Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77

Sayaka Shoji plays the Brahms Violin Concerto Opus 77 with CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, Avner Dorman conducting.
I. Allegro non troppo
II. Adagio
III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace
Performed Oct. 17, 2015
Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus
Cleveland, Ohio
Video Production:
Erica Brenner Productions, LLC
Cameras: Erica Brenner, Gary Adams
Editing: Erica Brenner
Audio recording engineer: Tom Knab
Audio mastering: Ian Dobie

[@worldpeace336]

私はヒラリーハーンも好きなんですが、庄司さんの演奏も好きで、より力強さと大胆さ、そして全ての音に魂を込める執念のようなものを感じます。

[@raoultak]

When every detail is beautiful, Sayaka must be there......

[@luizamsalgado]

@Raoul Tak....Exactly! No highlights! Every bar, frase and chord she is plays is a marvel in itself without never detracting from the whole of the work!

[@jnsurg947]

Sayaka Shoji once said she had been thinking only of musicality until age13. Then she thought it would have been catastrophic if she hadn’t been more aware of technic.She said her music training had been in reverse order. Her competition career was over after winning Paganini Competion at age16.She said she had felt she had been liberated and could have returned to herself. Although her technic is extraordinary,she said she didn’t like to be called technician. She said music was different thing. Why I respect her is, she is a genius of imagination. She is also highly intellectual to be able to step deeply into the composer’s world. Shostakovich’s no.1violin concerto at age 18 is a good example.

[@user-vp8lj2sn5i]

立派なコメントですね。

[@ytnelsongn]

The perfect Brahms. Nothing less than this.

[@masatakakimura1833]

Her bowing is extraordinary, giving her sound power and rich nuances.

[@yawenliu6648]

her left is also unfalliable, creating such intense and kaleidoscopic sounds

[@RO-zo8mp]

庄司紗矢香の演奏は、彼女以外の他のヴァイオリニストが伝えていない曲の全貌を伝えてくれる。現時点でも世界最高と思うけど、さらなる高みを目指してほしい。紗矢香のサウンドに慣れると、ヒラリー　ハーンの演奏も平面的で退屈に聴こえてしまう。

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

22:42 and "the legato section" .... this is so perfect .......

[@Desireyso58]

No Doubt! Lady Sayaka's Rendition it's one of the Best EVER!!!

[@jansnauwaert1785]

Indeed, no doubt about that. That became clear, even when she was only about 20 years old (or younger). One of the most magnificent violinists today, if not THE most magnificent.

[@tarap1024]

@@jansnauwaert1785 lpi

[@user-hk1ku1gd3x]

何回聞いてもいいなあ

[@christophe36000]

Sayaka, like always: the top talent of the worldwide violinists, of course she's been the very best for the last twenty years, so ..this is not a big deal, right? ;) .. She's the undisputed No1 nowadays.

[@howardsway1]

Sayaka always a moving performance. Worth travelling to world to see her.

[@christophe36000]

@@howardsway1 Exactly, I had the opportunity to see her in live playing on 2nd august 2018 in France in the Festival de la Vézère ( Saint-Ybard ) it was a very small wonderful place and a charming moment.

[@marcvilleneuve1889]

She is not the TOP talent at all

[@7056]

自分は全くクラシック音楽通というわけではないですが、それでも、この庄司紗矢香さんの演奏の素晴らしさは、ため息が出るほどです。ピアノの辻井氏と並ぶ、日本が世界に誇れる至宝だと思います。

[@miauw5678]

OMG, she has 100% control, technically, musically, tempi, all. Just the pitch down of her violin. That used to be different in the past.

[@user-qs7qi8rs2c]

庄司さんの演奏何時も楽しませてもらっています。素晴らしいです。

[@kuwabara7524]

静かに、そして激しく訴えかけるSyakaの演奏が好きです。 パガニーニ１番を聴いた後だが、洗練された激情が素晴らしい。 パガニーニは、他のパガニーニ優勝者を圧倒している。

[@Vivianissime]

Je ne connaissais pas encore Avner Dorman et sa direction me plait. Quant à Sayaka Shoji, elle me remue toujours tant son interprétation est toujours merveilleuse au fil des divers enregistrements que je possède de ce magnifique concerto de Brahms.

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

33:33 from here , some "portando" notes for History ...... an impossible to believe perfection and beauty .....

[@jnsurg947]

One of the most regrettable thing in my youtube experience was her Ligeti’s violin concerto was deleted quickly. I sincerely hope she plays it once again with European or American orchestra. Shoji said it had been the most extraordinary challenge for her.

[@turcomasud4255]

EXTRAORDINARIA COMO SIEMPRE,, LA MEJOR ,,, !!!!!!

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

42:18 these last chords , what for an incredible beauty .......

[@user-bz2zx6qh8y]

台上台下擁擠不堪，壓縮欣賞音樂的心情。

[@pierrerienier3214]

Just amazing

[@user-ro6jr2mu8o]

ヴァイオリン奏者もオーケストラも素晴らしい❤ ありがとうございます😅

[@profhennig]

super, danke

[@luizamsalgado]

When human reaches the divine !!! What a consolation such playing for this world! Sayaka is peerless

[@jnsurg947]

+Luis A M Salgado I wish to express my deep gratitude to you for your wonderful words as always.

[@luizamsalgado]

@@jnsurg947 My pleasure always Mr. Gaba ! I'm indebted to you for revealing me such a wonderful artist! I really hope like you that Ms. Shoji becomes a legend! Many knowledgeable music lovers here on KZbin, like you, already expressed their opinions about her greatness. Not only artistic greatness but also Human Greatness. Your friend Luiz Salgado (Brazil). -------PS. I think you will like to know that here in my country all my friends who are musicians share the highest opinion about Ms. Shoji

[@jnsurg947]

Luiz A M Salgado I am so glad to know it. Please send my best regards to your friends musicians,sincerely yours.

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

18:58 breathtaking beauty , ... somewhere between Hassid , Szigeti and Kreisler .....

[@user-fw7mw7zp3v]

素晴らしいの一語に尽きる。

[@MariaLuiza-dv8hh]

I love

[@daniel3231995]

Not as edited as her famous one with ny Philharmonic but her playing is as potent as ever and the interpretation too. One of the best of the brahms. colorful members. :)

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

No tsunamic waves of immense emotion , no incredible technical vituosity , but this sound , oh my God , this beautiful sound .........

[@jansnauwaert1785]

She DOES have incredible technical virtuosity, mind you.

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

@@jansnauwaert1785 Why this immediate agressivity ? Keep calm ... I meant "pure" virtuosity , Heifetz , Milstein , this kind of manual abilities which can sometimes make music dry ..... here , of course , the opposite .

[@yawenliu6648]

her Prokofiev concerti, sonatas, Shostakovich violin concerto 1,2, sonatas, paganini works, Tchaikovsky, Brahms Sonatas are also must hear

[@brucebodden513]

@@Fritz_Maisenbacher - I just thought Jan was saying don't forget that she does have great technique in addition to a beautiful sound... and it's true, even if it wasn't your main point.

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

@@brucebodden513 Yes , you are right ; And yes , to fullfill such a beautiful sound , you must have the fantastic technique which only is able to make the dream real .

[@lukefer7579]

So beautiful! Brahms belongs in a cathedral. The orchestra and conductor are wonderful and the soloist is fantastic!

[@user-zf4iv4yz7g]

天才！　ワンダフル！　素晴らしい！　beautiful ！ 　bravo！　bravo！

[@user-lr8qe3mz3e]

sayaka saiko!

[@MrHiroyuki71]

手造り感が出て、とても、いい感じですね。庄司様の、パフォーマンスとオケのそれと、旨くいってますね。

[@ANANSHINSEI]

Yeah, best performance ever, I believe. There is no drawback in orchestration of Brahms violin concert. I think cellos must be placed just before the woodwind instruments for every orchestra music like this performance.

[@yawenliu6648]

her Prokofiev concerti, sonatas, Shostakovich violin concerto 1,2, sonatas, paganini works, Tchaikovsky, Brahms Sonatas are also must hear

[@jnsurg947]

Her previous version was with NDR Sinfonie Orchester Hamburg conducted by Alan Gilbert,former music director of NY Phil.

[@user-jc7cy4eg7w]

bravo

[@yujimatsunaga4238]

😊

[@1analist]

My god this Orchestra is GLORIOUS !!!

[@bondjames417]

最高です

[@21unusual]

39:38 I love here

[@sox8360]

気取らない演奏会で、良い雰囲気ですね。

[@pierrerienier3214]

End of 1st mvmt: conductor thinking - maybe i should have worn a suit for this one

[@user-vp8lj2sn5i]

なんと、美しいオーボエの 奏楽。 室内楽的美学なブラームス。 エクセレント🎉

[@MasHas]

力強い！

[@naruokaeiji3097]

Mike mixing was not so nice because it lost who is principal as sound of orchestra was too big. I really wanted to listen her beautiful violin.

[@user-vn8ve2ht9i]

34:00

[@tanbashinpo]

これはヌヴーに匹敵する内容です。

[@lardyify]

Beautiful playing but I personally would have liked a few close ups of her face. Isn’t that what video is for?

[@Music2Die4]

Looks like Mary Kay Fink on flute.......

[@sinichiromikazuki81]

庄司さやかさん、右手に力を入れて引かなくなりましたね。

[@oscar3eyes]

Just a bit long-winded on the cadenza.

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

18:58 during her beautiful Cadenza , I am looking at the faces of the female members of the orchestra ...... closed , severe , full of envy and jealousy , of course no one of these women thinking about the chance to be there , present , and hearing this fantastic moment , not a smile , no moment of pleasure , inner ecstasy .... ....... no , of course ..; only this terrible hostility ..... and Mrs. Shoji , playing further among these ennemies , extracting out of her violin the most exquisite sounds ever played in this Concerto , when all the witches are only waiting on a possible enormous wrong note of the divine soloist ...... because she plays not only 20 times better , but she is also much more pretty and sexy than the present frustrated girls ..... ohh , what a lovely neighbourhood .... Mrs Shoji , you are a real hero ... in all senses ......

[@daniel3231995]

Lol

[@alysa683]

you touch on something very interesting, most people rarely comment about. I totally get what you are saying. It takes a professional musician some guts to rise above themselves and truly appreciate another human being who is playing way better, not just better but possessing completely out of this world skill. Even appreciate accompanying such a divine soloist and being humble in presence of such amazing sound and beautiful music. They could learn humility from Sayaka, she is one of the most humble world class musicians I know of.

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

@@alysa683 Thank you Alisa .

[@i-told-you-sodear1526]

Wow. This one is off the wall. Had you contacted the female orchestral members to verify your fantasy suspicion of their wretched envy of the soloist?

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

@@i-told-you-sodear1526 Are you blind ?

[@i-told-you-sodear1526]

I heard her play this concerto before. She has matured greatly and now plays much better, 10x better, with more fluidity and better phrasing than the stiff strict interpretation of the past.

[@juanperes2331]

Unfortunately the recording leaves a lot to be desired, it is a church not a concert hall and the difference can be heard, too much unwanted reber, the violin sounds harsh and the whole orchestra does not achieve a perfect tuning, as to be able to appreciate too much the benefits of her performance, although I have seen her on recordings from previous years and I do not question her masterful technical and musical gifts.

[@maihom4782]

oh my those parishners in Cleveland went to the angelic realm of beautiful bowing, no physical ants in your pants over body and underpanty moves...this is quite distracting when Josh does it ...maybe he has calmed down since his belling is getting jiggly...but I digress...I would have loved to heard in the flesh....OMG...the acoustics must be gorgeous for this composer, conductor, these musicians...I DO NOT NEED to see men in those PENGUIN costumes...Bitte schone.

[@sondolmd7522]

Huh?

[@McPierogiPazza]

We're incredibly fortunate to have City Music. There is no admission charge for the performances. They play in churches and synagogues. I love seeing them in this beautiful Polish-American church. The idea is to make classical music accessible to people in communities all around the city who might not otherwise go to a concert. This church is in a working class neighborhood.

[@JLar-bb5hl]

Stop clapping only for the soloist, that's improper, old-fashioned and just wrong! Soloists, stop taking the glory for the whole performance. No orchestra, no no conductor, no concert. Other than that, quite happy with the performance!

[@carlhopkinson]

I find this underwhelming...this is Brahms Violin Concerto for heavens sake....the emotive force is just not what it should be....watercolors where acrylic is called for.

[@Jen-Yueh_Hu]

Off-topic, but watercolours are acrylic, just diluted more with water.