Posted November 4, 2016 Where is Gitlis? Well, he's exactly where he always was. Not quite "there". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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