Isaac Stern - Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor

[@711yada]

My mom and i bought the last two tickets to see him live in LA at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 1977?78? Zubin Meta conducted. Mom's seat was in the second balcony, mine was in the second to last row on the main floor. I was 15 and the folks sitting next to me offered their binoculars to me halfway through the first piece. I put the glasses up to my eyes and then, almost immediately, Isaac broke a string (sawed it in half!)! Without missing a beat he turned to the first violin and exchanged violins and continued playing as if it was perfectly normal. The entire theater gasped. The first violinist was stunned but just began to laugh at being the pit crew for the incomparable Isaac Stern. He just sat there, chuckling, holding Isaac's violin on his lap until the piece ended. I called the play by play out loud for the folks who had loaned the binoculars to me as if i was Howard Cosell. It was a stunning display of absolute control. They didn't loan those lovely binocs to me ever again! 😆 Later in college i saw him once in the audience of Macky (Boulder CO) and once as a stage manager at Macky. He remains my all time favorite violinist. This is my favorite classical memory, thanks Isaac.

[@davidangel5927]

I was there in the hall, a sweaty 17 year old violin student. First time I heard him live: he was a massive presence on the platform. Went backstage to get his autograph afterwards and was surprised at how small he was!

[@NickBottom]

Haha! He claimed 5'6''

[@Salvatrucha35]

david angel I had a similar experience with Vengerov... funny

[@atlanticking2315]

salvador valencia how tall is vengerov? he looks real massive!

[@boromir1super]

He was short, just as me (5'7) hahaha.

[@osmarmayoral3996]

david angel - small only in stature! However, undoubtedly one of the giants of the violin! And that goes a long way, believe u me !!!

[@Тайныйновгородец]

Трактовка Стерном этого дивного концерта поставила его в ряд инструменталистов 20-го века, мимо которого в будущем не пройдёт ни один исследователь... тогда ещё были живы многие - Ойстрах, Коган...через 20 лет от этой записи в 82-м в Москве на конкурсе Чайковского привелось хоть раз, но повидать и заснять на фото Стерна и Третьякова. Кто был на фото с Третьяковым я не знал - Стерн был в тёмных очках и с усами. Они увлечённо беседовали и их было не оторвать друг от друга. В январе 1997-го в Питере я подарил давний снимок русскому музыканту и он как раз и подсказал, что рядом с ним Исаак Стерн. Храню эту дорогую память.

[@herbertkronzucker8367]

Stern is spectacular here, in a 1971 performance, accompanied very well by Previn. In his later years, Stern could often be problematic, but this is violin playing of the very highest order, delivering both stormy emotion and subtle colours, reminding that he was indeed one of the top 20th-century masters of the instrument. The Sibelius concerto is one of the best in the entire violin literature, and I find Stern unlocks the full scope and passion of the piece here.

[@marxismisevil839]

So beautiful! This is the best I have heard him play. Powerful and beautiful.

[@aaronjorgefridman5662]

In memoriam de tres grandes: Sibelius, Previn y Stern. Hermoso concierto, brillante interpretación

[@dannyboy2267]

0:19 1st movement 15:22 2nd movement 22:57 3rd movement

[@Tennisisreallyfun]

Thank you, I always look for these comments. They are very helpful for when I want to go back to a particular movement later😉

[@alexsaldarriaga8318]

A force of nature. What fire in the belly! He plays the violin as it should be played, with reckless abandon.

[@gracie99999]

nice way put it!

[@christopherhogan691]

My favorite violinist.. Even after Perlman and Heifetz and Zukerman, Schneiderhan, Oistrach. They are all so great and yet none of them play with such Jewish intensity and spectacular precision and musicality... Listen to Beethoven's Violin Concerto from all the greats.. Stern's is the finest of them all..

[@pierrehenripontac8493]

Don't forget Heifetz and of course the genius Menuhin

[@geigenatelierbrusch469]

I like your "My favorite violinist". A little more problematic is your statement "Stern is the finest of them all." This is Your personal opinion but by no means a matter of fact, as it is and will always be a question of taste. "Which star at the nocturnal sky is the most beautiful ..... and which flower in the garden?"

[@Тайныйновгородец]

Перенасыщенность мирового Олимпа скрипачей еврейскими музыкантами не делает его привлекательнее - это факт. Лучшее здесь - в разнообразии. Вон, на мой выпуклый морской глаз исполнение Брамса Виктором Третьяковым оставляет позади многих "великих" - Натана Перельмана и Менухина точно...Стерн среди всех наиболее яркий и глубокий исполнитель. Механистичность Хейфеца здесь и вовсе некстати...слишком раздутая фигура. Ведь музыка - не есть дистанция для соревнований...

[@maljarf]

What is the jewish intensity?

[@juergensteiniger5118]

Milstein!

[@borisfrancia7742]

Che meraviglia finalmente un concerto x violino e orchestra dove si sente tutto bene grande stern espressivo e emozionante . oggi non fanno più suonare in questo modo

[@juergensteiniger5118]

Konzert voller Wunder, hochkompliziert, sehr schwierig zu spielen, großartige Gedächtnisleistung des Interpreten. Dieses Temperament! Ich möchte d i e s e n Sibelius jeden Tag hören…

[@will-ye]

incredible how aggressive yet beautiful his performance is.... i could never control the "bite" of my bow even remotely this well

[@romfiddler]

Любопытная история из жизни А Стерна . Как то раз , во время концертирования в Москве он был приглашен на правительственный прием , где был представлен самому Н Хрущеву. Жизнерадостный Никита Сергеевич , узнав , что Стерн хорошо говорит по русски рассказал ему анекдот : Английский лорд ехал верхом на лошади в парламент , лошадь споткнулась . лорд упал и ударился головой о камень , его мозги выпали наружу , но он поднялся , отряхнулся сел на лошадь и ... поехал дальше . Удивленный слуга воскликнул : Господин , куда же вы едете без мозгов ?! Я еду в парламент , там мозги не нужны ! Ошеломленный А Стерн еще долго не мог придти в себя , но потом , через много лет , рассказал этот же анекдот в " Белом Доме " , куда был вхож , и , к его громадному удивлению , эта история нашла там свое понимание !

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

I'd forgotten how good he was. And the best chamber player ever. And such a wonderful human being.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

Beside that, Previn's conducting is absolutely sublime, what a perfectionist he was.

[@markhughes7927]

What a wonderful musician and man he was/is? - brought so much skill and personal kindness to the musical scene in England in his day.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

@@markhughes7927 Sadly Mr Stern left us in 2001. I was fortunate enough to meet him on a number of occasions as he used to stay in the hotel in London where I worked. Great,great musician.

[@osmarmayoral3996]

Mr Stern reminds me of my all times favorite violinist - Alexander Prilutchi. He was my friend & Professor. May they Rest In Peace !!!

[@gracie99999]

rip

[@dong-hotsai5386]

So powerful and so beautiful ...

[@frenchk5791]

my favourite violinist

[@jiandongtu3974]

French K that’s good that u like him

[@FrankBln100]

Für mich immer noch einer der allergrößten Musiker. Absolut beeindruckend. Danke.

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Bravisimo. Desde LA PENINSULA DE YUCATAN MEXICO. 🇮🇷

[@JuanMartinexplacerez-mw3we]

MAGISTRAL ejecución del Prestigioso Violinista Isaac STERN ; interpretando la Obra Maestra del Genial Compositor J SIBELIUS . Ejecuta con un impresionante Nivel temperamental y un arrollador Virtuosismo , unido a un sonido de Excelencia .

[@death2pc]

Nice guy. Quite friendly. Ran into him a few times of all places at Safeway late at night in San Francisco. We both had homes in the same neighborhood.

[@eamantari9356]

No wonder he performed in San Francisco so often back in the day when I lived in the City and attended the SFSO!

[@rubensavoi8095]

Extraordinaria interpretación, si la pudiera oír Sibelius se sentiría emocionado y agradecido.Excelso Violinista, Notable dirección que. armoniza los Silencios para 'separar armoniosamente los silencios' y así destacarse El Violín como La Orquesta. NOTABLE...Dr. Rubén L Savoi.

[@lorenzley1324]

It's totally fabulous.

[@TheSparshofMusic-wn7de]

Amazing!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@edwardgoldsmith8011]

Losing Issac and Heifetz the world will never be the same.rrplacing masters like this is not easy.idsac stern was a big fan of Heifetz along with anyone else of the masters.its good to see him here thanks good job showing this

[@sandrinemodeste8457]

Dont forget Oistrakh ...the 3 magic

[@osmarmayoral3996]

Isaac is like a “little bull”, very powerful, doesn’t hold back. He sounds very much in this recording like Jascha !!!

[@calvinlee9863]

His bowing is great undoubtedly, but his left hand is not as good as his right hand. He got slips in both octave scales in the 1st mov't.

[@gabrielslavchev2531]

Yeah and many other things were maybe slightly off, so what? As a violin student I can tell you that there are many students (certainly more than there were during the times Stern was a student)who can play the Sibelius impeccably- superb accuracy of intonation each octave perfectly in tune, each note right on time perfectly learned and calculated (should I add predictable) rubato not one unwritten accent great sound control and last but most importantly NO SOUL

[@Tennisisreallyfun]

@@gabrielslavchev2531 You have no idea how much I agree with your comment. This is exactly the thing I can’t stand about all of these “celebrities” these days. Ray Chen, Sarah Chang, Nicola Benedetti, Anne Akiko Meyers, etc… Sure, they can play every note with accuracy, but they have no sound. They just bang on their instruments and out comes something cold, hollow, and soulless. And yet people idolize them.

[@user-iy1go8tr7i]

@@Tennisisreallyfun Ray Chen has sound, what are u talking bout

[@Tennisisreallyfun]

@@user-iy1go8tr7i Look, before I redirect, I’ll say that everyone has their personal preferences and just because I don’t like Ray Chen doesn’t mean you have to agree with me (or get testy with me for disagreeing with you). In fact, I’m glad you like Ray Chen, because that means that he is the reason we have one more person (you) in this world who loves classical music, and that to me is a reason to celebrate. However, as a seasoned concert goer, I really don’t see what the fuss is all about with Ray. I’ve encountered him more than once and I just see a technician who obviously loves what he does but who doesn’t have that inherently rich, warm tone that separates the truly great from the merely talented.

[@margaritmanukyan2527]

Ի՜նչ լավ է նվագում👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@sonjaplzak6753]

Absolut fantastic, thank you very much for this video.

[@sherom]

Thanks for posting Nick, it is appreciated !

[@Saturne84]

sherom i

[@auturgicflosculator2183]

He played really beautifully...technically capable, but with raw talent, not just practiced technique...evokes imagery in my mind that almost no other violinist can approach~♥ I find Soyoung Yoon to be his closest spiritual successor with respect to style...maybe not with quite the same mastery, but brings forth a similar emotional response for me~

[@MiguelPescador-vg3xv]

❤grande, se oye aquí su feeling y tecnica extraordinaria, no fue un regalo , fue un enorme sacrificio ... ❤

[@musicfirst5020]

Both Stern and Ricci grew up in San Francisco. His recordings of the great concerto's are as good, or better, than anyone. He never gets mentioned, I'm not sure why. He had that incredible, dense, powerful, but warm sound. Maybe it was because he didn't have a wide tonal palette - but who needs it when you can play like this. On the other hand, maybe we forget the enormous acclaim he did have before those like Perlman came on the scene.

[@garyblais8602]

MY , how orchestras have changed from the 70,s-early 80,s. a very young Previn may have been married to Mia Farrow then, listen to what Stern says about conducting in the video the Art of the conductor ,But here , here Stern steals the show in what may be said to be one of the most difficult yet engaging Violin Concertos in the repertoire and he does it with such genius , conviction and dignity . The second movement brings tears to my ancient eyes . Wow . my soul is stirred .

[@rebeccabrower313]

One word. Wow.

[@clairejeongahlee2656]

unbelievable!!👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@zoebuff121]

such fearless and confident demeanor perfect for sib

[@hermitconsctraveler]

Isaac Stern, un grande entre los grandes. Para algunos, el mejor violinista de los últimos tiempos.

[@matahari8603]

what a force in violin playing! flawless.

[@jean-pierremurrli3072]

A little bit of a muscle show. And no wonder the orchestra has difficulties to keep up with his "rhytmic freedom"

[@assindiastignani]

Wow!! I heard Isaac Stern a lot when I was a student, but I never heard him play better than this. What you can't appreciate from the recordings is what an enormous, all-enveloping sound he had live.

[@AndyinMokum]

I've always thought Isaac Stern's interpretation, as the benchmark for Sibelius's violin concerto. He captures the pure essence of the piece, like no one else. His playing is spell binding.

[@musicfirst5020]

OMG what a sound!!!!!! Incredible!!!!!!

[@osmarmayoral3996]

Stern’s fingers are like pistons !!!

[@망히-z9z]

"In every violinists' ear there is Heifetz" ㅡ Issac Stern ( Time Magazine when Heifetz passed away)

[@NickBottom]

not anymore...

[@망히-z9z]

@@NickBottom Through recordings. By the way Heifetz had the most recording CDs made in classical music field. Guinness .

[@NickBottom]

@@망히-z9z Maybe but nobody cares about that anymore. In those days, Heifetz was the first violinist to achieve technical perfection. Nowadays we're used to that and take it for granted. We've had 4 generations of violinists who played to that standard.

[@망히-z9z]

@@NickBottom You are right

[@TheCristianotube]

wait... what violinist has played to Heifetz standards?

[@osmarmayoral3996]

In other words, his name, Stern, suits him perfectly !!!

[@teddyofparis]

I totally agree, but in German, not in English :-)

[@albertbuss8657]

Un grand spécialiste de Sibelius comme Christian Ferras.Un son magnifique !

[@maryviolin9901]

En mi opinión, las tres mejores versiones de este concierto son Isaac stern David Oistrakh Hilary Hahn Esto porque cada uno tiene cosas que me gustan mucho

[@Marinavalerevna]

Ферра?

[@dannyboy2267]

12:00 is where he stern plays the double stops

[@br5448]

WOW thank you so much for this. A haven from all.

[@jacquesgoerens1480]

du sentiment et une force inégalable

!! MONUMENTAL !!

[@ВладимирМаничев-ы7д]

José Luis J.L.

[@appalachianspiritfolkinstr8849]

Brilliant!

[@jonteske4267]

Stern is the only violinist I've seen so far who does the double stop thirds at 23:41 entirely with down bow staccato! Incredible! I seen him do this concerto twice live and he did it that way both times. The passage repeats later in the movement. I guess you have to be violinist who is able to play this concerto (and I am) to appreciate this. Most violinist do it up bow, or do the first four note down in the run and then do the rest up bow.

[@FrancisAsin-Gioro]

Jon Teske yes it did but your comment makes nonsense. He was a wonderful fiddler but not owning a virtuoso technique, which is universally accepted by the whole classical music world.

[@lidiaquinillo7657]

john, I appreciate your comments. Thanks

[@tinymanz443]

Where did you hear that? Stern is considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.

[@touatifettouma9674]

@@tinymanz443 I agree

[@jonteske4267]

@@FrancisAsin-Gioro You have not idea what you are talking about!

[@chanhnguyen2215]

Great Violinist.

[@juergensteiniger5118]

Je öfter ich dieses Konzert höre, umso größer werden Erstaunen und Hochachtung über die Leistung des Komponisten und der beteiligten Musiker, unfaßbar

[@PJohn-gc8xv]

The very best violinist ever. Whatever music he plays, they become masterpieces.

[@MrInterestingthings]

He makes it sound more virtuosic than Heifetz . Not labored but darn forthright. Too much so it's like he's a notch in front of the beat Heated performance.The entire concerto feels whitehot. Amazing , commitmed performance bigger than life.I see why he had a longlasting career he gives and its a natural huge Storm of a force. Ive jeard all the famous techniques play this and it has never sounded like this .Neveu has more subtlety ,Mullova too more versatility of statement .Vengerov is mighty . Ive never heard Menuhin in this He's heartrending Ive never seen or heard anger with him .even in the filmed Schoenberg piece with Gould it's not like what dumay does in the concerto . this is unforgettable !

[@blackswan1301]

He has the most beautiful sounding violin that exists

[@Stardust-yp2nn]

Thanks for share it

[@fingerhorn4]

So individual. So raw. So free. Marvellous.

[@christopherw3490]

Isaac Stern "I thought I did a pretty good job." David Oistrakh "Hold my beer."

[@saracaselanizilio4627]

😅

[@kevinmullins4574]

I wish the audio was timed with the video. It’s hard to enjoy watching this masterful performance

[@JustFiddler]

yes, i see that

[@EvanKaplanPianist]

Bro who cares? Just listen. You don’t have to watch music.

[@kevinmullins4574]

@@EvanKaplanPianist “bro”, I care. Why comment on something a year old anyway.

[@EvanKaplanPianist]

@@kevinmullins4574 I’m sorry if I offended you. I can be quite impulsive with my responses. I merely disagree with the necessity for perfect synchronization, particularly considering the age of this recording and also the purely MUSICAL merits which in my opinion trump the sonic or video graphic elements.

[@Gary_Texan_USA]

I listen to younger excellent virtuoso violinist play, but there's no comparison to Oistrakh, Menuhin, Stern, Heifetz, or Perlman performances.

[@Marinavalerevna]

Шеринг, Ферра и список можно продолжить.

[@Poreckylife]

One thing I did learn from this concerto: don't be afraid of your violin.

[@11Artash]

Bravo!

[@сергейсерый-к8и]

нет слов , это Исповедь ( Гимн Космосу , Природе , забытым Предкам )

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

GREAT ! :)

[@albert314159265]

quite a violinist .... I heard him do the Brahms years back, very impressive, he's a bear - did allot of younger up and comers, especially Perlman I believe ...

[@giuseppepupella479]

magic, magic, magic. and more than magic, more and more

[@ВікторОлексюк-с4б]

Неперевершено!

[@stevenj9970]

How I miss THIS kind of playing, full of energy and abandon - not like the very CAREFUL BLAND playing these days. I'd rather here some scratch and "perhaps" less than absolute always perfect intonation than the superfast, clean, tidy playing these days that says NOTHING.....

[@gracie99999]

wonder•ful

[@rarechavala]

Extraordinario!!!!!!

[@Joeh1154]

Andre Previn looks like a kid! This is likely an '80's vintage? I remember Previn and the Pittsburgh on PBS. Great mix on the sound here. Thanks for the post.

[@chanhnguyen2215]

Andre Previn is not a kid. He is a good conductor and also a great pianist. He is a ex husband’s Anne Sophie Mutter. Later they divorced but still good friends and helped each other.

[@Joeh1154]

@@chanhnguyen2215 Just noticed this. I'm well aware he's not a kid. This broadcast was from 1971 so, yes he looks far younger. Previn was married many times. Dory Previn and Mia Farrow along with Anne are among his wives club. Andre passed in 2019.

[@steveburrus5526]

Good Gosd why the huge/enormous difference in time between when this concert was given, 1971, and the date it was posted, 07/07/2016, anyway?

[@estebanechandi2761]

EXxcellent 😮

[@simonwong2738]

Took me a while to recognize Previn. I thought he was born with white hair.

[@cabrivideo]

André Previn sublime!

[@ГерманУстинов-з1х]

Life!!

[@100crowns6]

I didn't know that Stern could play so well...

[@davidangel5927]

He was simply transcendent on a good day. You had to get lucky as he didn't practise so much after 1960: too busy with countless worthy projects like saving Carnegie Hall, helping protégés like Perlman, Zukerman and many others and lobbying for the arts in the USA.

[@100crowns6]

Not to mention crushing careers of others-Rosand,Gitlis,Oliveira,Friedman and others

[@philippeyared2050]

100crowns Gitlis said that Stern hurt him? I thought they were friends

[@100crowns6]

+Philippe Yared years later Stern repented over Gitlis

[@philippeyared2050]

Ok tks

[@zaferteomete5284]

BRAVO MAİSTRO WERY ENERJIC PLAY

[@nevillerowell1676]

He was always underrated I feel he's better that perlman. And as good as David

[@NickBottom]

Garrett?

[@garthly]

Presumably Oistrakh, but I don’t think anyone had the extraordinary intensity of Oistrakh in this piece, which was superhuman.

[@낭주골총각]

​@그는 꽁지머리를 한 거리의 악사일 뿐입니다 😅NickBottom

[@violinhunter2]

I like this video for one reason only - the orchestra. At 6:46, Stern reaches for the high b flat without sliding into it. Heifetz did it that way, too. I don't know anyone nowadays who does it that way.

[@burnas03]

Actually, in the score the two notes are marked with a slur ( joined without a gap) so it would imply that there should be small slide to the top note ( as it is virtually impossible to play as written without one. Sibelius was a violinist so he would’ve known this.

[@raoultak]

Very often a little bit out of tune, and yet he was one of our greatest violinists.

[@bustifari]

its called color ?

[@권정환-d2g]

3:35

[@oscarmarascia3639]

Che calma e che furore insieme

[@eintufungstest148]

2:00 minino q velocidade e essa

[@망히-z9z]

''In every violinist's ear there is Heifetz ㅡ Issac Stern (When Heifetz died. New York Times)

[@osmarmayoral3996]

김영근 - so very true. But, like I mentioned above, Stern does sound like Jascha in this performance of the Sibelius. There is never a greater show of respect than in imitation!

[@망히-z9z]

@@osmarmayoral3996 Very well said in short. I love what you saidㅡ

[@raybo632]

It seemed that he played the entire Jewish history on violin, the first composition. WOW! Isa chapter 50-54, The Messiah has come. Micah 7:16, Isa 9:6-7,1, Isa 8:16,Micah 4:6-7, read Malachi chapter 3. read the New Testament , Luke 1:76.

[@conniea.474]

😍

[@fromcmk33]

👍👍

[@rivers1005]

24:35 Why are they all using different bowings....

[@alexpate8626]

Rivers100 they’re special

[@dannyboy2267]

They had like three different bowings 😂

[@peterdeck2696]

Cause they're violists...

[@wuillymay8815]

@@peterdeck2696 lol 😂

[@oscarmarascia3639]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@망히-z9z]

Hardly any lady in the orchstra. Much changes now a days. And in this performance Stern seems very angry at something. Powerful playing. Andre Previn looks so young.

[@NickBottom]

I'm sure that with more women players, the orchestra would sound much better.

[@mpearsonmadrid]

There were no women in this orchestra (London Symphony Orchestra) at this time.

[@jerryjerry0806]

Would be great if some body could tell when and where this performance was.

[@chanhnguyen2215]

Jerry Jerry Yes I like your question. It’s a very good question.

[@mpearsonmadrid]

Royal Festival Hall, London, 1971

[@jiandongtu3974]

My violin teacher told me I have to listen to this.😩

[@blessingo7449]

Lol

[@rgetso]

Are you saying you don't want to play violin?

[@carmenguaitafernandez4161]

@@peterdeck2696 bp

[@calvinlee9863]

A legendary performance, except a little slips on both octave scales at 2:31 and 8:59.

[@MsPea]

Wow. He really rushed through this. It felt like he had an important meeting to get to and just wanted to get this over. Finished the entire thing in 30 minutes. I felt anxious throughout because he seemed so frantic.

[@shelvikartaatmaja3307]

That’s how Sibelius should sound.

[@lobogarcia1988]

This is inhuman skill

[@asdf7219]

hurts to watch the bow movement and the music not in sync. old tech.

[@bustifari]

please calm down

[@GrigoreStamati]

Exceptional!!! That Orchestra is? Dirijor? Year?

[@john1951w]

Looking at the personnel I think it's John Geordiadis leading the London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor Andre Previn. Late 1960s or early 1970s.

[@kevinmelendez1460]

@@john1951w 1971

[@john1951w]

@@kevinmelendez1460 Thanks!!

[@kevinmelendez1460]

@@john1951w you’re welcome. To be specific, it is November 28, 1971.

[@markhughes7927]

Royal Festival Hall - London