FELIX MENDELSSOHN - Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 - Shlomo Mintz/Israel Symphony/Zubin Mehta

Shlomo Mintz, a protégé of Issac Stern, and a phenomenal violinist in his own right, plays a part of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor, first movement. Zubin Mehta conducts the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in this vintage performance.
Shlomo Mintz has been playing for more than four decades, although he's only fifty-three (born on October 30, 1957). His standard biography says:
Born in Moscow in 1957, Shlomo Mintz emigrated with his family two years later to Israel, where he studied with the renowned Ilona Feher. At age eleven, he made his concerto debut with the Israel Philharmonic. He made his Carnegie Hall debut at age sixteen in a concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony, and subsequently began his studies with Dorothy DeLay at the Juilliard School of Music.
*************
Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, was his last large orchestral work. Mendelssohn first thought of it in 1838 and it premiered six years later, in 1845, when he was thirty-six. The concerto, considered an important work and one of the first concertos of the Romantic period, is a popular piece of music.
The piece was innovative in the mid-nineteenth century:
Although the concerto consists of three movements in a standard fast-slow-fast structure and each movement follows a traditional form, the concerto was innovative and included many novel features for its time. Distinctive aspects of the concerto include the immediate entrance of the violin at the beginning of the work and the linking of the three movements with each movement immediately following the previous one.
The concerto was initially well received and soon became regarded as one of the greatest violin concertos of all time. The concerto remains popular and has developed a reputation as an essential concerto for all aspiring concert violinists to master, and usually one of the first Romantic era concertos they learn. Many professional violinists have recorded the concerto and the work is regularly performed in concerts and classical music competitions.
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy [1809-1847]: An oil painting done shortly before his death at age thirty-eight. Mendelssohn once said: "Though everything else may appear shallow and repulsive, even the smallest task in music is so absorbing, and carries us so far away from town, country, earth, and all worldly things, that it is truly a blessed gift of God."
Painter: Eduard Magnus [1799-1872]. Done in 1846.
Source: Wikipedia
Mendelssohn was the grandson of Moses Mendelssohn, a leading modern Jewish philosopher and rabbi, and one of the founders of Haskalah, the Jewish Enlightenment, whose ideas of cultural assimilation contributed to the foundation of Reform Judaism and all its practices.
Felix Mendelssohn, along with his three siblings, were all baptized in 1816 into the Lutheran Church, when he was six. Six years later, in 1822, his parents, Abraham and Leah followed suit, and all took on the additional name of Bartholdy.
As is common in such situations, both the Jews and Christians claim him as their own. Although it is unclear what Felix Mendelssohn thought himself of his religious sentiments. While trying not to belabor the point, one must make a distinction between practical social conventions and true faith. Perhaps a clue can be found in his music.
Information posted @ perryjgreenbaum.blogspot.com/2...

[@jonathanparle8429]

I watched him play this live with the Sydney Symphony in 1983. Unforgettable. He filled the entire hall with sound effortlessly and played the piece literally perfectly.

[@MusicforBalletClass48]

Anyone who loves music can only love Shlomo Mintz!

[@endlessadventure541]

This is the young Mintz. He was so great. Power and manliness on the violin like I have never seen. Hands bigger than my feet. The violin was just a toy to him.

[@nessieness5433]

Yes, Mintz and Perlman gave us the best renditions of this magnificent concerto.

[@a.e.p8647]

I'm 17 now, started playing the violin at 11 and fell inlove with Mr Mintz's playing at 12... I like everything about him... Clarity, vibrato, posture and his facial expressions are the best too :) Those 5 people who disliked this video are clearly missing out!

[@Aristaeuss]

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm now extremely committed and incredible how one can progress in only a year or in a few years. My dad said I could play Paganini by the time I would be a senior but I didn't think so. Now I'm applying to places in NYC... Not Juilliard, though 😂

[@ANITA-cv8cq]

У нас в Москве дети играют этот Концерт в 7 лет

[@benvolman3709]

It's not just the sheer musciality and tonal brilliance of the younger Mintz, but the full romantic drama of this performance--the total commitment of soloist, conductor and orchestra--that totally captures the heart. Yes, there are so many great performances of this amazing music, but this is a sublime moment of music-making. I particularly like that moment in 27' 07 when Mehta looks over at his soloist, throughly caught up in the music, and constrains the orchestra to keep up with Mintz but not to overpower that final climax. And the audience can't hold back, but starts cheering before the final note! I'm cheering too!

[@brandonrittenour5905]

8:47 is my personal favorite moment of any classical recording of any piece ever.

[@pablobg9898]

Love the Mintz's actitude, very intense feeling!

[@rogerferguson4327]

This is a profoundly moving experience. I have heard this concerto played by several masters - including Chang, Heifetz and Perlman - it seems to me that no one can surpass Mintz - it is as though Meneldssohn wrote the piece for him.

[@annamariamanfredi6624]

Non posso che commuovermi ogni volta che l'ascolto. Grazie ❤

[@MissTalmo]

With so much dedicated feelings to the piece, i do think the piece is written for him. I had a great honor to watch him for free for a semi-private concert for Peabody students at the school. He played this piece with the Peabody orchestra and an impromptu solo piece to surprise everyone, and I got to watch all of that for free. Chance of a lifetime and i didnt know even who he was until that evening. He was so supportive abd giving to the students and to the audience.

[@originaljudah9351]

is I just me or does Shlomo have the best vibrato ever? omg I want it.

[@bayudwiputra5607]

His masterity of his bowing makes even a narrow vibrato sounds brilliant. Try playing / keep the bow stable and near the bridge.

[@trueviolinist]

YES!!!!!

[@whoareyou1332]

I was watching one of his Paganini videos and yes, I was raving over his left hand - he has superb framing, accuracy and that REACH! But yes, you can be great with your left hand, but if your bowing sucks, then that's it. Shlomo's bowing is a work of art.

[@sonjaplzak6753]

Maliek Parker The best vibrato and the best tune has Pinchas Zukermann.

[@gretikalceva8874]

Maliek Parker just you.. :D I dont like his vibrato that much...

[@annamariamanfredi6624]

Che meraviglia! Grazie ❤

[@dexf5870]

The andante (13:25) is the very nature of beauty. The whole concerto is truly a magical opus. Bravo Mendelssohn!

[@abj8842]

no other version, that's the best

[@redbike26]

wrong

[@CamiloGTavira]

Agree

[@saniuca9691]

He's good at Double stops, particularly on the octaves, the intonation is so far the best I've heard. No wonder he nailed Paganini's 1st concerto

[@happycamper7716]

Sublime, moving, gorgeous. I have goosebumps!

[@thecapetownjazzscene2485]

Seamless bowing and expression! A truly signature reference version of this masterwork

[@LizaHannahDeVilliers]

Shlomo Mintz made it shine, the way he does with everything he sets his hand to. Thank you for your comment. From a fellow Capetonian. Liza

[@user-ss6bp5vc1s]

Thank you for uploading. I am 58 years old, so had enjoyed playing this concerto many times. this video I found recently, impressed me so much. This Brilliant, lively, fresh and romantic performance is just what I image of the Mendelssohn’s violin concerto E minor. For me, in some phrases Mr. Mintz looks like beautiful young king lion running triumphantly in the plain.

[@LizaHannahDeVilliers]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your comment Kind regards. Liza

[@lanestrand8618]

Thumbs up if your favorite part is 12:40. I love the power of his sound.

[@richardjedda4641]

A truly lovely, sensitive and passionate performance boding a great career to come !

[@LizaHannahDeVilliers]

Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it. (^_^)

[@chuckberger3196]

Adante at 14:00 gives me the chills. Absolutely brilliant.

[@markbriantsev]

my favorite recording of this concerto was played by David Oistrakh, but this version is very awesome - beautiful sound, technicial accuracy, subtle interpretation... bravo!!!

[@GokanTube]

Mi versión favorita por mucho!!!!

[@qwertylife1158]

My favorite version!

[@oXarrakkissXo]

Estas melodias no solamente son hermosas sino que transportan a otra epoca

[@rogerferguson4327]

I have heard this concerto by a great many artists, but I think Mintz' rendition is sublime.

[@ClaudioNobrega]

Na minha opinião, a interpretação mais perfeita de todos os tempos. Shlomo Mintz, o virtuoso do século.

[@manuelfohr6898]

Best Violinist !!!!

[@andreishchur6555]

in the world!!!

[@violinvirtuose8531]

Andrei Shchur yes!!

[@qwertylife1158]

Absolutely!

[@mylifestyle5558]

bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mega mega schön!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TheMagicalJake]

Thank you for uploading this! This is truly spectacular!

[@valerioviolinoconti2832]

Magnifique!!! One of the best Mendelssohn

[@estherszalay5921]

Bravo, bravo! Thank you.

[@Venhe]

Mintz如痴如醉的表演力实在让人叹为观止！！！

[@AChainreyes]

He will play this concert in Costa Rica next October the 4th.

[@user-ye6ce6mr2t]

МендельсонпоистененаписалэтотконцертдляШломоМинца! Это лучший образец.

[@lyubomirtolumbadjiev7064]

Wow...What a wonderful interpretation!

[@fayfolkstudios5247]

Bravo!!!

[@kangminseok8196]

This is my favorite version

[@LizaHannahDeVilliers]

Mine too. (^_^)

[@MissTalmo]

Very lyrical

[@aaronjorgefridman5662]

Una verdadera joya musical en una interpretación magistral

[@junyujiang2367]

l. Allegro,motto appassionato. (0:49) . ll. Andante. (13:26) . lll. Allegretto non troppo. (21:18).

[@analuciasodre3975]

Alegro molto, apassionato

[@jraldne1]

the music begis @00:48...THANK YOU!!!...

[@mare-a-te2323]

Fantastico. Lo adoro❤️❤️💞💞❤️💞

[@polskapianist]

this kid has magic and God gave him the gift of music,and now his gift is shared by all of us. Praise the MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS.

[@wiltonpt1]

Virtuoso for sure but as far as aesthetics go he is the most elegant violinist I have seen. He does not need to look at his fingers of the left hand and his right hand movements are like the pattern of good bow technique.

[@user-us8km5qt9d]

❤

[@bayudwiputra5607]

In an interview with david dubal, mintz said that the violin broke apart/explodes in the middle of the recording session of this concerto with claudio abbado and the CSO. Lol! Lucky the same thing didnt happen in this performance though.

[@cougar231000]

how can a violin explode?

[@buzdugu]

I don’t know why it exactly happens but happens to me on the E string, especially when I move my bow from A string to E. Can be caused of rosin, string, pressure or movement…? So, I don’t know, but if you listen carefully from 11:53, something happens on C note. He doesn’t seem to care at all, but 2 bars later it happens again on D and he looses it. Then the look and smile he gaves to the conductor is so cute. Maybe they were talking about it before concert, right, and it almost repeated.

[@andrewp.6838]

Скрипач великолепен.

[@user-xv2lk6mu5o]

Вот это инструмент!

[@user-of5gc1rl6m]

사랑해요 슐로모 ㅠㅠ

[@ahmadaliahmedovviolin5393]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@snpsea]

purest of them all. every note perfect. faster can hide imperfections. not Shlomo

[@stefanoferrari5747]

8.48 vale tutto il concerto

[@lanestrand8618]

Does anybody out there know what violin he plays in this performance?

[@Santiago_Scruzzi_Diefenthaler]

What year Is in this video?

[@ilyaipo]

this is the Israel Philharmonic not Israel symphony

[@estheravianaplatt8713]

8:02

[@moniquebrandflu7966]

9.19

[@ums9827]

(1:45)

[@Eroica_Under_God.15.18]

Not Bad As Hilar Hahn Tho.

[@apece70]

hate the commercials!

[@alexandergushchin5475]

Nicht gut , Nadien spielte 1000 Mal BESSER! Langweilig,,,, und Milstein, Oistrach auch,,,,, sie waren echte Artisten,,,,! Er nicht.

[@danielareid1200]

Langweilig? Quit smoking pot, man!

[@Venhe]

听了这么多版本 还是这个最经典 最完美 可惜受限于当年的录制效果不够好 实在遗憾 更遗憾的是Mintz也老了 无法再重现经典了😮‍💨