Nathan Milstein: J.S. Bach - Partita in D minor, BWV 1004 "Chaconne"

[@dwightbrown2808]

I heard Milstein play the Chaconne live in about 1979 or so. I met him back stage after the recital. He was very kind and gracious to a bunch of college students. He broke a hair on his bow playing this piece we got the thing at intermission. I still have a tiny piece of it :-)

[@Patrick-cc3ub]

His face when he talks about it... man he's so passionate. It's great.

[@rafthegoat]

I love the fact that he still breaks the chord on the Piano just like he does on the violin, even though he doesn't have to.

[@srinitaaigaura]

It's a dance. He doesn't have to, but there's a special lilt in playing that 1-2. Even Rubinstein played it that way.

[@srinitaaigaura]

Honestly I wish we could have listened to Milstein play the whole thing on the piano. It sounds divine, those few excerpts he play.

[@MrKlemps]

Yes, absolutely so. The man was SO musical--and smart, and funny. By the way there is a wonderful performance of Brahms adaptation for the left hand alone done by Leon Fleisher.

[@Chrismacleod777]

An absolutely wonderful performance by Mr Milstein of one of the greatest pieces of music ever written! Thanks for posting! 🌹🍋💕🎻🎶🌶🍌🦋🌸🎈😀💐👍

[@canadiandave71]

The beauty in the way he times the playing on the piano is just musical beauty perfection

[@michaelhewitt4211]

What a brilliant rendition of the Chaconne this takes some beating by any violinist. It is so incredible and spiritual - at times it sounds like two violins being played.

[@user-tc1lw4mw8j]

One of the blessings sent to us!

[@RahmaanPhillip]

Violist here. I have been practicing/playing Bach religiously more or less everyday since I first performed his cello suite no. 1 in college. I now play all 6 suites, and it is beautiful how Bach's music has evolved with me as time goes on. I watch this video all the time for inspiration. I love to see the passion the great virtuoso Milstein has for this piece that I am sure he has played for over 70 years by the time of this recording. It is also a great reminder that when it comes to music, technique is the child of the music itself. I love his reference to sounding "relaxed" makes people hear what you are saying. We classical musicians can get so lost in details we forget sometimes that we are playing music for others to enjoy. RELAX! Smile, have fun, you've done the hard work! Now get out of the way and let the people enjoy Bach and they will appreciate all of your sacrifices to bring this music to them. Also, Milstein's face at 00:48 is everything. 400 year old song, that one modulation from major to minor is still absolutely blowing this man's mind. Life is simple and there is beauty in the little things :)

[@thatoneguy8064]

bfd

[@melmoth2219]

I had the great good fortune to hear him play this at a concert in the mid-1980s. One string for each of the hundreds of people in the large concert hall. It was enough. And more. Sublime.

[@PaperGrape]

This entire concert of the beethoven kreutzer and chaconne is something beyond belief. Intonation problems? Sure. I think his g string was out of tune. But the music is so completely unbroken, Milstein so relaxed, it's like he's not in the physics world. This is as pure a musicianship as you will ever see. Ever.

[@cyt777]

Really surprised that this performance was played when he was 82.

[@gotsukenj5358]

I was gonna write exactly the same thing. I strongly agree with you and it’s really unbelievable performance. Nathan Milstein is the violinist I respect the most.

[@aasserelzoghby6781]

My teacher recorded it on his channel nashatyt He also recorded Schumman sonata in a minor And Brahms piece I cant remember

[@orecalle]

Yeah. You are right. It is very impressive his performance.

[@Poreckylife]

Why

[@voraciousreader3341]

It’s really too bad that Milstein wasn’t interviewed in his native language when he was talking about the Chaconne....he seemed to struggle with English (and now wonder!) when he was trying to explain his feelings about the Chaconne and Bach. Bach leaves many great musicians speechless, or at least searching for words! Milstein’s interpretation is truly stunning, worthy of great praise, and it shows that he never stopped trying to express the soul of this incredible piece.

[@elisabethmatesky7855]

As the first self-proclaimed 'Guinea Pig Heifetz Pupil' of/by Nathan Milstein, I am shocked by this comments of 'voracious reader' writing Nathan Milstein could not 'speak English well enough to try to explain his feelings about the Chaconne and Bach.' This is utter Rubbish and I insist you retract this false claim. Milstein knew English much better than any writing here on KZbin, and if he wished to, could explain or sound like a "Professor" re Bach and the Chaconne, if he wanted to. But, FYI, which you don't know, Mr. Milstein detested the idea of being termed a "Professor", always snapping back to an accuser, "I'm no Professor: I'm a Violinist!" Direct Quote for you to keep in your Mind from this Sad Day forward as it is the exact Thirtieth Day and Year of Mr. Milstein's Earthly Passing: 21st Dec., 1992, now December 21st, 2022 ~ I'm done but request you Edit your false comments. Quite Upset w/many who never knew or could know Nathan Milstein, due to false ideas that = Ignorance or even (I hope not) stupidity. Thank You for editing your false comment. EM Private Nathan Milstein pupil /also Teach Assist to NM in Zurich NM Int'l Violin Master Course/s, Summer 1970-72, and on Standby throughout the 1970s ~

[@Tony2Nog]

Absolutely "DIVINE..., Heavenly"..., WONDERFUL!!!

[@monelleny]

Absolutely unequaled, in authority, in scope, and in passion. Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!

[@PaperGrape]

12:20 had me utterly captivated, holding my breath. 14:00 he looks just as though he is just remembering his lifetime, and thinking nothing of the playing.

[@stephenkelley5948]

Milstein said about Bach that it was conversation. In Milstein's hands Milstein you hear Bach himself in conversation! How can that ever be improved upon?

[@excelsior999]

It can't.

[@jansnauwaert1785]

It can. But for a 82 year old, it is phenomenal.

[@枫寓黄]

He’s really devoting himself to the music👍🏻👍🏻

[@thinkingevil]

Love love love love..... the ultimate... Milstein!

[@chlee4256]

Phenomenal performance

[@fleurafricaine5740]

Marvelous articulation

[@fabriziobombino8601]

Fantastico Milstein😍

[@sergehirsch6418]

Unbelievable. So deep

[@medievalmusiclover]

Thank You for sharing. It is indeed a blessing video.

[@harrisondocarmo7923]

Awesome

[@sherinkrederdt7642]

eccelente Milstein..semejante a Menuhin..Heifetz...aleluya..danke Sherin Krederdt

[@genepurdum2745]

Hint of a smile on the face at 15:00

[@janethu9169]

Bach is a very religious musician. He played church organs. It is different from piano. I saw the 1 st version of the Phantom of Opera, it uses the same organ.

[@CorelliGassner]

No words! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@criss201174]

Ottimo!! Grande!!

[@dannyboy2267]

7:24 is when it starts

[@aasserelzoghby6781]

Thanks Hope you have fun

[@matthewgonzalez2040]

Thanks danny boy

[@fangyili8214]

9:44 beautiful

[@1108ala]

❤

[@RahmaanPhillip]

thank u 4 this

[@Rob-ex8st]

2:28 Anyone know what he said? Bach is improvisational and conversational in sound. Improvisational is a better phrase than conversational - conversational is a misunderstanding but improvisational is a form?

[@nickfish8345]

He plays like there's a really hyped movie showing just round the corner in less than twenty minutes and he's not about to miss out.

[@DankChallenger]

Best not make comments like this, comparing things so trivial such as “motion picture” when you are experiencing the highest possible caliber of music performed by one of the worlds greatest interpreter and musician

[@nickfish8345]

@@DankChallenger I'll post whatever freakin' comments I like, thank u very much. Also: you obviously take life way too seriously.

[@randomoneforstuff3696]

This is an appropriate tempo for the Chaconne; I find that it flows better than at a snail's pace.

[@superhacker35]

Who made the violin he is playing? Beautiful tone

[@aasserelzoghby6781]

It is probably a very old violin A person not alive right now Probably Stradivari because it projects so far

[@bryancarlson1109]

1716 "Goldman" Stradivarius

[@14thedock]

11.34 start of the arpeggios...

[@aasserelzoghby6781]

Thanks dude

[@aasserelzoghby6781]

Or girl I don't know anymore

[@matthewgonzalez2040]

Aasser Elzoghby lol

[@MiguelPescador-vg3xv]

😂que capo, x Dios, 1 verdadero geñio.😊

[@jonnymario771]

Oh fucking sad, I dont wish anyone goes through some kind of accident resulting in not being able to play an instrument...

[@smileguy5622]

My teacher is his student

[@tamimattal4584]

9:33

[@poppyz6816]

In my opinion, James Ehnes plays it the best

[@Poreckylife]

Augustin Hadelich best

[@anjaovaskainen]

Just listen to Szeryng playing chaconne.

[@elianmiguelgonzalez7134]

10:44

[@user-ly9lx8mu7q]

Такой рубленый стиль исполнения...наверное, его бы переселить в Сибирь - было бы вполне уместно там порубить дрова...эти двойные в начале фразы очень резко и неряшливо... и такое впечатление - будто играет переодетый студент, который куда-то спешит...вот это и есть такой механистический подход к исполнению(как у Хейфеца) и что со сцены надо вовремя уходить здесь чувствуется воочию...конечно, для этого требуется определённое мужество - оно понятно...так ведь в этом тоже должен отдавать себе отчёт любой мало мальски уважающий себя артист. Мудрость человека, порой, в этом и заключается - уступить место другим и более талантливым и одарённым...

[@joefagan9335]

You have no idea what you’re listening to. Have some respect.

[@user-ly9lx8mu7q]

​@@joefagan9335 да оно понятно - только Вы в этом и смыслите...музыкальный мир при посредстве отдельных будто бы самих себя избравших "королями скрипок" - он ведь в некотором роде мафиозный. Это можно выжечь, наверное, только калёным железом...

[@johncornah5299]

Wonderful but Hilary is catching up! John Cornah

[@cyllansse]

no way...

[@excelsior999]

I just listened to Hilary Hahn's performance. It's very difficult to compare her's with Milstein's because they both take very different approaches to the piece. Hilary's is more straightforward and unopinionated. It displays hardly any "flair," but that is certainly intentional. I think that it was more important to her that Bach be heard rather than Hilary Hahn, which I find to be very admirable.

[@tonianzlovar7590]

I find this interpretation slightly disjointed and sloppy in a not good way. Gitlis is far sloppier, but makes it more personal.

[@attilaokros-violinist2857]

Hangoskonyvek

[@taiwanbirdman]

Let's see if you can still pee cleanly at age 82. Ha!!!

[@tonianzlovar7590]

@@taiwanbirdman You are right there about the age and peeing. Did you listen to gitlis? He was much younger in 1990 - 68yo.

[@srinitaaigaura]

@@tonianzlovar7590 And improvise because your left index finger decides to give you severe pain on the day of the performing. Just look closely, he's playing mostly with his upper 3 fingers as far as he can.

[@tonianzlovar7590]

@@srinitaaigaura Fingering looks normal to me.

[@uaxacoc]

Horrible the first bars. It looks like someone who kicks into a glass shop.

[@wakkowarner4288]

What, you want it thin, thready and wheezy like Podger? There's nothing in the music saying you can't kick the door down in the first bar. No slurs, nothing. Up to the performer. Ill take this over most.

[@randomoneforstuff3696]

@@wakkowarner4288 I find Sato's interpretation to be a harmonious middle ground - not thin like Podger, but not full force either like Milstein. (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pp-uZ4Vrms9pfsk )