Janos Starker - Bach Cello Suite 3 I. Prelude

[@fourstrings48]

When I was a young cello student back in the Sixties, Starker was a constant bone of contention between my father and myself. Starker was my favorite cellist and my idol; but my father couldn't stand his playing. I remember how Dad used to make faces when I told him that I was on my way to a Starker performance. When I grew a little older, I played for Starker a couple of times in master classes, and he was not nearly so terrifying as I had been led to expect. He said useful things in a helpful manner. I still admire Starker's playing, but not more than that of some others among his contemporaries. Whether or not he was to one's taste, he was a very great cellist.

[@benmeitzen4184]

How fascinating, I've always wondered what it would be like meeting him.

[@TheShikerWolf]

@@benmeitzen4184 small world, eh Ben?

[@benmeitzen4184]

@@TheShikerWolf Ha yep

[@matthewgonzalez2040]

Do you know the bpm?

[@monelleny]

What, specifically, did your father not like about him?

[@ArmchairStrategist]

I had the honor of being taught several master classes by this man, and news of his passing brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Mr. Starker for taking an immature child like me back then and opening my eyes to appreciating what Music is. We have lost a true gem today.

[@jodeeyeoh]

i really like the tempo he's chosen. he plays it a touch slower than most people and it sounds great!

[@ГалинаВоронцова-р9е]

Completely agree

[@cellokid5104]

Agreeeeee

[@52bicycles]

Gorgeous. Many friends of mine studied under this grand musician. Truly a master. RIP, Janos Starker.

[@marcofornaciari3042]

Stupendo. La preferisco a tutte le interpretazioni che conosco: sublime

[@SlyFox616]

In terms of clarity precision and sheer tonal power, no cellist can do better than this.

[@jeremythomasgilmer5216]

Just be happy we lived to see this genius, and that he was so recognized in his own time.And support all those kids who wish to follow in his footsteps... jerm.

[@klzimmermann]

János Starker's playing is so lyrical, maybe more than other cellist's, only exception maybe Rostropovich. On the other hand his bowing is very clear and technical (in the best sense). And additionally you can hear, that he's playing a stringed instrument, not too soft and smooth like in other interpretations. Oh and fourth, he plays a rubato i like, the music doesn't need to be that metrical. Beautiful, thank you János!

[@gabebabe1]

The emperor of the cello!

[@dongriffis7219]

When leaving a Denver party for him at 1am, a guest apologized for departing early, saying she had to be teaching at 8am. Starker gazed at her with those piercing eyes, took her by the elbow and said "My dear, don't you know that on some days we teach, while on others, we merely give lessons?" I doubt that she has yet washed that elbow.

[@hpe-eo4ce]

One of my favorite things about Starker is his ability to play these clean and simple, very similar to Pablo Casals. He doesn't add a lot of flair like some of the other notable cellists; he just let's the music speak for itself.

[@cellokid5104]

My cello teacher would tell you the exact opposite but I agree with you

[@KathyGab]

Performed on my birthday! Wonderfully played. I've been listening to Ma, Starker and Rostropovich play all 6 suites. All beautiful interpretations, each a little different. I got the Rostropovich DVDs from the library and learned more about the compositions. I also own the Ma DVDs recorded in the 90s with various artists. I recommend both of those resources.

[@eric_kartchner]

Wonderful information.

[@3340steve]

Quite incredible technique and profound musicality here. This is why I am still trying to play.

[@tomt5745]

Starker. The best.

[@supermint16]

In my opinion, this is my favourite and the best interpretation of this movement of this suite. :D

[@cellokid5104]

Same

[@alfodamian1]

Pedazo de versión

[@xnewtime]

my soul is in Janos Starker's hands and lives for ever fulfill

[@celloepearl]

It is beautiful, I'm playing this for my competition.

[@ramrambatti]

Nihon wo sudeni hanareta atodattanode Starker ga rainichi shita koto wo shirimasendeshita. Bach no Cello Suites no CD wa 10shurui ijyo-motteimasuga Maisky (2domeno rokuon) no monoto kare no CD wo mottomo yoku kikimasu. Kareno utau Bach ga totemo sukudesu. Uploading arigatou gozaimashita.

[@dudaeterna]

The best of all time.

[@josef9300]

that guy is in some kind of crazy cello-playing-zone. pretty heroic performance. like like if jimmy page was born in 1782.

[@musicalkungfu]

I am from 350 years in the future, and this is my teacher's teacher's teacher's teacher's teacher's teacher's teacher's teacher's teacher's teacher.

[@Unikill555]

2:10 - 2:56 gives me chills down my spine. This is the stuff of legends. ...And to think I have to play this on viola for my tryout in a month and a half... :)

[@HLcalculus]

@thinker93 his pinky doesnt actually come off. its just higher on the frog. i wouldnt try to copy mr. starker though, because there is a lot more going on in his technique than just what it looks like on the outside.

[@LogBuildingDotOrg]

true genius

[@XXmonkiXX]

This man has the most awesome technique i´ve ever seen, even better than Rostropovich´s... Wow, I´m truely amazed...

[@miguelfreitas8694]

There is no one like Janos Starker playing the Bach suites

[@colinwebb3984]

Anyone else live for 2:25?

[@brynnstebbe2522]

YES!

[@Carmelitag1]

Amei!

[@jimbo2629]

It is positively orgasmic. He is the best for me.

[@JihoonKcello]

The Pedal Point in G? YES

[@georgyorgy2]

RIP. Now you can play for all the angels up there :)

[@BUKO158]

wooow is so awesome :)

[@MrMKH2010]

R.I.P. Janos Starker

[@KathyGab]

@regaldrifter Rostropovich talks a little bit about Casals on his DVD of the 6 suites. It's great! He was so nervous and in awe when he met him.

[@IvanLuza]

@anisometropie no sorry. Staker is correct and the D there is correct. If you look at the Anna Magdalena Manuscript, there's a D clearly written there.

[@ameliacaspurro8095]

Interpretação --MARAVILHOSA !!!! 07-07-2013

[@OrlandoAponte]

@blenderuser Oh wait, now I remember, it's because of the noise his chair makes at the beginning of the video, it's a middle g (g4/g1 depending on which system you use)

[@Obaysch]

Thanks for giving Starker advice on playing Bach. Perhaps you have some words for Mr. Rubinstein on Chopin now?

[@str3123]

@Farnik01 we're one the same boat. Btw, I think playing this is one of the most deepest/truest emotions a human can feel. Don't think about the instrument, just think about the music to achieve the best ;)

[@bubbamike]

RIP, Janos Starker!

[@vladimirlopez7840]

Interesting how some of the greats start this with an up bow some with a down bow. I’ve seen the sheet music marked both ways

[@charchar724]

same here also!

[@SilverWings161]

same here!

[@llynfach]

The world is a poorer place for his passing.

[@Westjet007]

RIP

[@ramrambatti]

Cayosan, konoensou no DVD wa hatsubaisarete imasuka? (NHK no geijyutsu gekijyo ka nanika nanodesuka???)

[@wolfinthewoods1400]

@theZflip This was my Father's teacher.... U of Miami '69.

[@jjlouis777]

same here!! :D

[@Han_xiety]

Heaven must sound beautiful.

[@IssacAndSophie]

It's strange o.0 He actually changed a few notes around. He plays Gs instead of E and E flat at 2:47 and 2:50 ish respectively. Still, he's so good..

[@taylorered6874]

Baroque allows for it. Since tuning then was all a half step lower anyhow

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

I’m glad to hear that! No matter HOW much I stretch, I just CAN’T hit those octaves!!!

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

I found a way to challenge those octaves: Playing them in thumb position!

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

BTW playing those octaves in thumb position is still “hit and miss”(more “ miss” than “hit”), so Starker’s way is the way to go.

[@curaticac5391]

The preludes are the most difficult movements of the suites; different cellists play them as if they were different pieces. I personally trust only Rostropovich's taste.

[@bobboscarato8313]

I don't know about carbon fiber instruments; they may be a passing fad. However wood instruments can change their tuning due to temperature and humidity variations between the waiting room and the stage which usually has additional lighting generating more heat.

[@MrMateloi]

Yep, but good wood instruments sounds better and better as time passes

[@richardstarky123]

Mine too! Who's your teacher?

[@BeLovedInReturn]

@theZflip I have the same teacher's teacher!!!

[@OrlandoAponte]

@blenderuser Odd, I don't even remember writing the comment you replied to

[@ZchMuseRules]

@theZflip OMG DUDE, WE HAVE THE SAME TEACHER'S TEACHER WOW :O

[@stevenliu24]

:OOO same here :D

[@celloepearl]

Same.

[@theZflip]

this is my teachers teacher

[@anisometropie]

His chair is between A and A flat

[@anisometropie]

yeah, it’s definitely not A, I would say a quarter tone below G#

[@yigitvural1150]

İts g

[@agola1827]

thats his secret tuner

[@kingchubbythe1541]

@@agola1827 lol

[@SuperProfessorPat]

@theZflip this is my teacher's teacher's teacher, lol

[@matthewgonzalez2040]

Anyone know the BPM

[@mhrs1999colorado]

this is my teacher's teacher

[@AbisZiieieio]

@Obaysch what is that supposed to mean? that bach was a nazi or do i misinterpret you here?

[@OrlandoAponte]

His chair is tuned to g1

[@giraffe6712]

what the …. kkkkk

[@MarkHatlestad]

I'm a violist playing this for my college auditions... it is so much better suited for cello. Sigh...

[@sosome57IHateGooglePlus]

Amazing what you can do with a little horse hair ain't it? Some of the most beautiful music ever written played on the most lucious, most expressive instrument in existence. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. :)

[@matthew888yellow]

Where is he from?

[@waynegranvillesmith8535]

Born in Budapest, he eventually became 1st cellist with the CSO under Reiner after several posts in Europe and USA, finally settled in Bloomington Indiana where he taught at the U of Indiana music school.

[@jdbrown371]

When the cello is higher than the stage the acoustics are better. The sound is closer to being "three dimensional". It has somewhere to go before it reflects off the stage.

[@theZflip]

@regaldrifter thats good too

[@gucker07]

I find his left hand technique peculiar. He puts the fingers on the finger board almost completely flat. Also, he lifts them very high occasionally.

[@Globeguy1]

He's rotating his left forearm to help his 3rd and 4th fingers land more squarely. This way he gets best of both worlds, slanted for 1st and 2nd fingers and square for 3rd and 4th. This will allow you to have better sounding vibratos with 3rd and 4th, as well as less fatiguing for those fingers.

[@MackenzieLeighton]

Left thumb ftw! \,,/

[@tm13k]

this is quite a slow interpretation... but he goes faster after a while... i must say i like very much the way he play the 2nd part(if i can divide it in two parts) of this piece but in the beginning and overall i prefer jean-guihen queyras's interpretation

[@AlexandraECoulter]

well obviously because its an octave stretch and its basically impossible

[@romuloremulo]

Es de gustos a gustos, a mi me parece que la version de Starker tiene mas color, sin embargo, con Sifei Wen me gusta mas el preludio de la suite IV.

[@OrlandoAponte]

@Farnik01 At least it's easier on viola

[@FeuermannFilms]

@theZflip I had also a teacher whose teacher was him. And not just that; mine was also his personal assistant. I won. naaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I don´t care. :D

[@tm13k]

look at the young jean-guihen queyras's interpretation

[@rmcdaniel423]

Oooohh. . . THAT"S how it goes! When I tried to play this as an amateur noob little high school kid, it just sounded like a motion-sickness inducing blur of poor intonation and crappy phrasing. LOL This is MUCH better!

[@skyd171]

@vlnvlaclogbaerhpno According to you, "changing notes" disqualifies one from being a great cellist. No wonder you are a world-renowned critic, famed for your insightful opinions.

[@박선희-t6t1m]

야..첼로 악기..30억. 무한대...갖고시포

[@monelleny]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 rofl

[@OrlandoAponte]

@vlnvlaclogbaerhpno Yeah it's like right in between a g and a g#, I'm surprised this comment has become so popular lol.

[@jwunschie14]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 g# haha

[@blenderuser9256]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 HAHAHAHAHA

[@grantdcba962]

Xx

[@ctimur]

calm down and teach him. i'm sure there are many terms you also don't know out of music. be polite.

[@eastonhubbard9065]

i like mischa maisky's interpretation a bit better

[@alanbash2921]

Easton Hubbard n

[@jeremiahstone5285]

Is it the smooth bowing or the Montagnana that sounds better? People always talk Strads, but I think Montagnanas sound better, I mean, Maisky and Yo-Yo Ma? But Starkers version is easier to play, where he uses the thumb when you get to the G pedal points. Starker has a way of making it look easy, too.. They are both crazy good IMO

[@RXMO3]

@CrateofStolenDirt violin? get out of here.....

[@eungoolee6653]

sterling elliott Cello

[@Tryceattack]

R.I.P Janos Starker