What makes a great violinist? March 10, 2012
“The greatest test for a violinist? The Paganini caprices? Bach’s Chaconne? The Beethoven or Brahms violin concertos? No. The greatest test is to hold the attention of a listener for 60 minutes or so of violin short pieces/vignettes/salon music. Few pass the test; few have the range of sound, variety of bowing, palette of colours, variation of dynamics, to hold our attention for more than 20 minutes or so in vignettes by Kreisler, De Falla, Sarasate, Achron, et al. So I was more than happy this weekend to sit back and listen to Fritz Kreisler, Tianwa Yang, and Michael Rabin—all playing short vignettes…” Continue reading
Source: Harry Collier, Musicke & Food, 25 February 2012
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