The Best Violinists You've Never Heard Of (Part 2)

[@Musicrafter12]

Papavrami's solo violin transcription (!!) of the Bach Great G Minor Fugue is also quite a sight to behold.

[@alexsaldarriaga8318]

Glad to see Vasa Prihoda here. Other underrated violinists include Louis Kaufman, Benno Rabinoff, Oscar Shumsky, Boris Goldstein, David Nadien, Aaron Rosand, and Steven Staryk.

[@johnpinckney7269]

Staryk the art of the violin

[@phantasmal914]

I love Sergey Khachatrayan, thanks for covering him in this video.

[@josefrissin4925]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3rPnKJvlstgd9Esi=o3CvLJX4F0US7wkD

[@ShahFareed-y3k]

Enjoyable and thought-provoking. I wanted to hear how the 1st piece went. Prihoda's Paganini was brilliant,and the pizz was so deft. I 1st heard Papavrami a long time ago. My grandmother, who also played the violin, said he might not get the fame he deserves. What you told about Igor Oistrakh can apply to Accardo, in a way. After all, he isn't as famous as Perlman and some others. Most people associate him with the music of Paganini, but he is versatile. His Beethoven Concerto is uniquely beautiful, and the notes are so chiselled. He often seems to play with lesser known orchestras and youth groups. Accardo and The Berlin Phil - what a treat that would be ! I really like Sarasate. Thanks for telling me about Yang's performances - I hope they are on utube.

[@alexandertg1076]

This might sound corny, but I don't care. I love watching your videos because you have "Gusto". You get excited about what you're talking about, you are far beyond a phenomenal teacher, thank you good sir for every video you've ever posted.

[@gregorykuperstein1560]

Thanks for Boris (Busia) Goldstein. Another violinist from Odessa - Tosha Seidel. Was a friend and competitor of Jascha Heifetz. Came to America with Professor Auer 6 months later than Jascha. And Jascha had a long shadow. The first violinist who had a great career in the US was Nathan Milstein, another one from Odessa. But that was about 12 years after the Heifetz's Carnegie Hall debut where every musician within 200 miles of NYC was present.

[@catius9206]

3:29 - the same concert hall where Sarah Chang performed the same, Sibelius Violin Concerto.

[@dvides89]

I hope this becomes a series :), it’s a wonderful idea to uncover these geniuses.

[@dvides89]

😂😂😂I hadn’t reached 8:19 yet😂😂 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@tullochgorum6323]

At the very top of the profession, I think that brilliant technique alone isn't quite enough. The leading virtuosi also offer a level of charisma that fills the stage and leaves in indelible impression. Take the Oistrakhs, for example. I've seen both David and Igor live. Igor gave a wonderful performance - but David's concert seared himself into my memory as one of the highlights of my life. The performers I really remember in live performance - Casals, Rostropovich, Menuhin, Perlman, Primrose, Tortelier, du Pré, Benedetti, Zukerman, Podger... They all offer that intangible extra dimension. This isn't something you can develop in the practice room - it's simply part of your humanity.

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

Oh for sure. As I said in my first video in this series the most famous violinists didn't get that fame an success purely through nepotism or shady backroom dealings. They really are that good. That being said, as a violinist, I really do love finding these more obscure players. They may not appeal to the widest audience, but I find they have a lot to offer.

[@tullochgorum6323]

@@MurphyMusicAcademy Yes - often their technique and interpretations are very fine, and their recordings can be as good as any. It's just that on stage they don't quite have the charisma and impact of the true greats. The very best will always rise to the top. But at the next level down I suspect a lot depends on your contacts and your ability to self-market - plus an element of luck.

[@rickrobertsoncollection5320]

Vasa Prihoda is revered among record collectors.

[@xaav]

Eugene Fodor was a very great forgotten violinist

[@NorthwestPocketOrchestra]

Thanks for the video! I think Bronislaw Gimpel is too little known; he made a recording of the Paganini Concerto in D major that is one of the most impressive I've heard.

[@fredlevioloniste]

Fantastic video. Please. Among numerous great french violinists: Claire Bernard ; Christian Ferras ; Gerard Jarry ; Devy Erlih. To name a few...

[@jaschenski]

When I was at college in 80s Igor performed with his son, Valery, ie a recital. My teacher described D and I as "the difference between what can be taught and not", but I agree with you, amazing player.

[@sorabjiscastle8117]

Thanks for introducing me to the Castelnuovo-Tedesco concerto! I love his work but I hadn't listened to that one yet.

[@marknieuweboer8099]

My very, very first classical recording was father and son Oistrakh playing Mozart.

[@chuckcornelius194]

i first heard Tianwa Yang in her YT recordings of all 24 Paganini caprices, made when she was 13-14. unbelievable freakish technical perfection. she's since turned into a mature artist, based in Germany, with a lot of awesome recordings, including the Sarasate project.

[@oliverhees4076]

I'm surprised you didn't mention Papavrami's Bach transcriptions or his Bartok solo sonata. His Bartok is probably the cleanest out there, and every time I hear his BWV 542 transcription I'm blown away. Prihoda's left hand pizz is also legendary; the clip you posted is great, and there are places in the Lubin where it sounds pretty much as strong as a right hand pizz.

[@Vegathlete]

~ Roman Kim ~ Eugene Fodor ~ Philippe Hirschhorn Glad to stumble upon your channel and I applaud you for bringing these virtuosi their well deserved, long overdue recognition, lest we forget.

[@AL-rb2yl]

Fascinating and SO worthwhile. There was a wonderful Czeck (?) violinist called Ivan Kawaciuk who recorded a lot of Paganini on Supraphon, which I herad and was inspired by in the sixties. Well worth featuring...

[@BB-io2ue]

I'm a follower of Papavrami and I agree with Murphy that he should be more known. And I'm Galician, so I love the end part of the video. Thank you Murphy for thinking in diferent cultures of the world and talk about it.

[@fltwwq]

Steven Staryk? I heard him play Shostakovich Concerto in early 80s. Simply amazing.

[@PBXVIILY]

Vasa Prihoda was amazing!!

[@Liebes2732]

Prihoda is one of my favourite violinist! He’s actually quite famed here in China, unfortunately the west has probably forgotten about his entire existence.

[@heifetz14]

I have quite a few recordings of Prihoda.He is not fogotten amongst violinists.

[@hectorr.corrales221]

Tobia Murphy Thank you very much for this historical video ❤ It is wonderful and inspiring

[@kodama44]

Prihoda is just fabulous..

[@musicdpk]

Thank you for your channel, which I appreciate very much. There maybe no pleasure in mediocrity but I like the quote from Tessa Birney, NZ/Australian pianist - ‘mediocrity is underrated’. One very underrated Czech violinist who was a major international touring soloist in the late 50s and early 60s was Ladislav Jasek. After having won the Carl Flesch prize in the mid-fifties, his career was affected by Communist policies and he was eventually granted political asylum in Australia, where much of his career was spent as a concertmaster. I particularly like his version of the Prokofiev Solo Sonata, which is on KZbin. He doesn’t rush the first movement compared to many I’ve heard and to my ears his playing is intensely lyrical, reminiscent I think of Yehudi Menuhin

[@fool3087]

Part 3 and more needed

[@lehrmandavid10]

Thoroughly delightful post. I see someone mentioned Ricardo Odnoposoff below. I always thought his Paganini caprices were amazing. I was less impressed with some standard repertoire. And the prize winner ahead of David Oistrakh at the Wieniawski competition , Ginette Neveu probably may qualify as rarely, just not never heard of. She died in a plane crash at a very young age. But Franz Vecsey and some unheralded Leopold Auer acolytes also qualify (Eddy Brown and some others.) fyi, Ruggiero Ricci plays a Vecsey encore which is gorgeous and staggering. ( I think it was a record of virtuoso encores, Locatelli Harmonic Labyrinth, among others.) It's a violin arrangement of a Scriabin etude in 6ths. Anyway, this is a theme well worth exploring, and I hope you will do more of it. Having heard Oistrakh and his son Igor, live years ago. I might argue I heard of him, but younger generations will not have. Also, another theme I find interesting is "the most challenging violin repertoire." Years ago I had the privilege of studying with Aaron Rosand. I asked his opinion of the most impossible piece. He showed me a copy of Ernst's Erlkonig. (He had already recorded the F# minor concerto by Ernst.) I still have my copy of his version. Of course these days, You tube is filled with a lot of recordings of this same piece. Just wait 60 years, and the once deemed impossible proves possible! thanks, Murphy Music Academy!

[@Miffopro]

Two violinists I would love to see listed are Adele Anthony (my favourite recording of Philip Glass' 1st violin concerto, with Ulster Orchestra) and Dimity Hall (my favourite recording of Vaughan-Williams' "The Lark Ascending", with Sinfonia Australis). And yeah, that Dimity, not Dmitry ;)

[@hectorr.corrales221]

Tobia I would really appreciate it if you produce more such videos delving into the personal lives of these great violinists 😊 It would be wonderful if you could give us portraits of their inner lives and struggles What is behind their struggles and intense motivations to become monster violinists 🎻😪

[@devyysk]

i would love to hear more on kerson leong and joseph bologne

[@psakbar]

Yes!!! I LOVE Kerson Leong!!

[@davidcolombier5673]

Let's not forget David Oistrack playing Beethoven's violin concerto as well as Perlman. Very good violinists.

[@davidcolombier5673]

Hello! I love your channel. I have hreard you mentioned the name of Heisha Heifetz, but I would have loved to see him play. I love how he plays: Bach: Chaconne. Anywy, great channel!

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

@@davidcolombier5673 do you mean Jascha Heifetz???

[@davidcolombier5673]

@@MurphyMusicAcademy Yes I misspelled "Jascha" Heifeitz.

[@kajingerslev5428]

Listen to Devy Erlih's Paganini caprices (his double harmonics!)

[@seantaro3346]

Please, give us a rundown on Weniawsky...

[@isaiaslopesferreira8441]

Russia stands as a prime example of possessing a constellation of the finest violinists in the world, many of whom remain unknown to most of us. Just to cite one name: Julian Sitkovetsky. According to David Oistrakh, "... He had a broad, firm, focused tone in all registers, flawless intonation, a rapid, even trill, swift, perfectly controlled staccato, strong, immaculate harmonics, and even, clear sautillé ... had he lived, he would have eclipsed myself and Kogan."

[@stradguy1740]

Great Video, pls. do one on Tibor Varga thanx

[@Vegathlete]

Vasa Prihoda had a very prodigious talent and transcendent technical facility. He is heard flawlessly flying through the most demanding of passages as though it were child's play, and perhaps it was for him as he would compose his own cadenzas to all the concertos he played. He toured with Arturo Toscanini using Paganini's own "Il Cannone" Guarnerius del Gesu early in his career. Sadly, we don't have recordings of Paganini, just our imagination and the tabloids of the day. But he left us his legacy, an uncanny ability to sell himself with his oeuvre. By all accounts a rare genius who knew how to dazzle and woo his audience with great bravura and showmanship. And, despite his detractors and failing health, he still achieved fame, fortune, and immortality.

[@OliBs76]

Damn, my teacher was mentored by Igor oistrakh

[@Mooslerherzog]

Taiwan Yang is now Professor at the Musikhochschule Würzburg

[@Sunnythecat_098]

Wow... BTW. I really want to learn violin but I still can't understand the techniques, so I've found your channel a BIG TIME HELP for me Thanks ❤

[@paulmacdowell4010]

David Nadien would be a good candidate.

[@benitaghorbani1550]

Hey thanks for you great videos. Can you make a video about how we can be a soloist?

[@josephmcmahon7470]

Henri Temianka - founded the Paganini Quartet and imo far outdoes the typical 20th century 'greats'. Famously came 3rs behind Ginette Neveu and David Oistrahk in the first Wieniawski Violin Competition. It seems the comments section is just everyone sharing the endless amounts of 'forgotten' Violinists.

[@dvides89]

A suggestion is Elizaveta Gillels , wonderful violinist that usually doesn’t get her deserved shine due to her extremely remarkable relatives.

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

I'll check her out! I know of Emil Gillels, of course. Sounds like another David and Igor situation

[@Nomad19801]

@@MurphyMusicAcademy This is the wife of Leonid Kogan, she was a laureate of the Queen Elizabeth Competition in Brussels in 1937.

[@Nomad19801]

Also great violinists were, for example, Boris Goldstein, Mikhail Bezverkhny, Andrei Korsakov

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

@@Nomad19801 I mentioned Goldstein in the first video in this series

[@Nomad19801]

@@MurphyMusicAcademy Thanks

[@RSW1950]

You forgot Ossy Renardy, for me one of the most lyrical and technically accomplished violinists.

[@denisrey-bellet5514]

Dear Tobiah Murphy, Dear Tobias, This morning I didn't know you, I didn't know your institute, nor Kristine Balanas, nor Antal Zalai, nor Vladimir Dyo, nor Lilja Haatainen, a bit of Tianwa Yang in a George Antheil recording. I got up around 5:00 a.m. (Swiss time) and while looking at the suggestions on KZbin, I came across your video "The Best Violinists You've Never Heard Of" 1 & 2. I was shocked while listening to Yang and Kristine Balanas , his brother and sister, Zalai in Béla Bartok. I have been crazy about classical music, violin, viola and string quartet for 45 years. I worked alongside my banking activities for 30 years for the Franco-Czech label "Praga Digitals" and the Prazak quartet between 1990 and 2018. I have been watching everything that comes out for years and in principle I don't miss much. 'important. Of course there are areas where the injustices are very great, such as among pianists, because there are far too many very good pianists. But for violinists and violists, in general I am aware except for young people who are just starting out. But this morning I of course knew about Prihoda, Papavrani, Khachatryan and Oistrakh, but how could I ignore Tianwa Yang and Kristine Balanas. I listened to Kristine Balanas concerts for more than 6 hours on KZbin and I was left speechless. I loved your comments, a violin professional who knows what he's talking about, who doesn't talk nonsense or empty remarks but who explains precisely what's great about his colleagues' playing. Exceptional. Dear Tobias you brightened my day. I can never thank you enough for the musical happiness you brought me today. Thank you so much !!!😍

[@tatjanakliska3033]

You should add Franjo Krežma, a Croatian violinist.

[@AndreyZagarzhevskiy-tg6tr]

I would like for you to cover forgotten unfortunately , brilliant violinist Baron Frans Vic- Vacsey.

[@markalanlongo]

I AGREE IGOR is AMAZING

[@emmzzz]

Eugene Sarbu, brilliant student of Galamian and Milstein

[@robertgreene2684]

Konstanty Kulka. Patrice Fontanarosa

[@philnewton3096]

I assume the left handed player in the opening clip was playing reversed strings,pegs,bass bar,fingerboard & bridge.

[@violatione]

Vilhemas čepinskis, Ning Feng, Vilde Frang, Viktoria Mullova... there are dozens!

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Bruno Zinthelli and accompanying sister on piano. Bruno on violin. Has dropped from visibility. Originally on Deutsche Grammophone or Decca. I keep trying to find a copy of his album but it's like he never existed! Any help welcomed. He played beautifully. Had a penchant for wearing nice suits and was Hungarian. Dontmiss out if you can find a pressing of his work you won't be fissapointex.😅

[@sflm9277]

Salvatore Accardo's recording of the capricci is better 🙂. Also, Khachatryan won the Queen Elisabeth competition in Brussels (first prize winner ever was David Oistrakh, when it was still called Eugène Ysaÿe competition), so he's not that unknown...

[@fltwwq]

David Nadien?? Way up there with Heifetz and company. Give him a listen please.

[@amandasecco3078]

where is the first part? canto find it

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

It's like three videos away from this one in the video tab of my channel

[@musicuploads848]

I think you might enjoy Heimo Haitto's playing.

[@armentonoyan6782]

Jean Ter-Merguerian bach chaconna the best performance

[@doubleday2]

Ossy Renardy, killed in a car crash in his early thirties. If there is a better version of the Brahms concerto I am not aware of it.

[@Deadbushfan1618]

Prihoda thumbnail.... MUST CLICK VIDEO

[@chuckcornelius194]

nothing wrong with hilighting Igor Oistrakh, but i'm not sure he qualifies for a "never heard of" list. i've heard of him since i was old enough to have heard of anybody, and i heard him in recital in 1975. my guess as to why he's not as well known as his famous dad is that unlike his dad's friendly, genial demeanor, Igor is more austere, more "Soviet", with a harsher playing style. a little harder to warm up to.

[@heifetz14]

You must be aware that Heifetz commissioned and recorded the C-T concerto. Still waiting for some brave soul to play the Louis Gruenberg concerto. My teacher gave me the Heifetz recording (still the only one) and proclaimed that it was the end of violin playing as humans will ever know.He was leader of the Philharmonia orchestra and made the best cup of tea that humans will ever know.

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

Yes! I'm quite aware of this. I actually studied the CT no. 2 at the very end of my undergrad. I'd been wanting to play it for years but my teacher wanted me to work on more mainstream concertos. Once auditions were over, however, he let me work on it. It's an absolute bear to play, and I'd love to try and pick it back up again, but it was probably the most difficult concerto I've ever played

[@brucedukovcom]

Did you study with Hugh Bean?

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

@@brucedukovcom no, the teacher in this scenario was William Preucil

[@brucedukovcom]

@@MurphyMusicAcademy I only mentioned Hugh Bean, as he was CM of the Philharmonia Orch, was English and made great tea! Obviously my error, as he is way older than would have been possible for you to have studied with. Hugh Bean was also CM on the Heifetz recordings of the Scottish Fantasy and Vieuxtemps 5. Happy July 4th to you; this should make you smile: kzbin.info/www/bejne/en66fJJsrb2gqNU

[@AndreyZagarzhevskiy-tg6tr]

Forget to mention Rugero Ricchi

[@philnewton3096]

Tibor Varga please.and sydney harth. Eric grunberg.

[@josephmagil1149]

Do Gerhard Taschner.

[@lokmanmerican6889]

And Igor Oistrakh has a son named Valery, also a violinist.

[@davefried]

you once again snubbed Philippe Hirschhorn

[@heifetz14]

Aside from him,I could make a list of 50 Russian violinists who were world class,but unknown except for record collectors.

[@divinechild5025]

Wow I am glad some one remember my teacher Philippe Hirshhorn !❤he is indeed one of the great violinist on earth .

[@dinumarinescu365]

Je l’ai vu, et entendu au concours Enesco à bucarest en 73-74.

[@rodrigo.sanchez411]

Is not the only one! thousands have the same History

[@andrewzhang8512]

i actually discovered yang on airplane ysaye recordings lmao

[@RubsViolin]

these guys are pretty good

[@LCharles-d7o]

David Nadien!!!!

[@gregoryarutyunyan9559]

you missed Leonid Kogan

[@glaucoma888]

Kathararian won Queen Elizabeth

[@fightbacktohealth9625]

Tibor Varga

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

Definitely going to include him in the next installment of the series

[@kermitlefrogue29]

a really miss Michael Rabin in this list...

[@inraid]

Christiane Edlinger

[@violatione]

Guy Braunstein

[@BakajaHu]

Oleg Kagan kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKWVmYyuhsuJaKc

[@chrisoconnor9521]

Also being solo at some no-rate US orchestra is really not any sort of achievement...

[@Nomad19801]

Самый лучший скрипач на все времена Юлиан Ситковецкий

[@TXCrafts1]

I would add Gerhard Taschner to the next list. In his case let's just say being a prodigy in the eye of the German Government during WWII isn't favorable for an aspiring career

[@tijnvellekoop8620]

The hate of Karajan also did him no good

[@TheViolino67]

Vasa Prihoda's career was destroyed by Menuhin's Jewish clan. He was accused of anti-Semitism, even though Prihoda's wife was Jewish. This was primitive jealousy on Menuhin's part, even though he was also an excellent violinist. Prihoda did not get the chance to perform concerts because Menuhin's hand was too far. Finally, he was able to teach in Vienna, where (they say) Odnoposoff and József Sívó sent their own students home when Prihoda was teaching, and they sat down to listen to him. According to many great violinists, Vasa Prihoda was the greatest violinist of the 20th century...

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

You are going to have to explain to me why Menuhin would do this while simultaneously performing with Furtwängler right after the war, which almost all prominent Jewish musicians refused to do. Menuhin even refused Heifetz attempt to form a union for American soloists because the entire aim of it was to squash the careers of European soloists when the war ended. I will need a source for your claim. This sounds much more like the behavior of Isaac Stern rather than Menuhin. By all accounts Menuhin was a very magnanimous human being, and not vindictive.

[@TheViolino67]

@@MurphyMusicAcademy The source is based on word of mouth only. No one undertakes such things with a name and title. Outwardly, towards the public, Menuhin was really a humanist, and maybe even generous in some cases, but real life is certainly different. In today's stupid "peacy" world, people are not interested in the real background of things. It's enough if they can push a narcissistic post on Instagram or TikTok...

[@PBXVIILY]

Actually I know a famous artist, Who confirmed this. and Menuhin was fiercely anti Zionist. His father was a Rabbi and you can actually find interviews that support this. Menuhin’s Fathers books interviews as well as Menuhin’s own interview. Later it looks like Menuhin caved into what a Jewish violist called the Kosher Nostra. But the anti Zionism was very strong in Menuhin’s family.

[@jeandeblaize4175]

Les classements dans des listes ouvertes ou fermées sont toujours arbitraires. C'est un système idiot propre à certains humains qui veulent toujours tout classer dans des tiroirs. La part de subjectivité est énorme concernant des musiciens dont la partie rationnelle est infime au regard des ressentis Il faudrait fusiller tous les critiques et historiens de l'art. Les génies font, les débiles parlent.

[@pedromoya2006]

Odnoposof.

[@MrAkifusion]

Szeryng.

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

Szeryng is brilliant. Not exactly an unknown violinist by any means

[@MrAkifusion]

True, but underrated, I'd say. During a long period where everybody played with cheesy vibrato and bad taste glissandi, he was the only one not over romanticizing Bach, for example.

[@kockovod7850]

Im czech and i have never even heard of Příhoda :(

[@heifetz14]

I am English and have never heard of Nigel Kennedy.