Midori plays Bach - Chaconne, Partita No. 2

At Castle Köthen, where Johann Sebastian Bach wrote the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, Midori fills the historical rooms with the sound of these masterpieces.
For Midori, Bach’s music has always played a significant role in her life: “I lived with the music of Bach for as long as I can remember. His music has always been around me so it feels it always continued to develop inside me. Bach always teaches me to listen, to open my ears and open my mind.” Playing in the chambers of the Castle of Köthen, where Bach spent important and productive years, made a deep impression on the violinist. She said that the premises allowed her to feel connected to Bach and his music in an almost human way: “The sound of the music - how it actually came out, how it felt to be in those rooms - those are the memories I will take with me.”
Midori plays Bach's Sonatas and Partitas (BWV 1001-1006) - for more information about the DVD/Blu-ray follow this link: bit.ly/2hKSfwW

[@maaximuslee]

We live in an era where we can enjoy at comfort of our home watching greatest violinist playing a piece by Bach by single click.. so grateful.

[@kosakCZ]

Yep greatful . Actually a bit scary

[@dkvikingkd233]

Unfortunately you also live in an era where governments can order you to stay in your home as long as they say on account of a flu like risk.. so disgraceful.

[@diabolicfish4424]

@@dkvikingkd233 Just remember, It could have been 2 weeks-a month, but people chose to deny and make the government (while it isn't the best) look even worse.. so disgraceful.

[@dkvikingkd233]

​@@diabolicfish4424 Who cares when the risk is so small, you can't treat people like that in a western society (individual first, collective second). All you commies and technocrats should go live in China if that's the societal system you prefer and stop pestering true westerners with your authoritarian centralized planning!

[@robimoral]

Is it always about the how the violinist holds the bow to the instrument?

[@user-io6sl1qj1w]

タングルウッドの奇跡から数十年。たゆまぬ努力と情熱で奏でる旋律は魂の響きです。またバイオリンを通して広く社会貢献されてる姿は真の音楽家です・

[@yfzhang5306]

This piece is like the concentration of what the player has been through in his/her life. She plays with such resilience. It’s mind blowing.

[@thoyo]

Well put

[@rickdeckard1075]

almost robotic, kind of ruins the piece

[@Maxenfoux]

When she plays, I no longer know where the violin, the person and the music are. I only feel unity and timeless grace.

[@Jabafish]

That's very well explained

[@user-bc9xl1vl7b]

バッハがこの曲を書いた部屋で、偉大なるバッハに献呈されて演奏された映像。 この奇跡を見て私は震えます。

[@sakuraemmabennett9530]

Her violin tone is beautiful and divine. It's like you‘re in another world. She is one of the most great violinist in the world. Her violin tone is nothing less than miraculous.

[@paulcaswell2813]

That Guarneri helps a little ;-)

[@alexsaldarriaga8318]

Very compelling performance of this often played piece. I admire her inimitable artistic vision. She uses a modern bow, but she holds it a little higher up the stick to get the lightness of a baroque bow. I’ve never seen that! And her up bow chords are a thing of beauty. The Chaconne is so difficult, especially for the right hand, that overcoming the immense technical challenges and still having enough in the tank to convey a unique and moving musical message is nothing short of a miracle. Thank you Midori! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@allyj.3523]

We exist..I always do that for Baroque pieces!

[@marybabameto1195]

haha I didn't even notice the baroque-ish hold! Good point! I will always love Heifitz's version best but I love the simplicity in this one

[@violinphelan]

The bow hold is pretty common!

[@rydertanaka1771]

I actually got the chance to perform Bach with her when I was in youth symphony. She made the entire orchestra hold their bows just like she does in the video in order to achieve a more Baroque sound. She is amazing!

[@paulcaswell2813]

@@marybabameto1195 Szeryng takes some beating, as does Milstein...

[@danchiappe]

I don’t like histrionic comments on KZbin, but this is a seriously overwhelmingly beautiful performance. What genius!

[@delitaly]

the purest performance

[@yukowuebken9536]

繊細かつ大胆な弾きっぷり。見事。場所も衣装も品が良く格調高い雰囲気。かと言って気取り過ぎず、まるでプライベートコンサートの様な喜びを感じさせる。とても素晴らしい演奏。何度聴いても飽きない。

[@hansybits]

Absolutely perfect. Every time she plays, I admire her.

[@joeloverti672]

Guarneri + Midori + Bach = Perfection

[@pectclare7784]

I agree. Perfect itself.

[@pascalpoussin1209]

+ location, Castle Kothen

[@sappclobyt1331]

cap

[@sappclobyt1331]

it’s actually : Hilary Hahn + Stradivarius + Anything = Everything

[@paulcaswell2813]

@@sappclobyt1331 As a Guarneri-ite through and through, I'm afraid that Strad just doesn't 'do it' for me...

[@Qladstone]

I love it. Being musical without excessive vibrato is the finest violin playing.

[@greggoryrice7046]

Finally, we have the most perfect conception and execution of the Chaconne. Natural, unaffected, sincere, warm, probing. Just feels "right."

[@hughwaldockpiano]

I've heard this piece 2 dozen times by different performers. That's my favourite interpretation. It's so sensitive and authentic. It's a compelling gem; a blank canvas for interpretation I see something different in it with every performer, but your interpretation and artistry is phenomenal you make every note means something to me as a fellow musician I mean wow to achieve that with the hardest piece in the entire solo violin repertoire and the best. I love that!

[@elias0420]

過度に情感豊かにせず抑えめに、対位法をしっかりと表現する正統的演奏を通じて、音楽の魂を感じさせる演奏。素晴らしいです。音もCD録音のように美しく、かつ正確で、一切気をそらせることなく聴くことができます。これも本当にすごいことです。

[@elysianfibres1642]

The intonation is more perfect than I've heard in any other performance. Simply wonderful!

[@elifistanb]

I needed to grade some exam papers and I tought I'd like some good old Bach but God, Midori is so expressive and impressive that I look at the paper but I can't see because I'm taken over by the emotion this rendition evokes in me! A true virtuoso forces you to listen!

[@davidmoore2445]

We aren't worthy! We aren't worthy!!

[@moseslim1747]

i was at the castle last year, and the original score just right there in a glass box.

[@-Stinky_Pinky]

Wow so cool! I would've tried to steal it.

[@eternafuentedeluzdivina3189]

Was it available to take photos/video from the manuscript? Surely I would ask for permission using my International right to access any material via electronic devices due visual disability. But I ask for "normal" people.

[@moseslim1747]

@@eternafuentedeluzdivina3189 no you can't, no photograph is allowed in the museum hmmm.. but i do allowed to take a photo of it since i am filming a documentary there.

[@eternafuentedeluzdivina3189]

@@moseslim1747 in my country, there was an initiative for create a museum for blind people. The "artists" "community" was divided between those who said that arts are for people who can see normally and us, who believe arts don't have frontiers and it's available for everybody. Finally, we "triumphed". The national government said there was not enough money in the State coffers. But something everybody understood about that situation is the international laws about accessibility for people with disability are incredibly efficient in the final goal to secure the equity to the arts using the premise that technology is a way to access the arts via visual help devices that actually don't damage huge piece of art. Of course, if you want to have your credentials for ask that kind of access to the art and respect the preservation requirements that each that piece demands: for example to avoid the use of illumination devices that produce high levels of UV/IR radiation for obtain an image you'll need to enlarge to view details.

[@peregrinusabsoluti2302]

Moses Lim hello, where is this castle please?

[@druidsongevergreens]

This is the tone, the language, the conversation I have been trying to just let happen between me and the violin for my entire life. She really tells an emotionally complex story and stays in the clarity of it, throughout. I must have listened to this 20 times, always planning to multi-task, and I'm never able to. It re-captivates me every time. I just stop and stare, carried along by the musical lines. I am in awe of Bach, of Midori, and of this beautiful instrument. Just thank you.

[@johndanzl1153]

14 minutes of absolute mastery of composition played by a true artist.

[@NatureNymphLLC]

Midori....still the best violinist of all time!!! It was a privilege to see her perform live with the DSO many years ago.

[@user-kl3ti7cr5e]

2020年のこの時に、偶然にもこの演奏を聴くことが出来た事に感謝します。心の動悸とともに涙が溢れていますが、力強さをいただきました。ありがとうございます。

[@oralkaan]

She has absolutely tapped into the very essence AND expounded on it. What a gift this person has given us with all those decades (I am sure) of hard work and love for the craft. Brought me to tears at a point

[@tulipenoire2012]

It's always a great pleasure to hear one the greatest violinists in the world... Thank you, Midori, for this impeccable gift.

[@cogent4645]

Wow. Speechless. Started listening to Midori as a child prodigy, this rendition of Chaconne is Monumental.

[@shupingwang3392]

Thank you, Midori. That was beautiful and moving.

[@paulo6783]

A great artist and a great human being.

[@paulasarkar2981]

Truly 🙏🎶🎵

[@stevebritt1079]

I've been to a lot of live performances in my life. Starting in the sixties. Everything from pure country to classical and everything in between. Midori stands out amongst them all as the finest performance I've ever seen. Even better than The Grateful Dead. When she performs her heart is truly in it.

[@rickdeckard1075]

carmignola is better, far less robotic

[@jessicawong3081]

@@rickdeckard1075 I hate when people say playing is "robotic" no playing can really be described as "robotic", it's more like it's just lively in a different way and in this recording the music was definitely not robotic.

[@rickdeckard1075]

@@jessicawong3081 lol ive been listening to violinists, incl midori, since before you were probably born. she's a robot.

[@winglow7615]

Wow, so beautiful. Heavenly. No wonder Midori is so famous.

[@ForeverDokkan]

Wing Low she was in a performance when she was 7-9.

[@haroldshwerzinger3966]

@@ForeverDokkan yes, she debuted as a solo violinist at only age 11

[@ForeverDokkan]

Beary Wow close enough. o7

[@Jabafish]

I don't care how old she was when she debuted I know that her mother has forced her into it a lot. But she's still one of the greatest.

[@theodorbach1617]

What an amazing violinist!

[@oliviaa_liiii]

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

[@neilcam]

Played with such beauty, style, taste and grace.

[@DM-rq6yx]

I love Midori's passionate and vibrant playing and how it also translates into her physical posture and movement. Bravo! 👏👏👏

[@elpidiocastillo3342]

Bravo! We are blessed for having a great violinist like her in our time.Thanks Miss. Midori.

[@user-vl7qy4yz4o]

何回も何回も　聴いてしまう。 映像まで　　目にうかびます。ありがとうございます。

[@chewshiyun]

Thank you Midori ❤️

[@jasonhurd4379]

What I like is that both her musical concept and actual playing are light and forward-moving, not at all heavy or lumbering. The pulse is swift and flowing, for after all a chaconne was a dance, not a morose philosophical meditation. Very beautiful.

[@DietrichLasa]

Dance and meditation are closer than meditation and philosophy. In my opinion, Midori expresses the dance in its meditative lightness - her interpretation has wings.

[@siryeti8195]

Jason Hurd Didnt I see u in Itzhak Perlman's Chaconne video?

[@jasonhurd4379]

@@siryeti8195 Maybe! I think I left a comment there, as well.

[@sammy3212321]

I'd argue that the Chaconne, though derived from a dance, was used in this instance to write a very morose piece. I don't think Bach wrote long minim chords in D minor as a means of getting everyone up on their feet 😆

[@jasonhurd4379]

@@sammy3212321 Ah, but those long minims soon enough divide and multiply into chains of running notes, expressive of just every human emotion imaginable. Bach never used dance forms as a means of 'getting people up on their feet,' but rather as a way to explore the extremes of the human condition.

[@nicholasheimpel5998]

New favorite performance - a great synthesis of baroque and modern style, without the heaviness of a lot of famous recordings. Also a really innovative bowing that works really well.

[@jane8735]

This is probably one of the best retentions of this piece.

[@MagManTR09]

Lovely. She is totally at one with the music and with Maestro Bach. After more than 40 years of listening to these pieces, I never tire of hearing them being so beautifully played. She is right up there with the late Nathan Milstein, IMHO, which is high praise indeed.

[@alvarito45]

OMG Midori out of this world!!! Heavenly play.

[@user-tk9ck8ge8t]

この深い音、楽器の特性かもしれないけど、ご本人の生き方全てが表れていると思います。

[@carolinebennett5615]

How wonderful to get to watch this. A gift. Thank you.

[@EGchristian]

I’m in tears. Thank you.

[@UMVELINQANGI]

This imperishable masterpiece never fails to move me, and Midori's interpretation of it is sublime. I love it.

[@gridlight319]

室内楽を思わせる立体感のある多彩な響きの演奏ですね！このような素晴らしいパルティータは新鮮で聴いたことがありません。

[@r.r.3259]

Celestial performance

[@styleexnietz1900]

Dignified, Beautiful flow of Movements & Sound. My deepest respect to her Artistic Integrity.

[@DietrichLasa]

Bach and Midori melt in this performance into liquid gold. Their relationship is closer than intimate, it is a unity in motion.

[@sachish4uhx889]

I feel her play is like “pray to god”. Each single sound reach to my heart and move me deeply.Thank you for this video.

[@musicmanni4932]

How beautiful! Great she brought this wonderful piece of music back to where it originated. One of the most moving Interpretations of the Chaconne I have ever heard - and seen!

[@bastje]

Almost 14 minutes but I feel like time passed away in a blink of an eye.

[@chencathy8894]

This is beautiful! I have to click the repeat icon to listen to it again and again!

[@user-sw7ss6jj1n]

残響音が少ないなかで細かいニュアンスが聴き取れる、みどりさんの表現力が溢れんばかりに感じ取れる素晴らしい演奏動画だと思います♪💕

[@denisdoiron7601]

Maturity has given her the skill to play those fine nuances

[@hirohara4004]

手を止めて聴き入ってしまう。ずっと聴いていたい。

[@semiangelik]

Literally brought tears to my eyes. I'm sobbing right now. 😭❤️😭❤️

[@hopefullylost4012]

I don't want to compare this remarkably daring performance to who's and who's. Hundreds must be a humble estimate of Chaconne performances that have blessed me in my walk of life. And still today, Midori made my eyes wet right in the first minute into. Daring, honest performance only masters can admit themselves with no shame or fear. Bravo, Midori.

[@KurochanNeco]

みどりさん、こんなに美しい音楽がいつでも聴けるようにしてくださって、ありがとうございます。

[@03Venture]

This has to be one of the greatest musical interpretations EVER..!

[@TheCreate78]

Listen to Rachel Podger's and Shunske Sato's

[@tmshadow8031]

@@TheCreate78 OMG yes Shunske Sato's interpretations are freaking beautiful.

[@jayspenceranderson]

I'm crying.

[@amber40494]

Me too, just rips your heart out!!

[@cynthiawilson4500]

I remember the moment my body started to automatically sway while I played..what a wonderful feeling.

[@rebshannonling]

Me too. It just became somewhat... Necessary. The whole body was involved in making music

[@radiotelegram]

This brilliant artist and the great man will never know how much delight they bring to millions upon millions. Forever grateful.

[@thacellogirl]

What I just heard?....I'm speechless.💐

[@jlife9092]

I cannot recall another time when I've tears welled up in my eyes during a performance clip.

[@matheme]

her intonation amazing, so tender in the bowing and phrasing, matched by inward body language

[@rain-qb2xv]

timeless beauty

[@williamkauffman5745]

it is fitting that she played this in Kothen where it was probably written....

[@jasminegreen3512]

Amazing, you feel the intense emotion.

[@elletuppen4844]

Utterly sublime ~ thank you! So satisfying to hear when a musician projects an understanding of the work in its entirety while still giving all the finer arcs of beauty and structure their due. Ravissant❤

[@user-kx9ip1sc7t]

こんなすばらしい演奏をするとは！！感動で目頭がジーンとくる。。。。。

[@crazytaka8348]

他の方が既に言ってるけど、他の録音みたいにリバーブが多すぎないのが、この人と楽器の息づかいまで伝わってとてもいい！

[@davidthompson3255]

That this music exists is a miracle.

[@geoisnotokay5292]

It’s performances like these that made me want to learn to play in the first place.

[@amber40494]

Better get cracken', times awastin'

[@Aaron-xq6hv]

And then you realize this is one of the hardest pieces ever.

[@user-ge9lu1ki8x]

ハンパない音❤😹物事に対する取り組む姿勢🐱

[@TheModernHermeticist]

tears of joy

[@hopeflower4943]

みどりさん尊敬しています。どんな時も真摯に、音楽に向き合われている姿が美しくて、心が澄んできます。

[@clmoss1]

I like Midori's rendition a lot it feels more emotional than the other renditions I've listened to.

[@francisokechukwu2561]

I prefer Hillary's rendition, I enjoyed listening to it.

[@jessicawong3081]

@@francisokechukwu2561 Me too, but I feel like her direction is the same as Hilary but maybe just in more of a baroque style?

[@joycelim]

She makes this piece look and sound effortless.

[@suminalee]

thank god this popped up in my recommendation!

[@italianbirdvideos6190]

in tears...

[@ghoststrad2000]

Love you Midori, always inspiring since I was a young violinist to now a adult

[@arthursouza8735]

The best violinist 😍😍❤❤❤

[@duwir5959]

she is one of the rare violin player today, who has an own tone and not like so many of the violin players of these days.

[@shin-i-chikozima]

Genius Midori is beyond description , immeasurable , unfathomable and full of admiration and deep emotion . From Tokyo of the Land of the Rising Sun 🇯🇵

[@parsifal40002]

Incredible artistry and musicianship!! Beautiful!!!

[@bobkay8806]

This is mid May 2020, lockdown for many folks and get to watch great musicians performing at home. And I saw this video and thought, "Wow! Midori's home is magnificent!" 😂😂😂 Oops... I got it, it's a Castle.

[@wesleymarkmusic403]

Musically brilliant. Visually stunning. Thank you.

[@ogawamariko8157]

あまりの素晴らしさに胸が高鳴り涙が溢れました。

[@user-tw8zv6ht4j]

まだ小学生くらいだった頃のみどりさんの演奏を録画して何度も観てました。自分は高校生だったのですが、すごいなぁと思っていたのを覚えています😊

[@paulfrizzers3515]

Great as ever !

[@StanEby1]

Now that's some real violin playing. Thank you.

[@fumfum9825]

シャコンヌの言えばこの「無伴奏ソナタとパルティータ」最終章を指すくらい有名な曲。 たった８小節のテーマが華麗に変奏されて大きな構造物となっていく。 このバッハの真骨頂とも言えるこの難曲を五嶋みどりは、厳格さと緻密さの中にも彼女特有の優しさが感じられて、聴く者の心に響きます。 この演奏は恐らくＮＨＫ－ＢＳで放送されたときのものだと思います。ドイツのケーテン城での収録で演奏と舞台の雰囲気がマッチした素晴らしいパフォーマンスで、数あるシャコンヌの演奏の中でも白眉だと思います。

[@personalnotesmusic]

Heavenly!

[@dianatannhauser5320]

Stunningly beautiful performance!

[@user-vt1dj1kh4f]

感動するということがめっきり減ってしまった私だが、この演奏には魂をゆすられる。なぜ泣けてくるのかわからない。私は五嶋みどり氏を尊敬している。彼女の音色、音楽解釈、それらがとても好きだ。

[@noridoi1]

音で表現できる究極へと迫るシャコンヌの深みへと入っていける演奏、有り難うございます。

[@Smaug1]

She is an absolute MASTER. I think Bach would approve. This is awesome in so many ways! - Bach masterpiece: I can't listen to this without my eyes filling up. (unless it's played poorly) - Period instrument? It seems to have a richer tone and isn't as "squealy" in the high notes. - Period location. Having visited historic places like this in Europe, I can identify with what Midori said about feeling a human link with Bach. One can feel and hear the history as one walks around in a place like that: the floor creaking, the workmanship of everything, all done by hand. - Midori on the violin; she's just great. She deserves the accolades she gets.

[@ivandubinsky1857]

She is amazing...a world treasure!!

[@mariezenaida]

This is magnificent and so intimate.

[@paulcaswell2813]

Music's a funny old business. I've said a few disparaging things about Midori's playing over the years, and then she produces this - one of THE great Chaconnes. I've certainly never heard anything better - and the ex-Gibson/Ricci was absolutely wonderful here. A truly phenomenal performance. Many thanks for the upload.