Tchaikovsky SHOWDOWN 🎻 ft. Itzhak Perlman, David Oistrakh, & Alena Baeva

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Can you guess who the mystery musician is based on the thumbnail?
I already know we’re going to need a Round 2 for this so just go ahead and list out and vote for the people you want me to include in the next round of Tchaikovsky SHOWDOWN
0:00 - Intro
0:31 - David Oistrakh
3:14 - Itzhak Perlman
5:52 - Alena Baeva
8:00 - Mystery musician

[@RayChenViolinist]

Want to feel motivated and less lonely when you practice music? Join the best practice app for free: tonicmusic.app/practice-together and learn together with the Tonic community 🎵

[@jjunction8231]

I'm going to become the world's greatest violinist😁

[@nskimharris]

I love this app already and I have only had it for seconds. I could listen and or practice along all day

[@RayChenViolinist]

I already know we’re going to need a Round 2 for this so just go ahead and list out and vote for the people you want me to include in the next round 🥊

[@cyzhouhk]

For Tchaikovsky? Heifetz

[@Dany715gd]

Anne-Sophie Mutter

[@hemalshaaththalapitiya7585]

Janine Jansen and Julia Fischer

[@justraccoon4233]

What do you think about the topic "music is out of politics", while there have been so many Tsars propaganda from musicians in the imperial russia that forced people to like the regime?

[@annav2722]

BRETT YANG

[@johnalexander4946]

Not sure how anyone can play the Tchaikovsky better than David Oistrakh. He represented the best of the Soviet school and Russian tradition.

[@alfromvancouver]

Got to give this one to the King of Violin, David Oistrakh! Definitely one of my most listened version of the Tchaikovsky.

[@SmoothJK]

That's awesome that Ray included himself and saw some...less ideal parts. That's only a reminder of how far he has come as a musician over the years!

[@selgeaus]

I've always loved Perlman's tone only he could create - very warm and creamy soup type of tone.

[@formerpro9930]

The great David Oistrakh owned this concerto.

[@leonardobastos1945]

Oistrakh is simple the BEST! Great sound, overtones, power and delicacy at the same time. The GOAT...

[@mikaelpetersson8647]

Its a maskuline piece

[@TheEternaut]

@@HadeanSting I still prefer Heifetz, but I won't complain if Oistrakh gets de GOAT, he is also wonderful.

[@leonardobastos1945]

I think Heifetz has perfection of playing, but Oistrakh has all the rest... ​@@TheEternaut

[@eri6219]

Really really love Perlman’s Tchaikovsky. It made me fell in love with Perlman and violin.

[@a.r.mackinnon2451]

Oistrakh's performance is just bloody mind-blowingly good.

[@claire-921]

As my one of my favourite violin soloists, I believe that Itzhak Perlman's is my favourite version. When learning to play Tchaikovsky violin concerto, I would listen to his recordings. I always loved his phrasing and vibrato, the expressionism and grandious is so pleasant!

[@benlyon]

Love that you included your own cringe moments. They happen to all of us across any career where you push yourself. The positive spin is super awesome for growing musicians!

[@bardiakian5482]

Heifetz does this piece in his way and wow… it is a fiery performance!!! People should give it a listen for sure!

[@ericdegioia8444]

The gold standard

[@peregrinusabsoluti2302]

And not the same sheet!

[@jgunther3398]

auer's edition has different fingering for the opening from what he and everybody else i've noticed uses

[@AnkitPatel-ih6uv]

I hope you add Julia Fischer to your next comparison videos! She's also an incredible performer but I've found that very few people in the U.S. know of her.

[@benjaminbleam7054]

I’m from the U.S. and she has my favorite Tchaikovsky VC performance. (No offense Ray 😅)

[@user-nw3xq7ib3b]

She is my favorite too!I especially love the how smooth her crescendo is right before the main theme.

[@xc95928]

I second this. Hers is my favorite too!

[@justsomeguy6060]

I love when she plays the fast and jumpy parts in mozart 4, it's so clear cut and sticky

[@Dragon.of.wisdom]

Please. I love her playing

[@Joie-du-sang]

I saw Baeva perform the Britten concert with the NY Phil a few months ago and I really enjoyed. The concerto has a really unusual ending where it's very quiet and intimate, as opposed to the usual big ending most concertos have. She did a really great job with it, and I feel like that sort of ending must be incredibly scary to perform. You've just played 20-30 minutes and instead of going out with a bang you have to play very quietly and intimately, holding everyone's attention but not overdoing it. It was impressive!

[@M_SC]

I didn’t know her and was so impressed with her originality and skill here

[@chloeli880]

Janine’s Britten is also PHENOMENAL. You should definitely check it out 🎉

[@saylork8547]

It has always been my favorite violin concerto, or at least one of my favs! I grew up hearing the Perlman version, but honestly, I just love to listen to anyone playing it because the variety of colors and styles people add to it is great!

[@TheVinylFactor]

I was hoping to see Augustin Hadelich here, I love his interpretation of Tchaikovsky.

[@user-kx7zt2su1w]

Finally, I found the person think like me

[@lizisabellagarciaduran1226]

Yes me too

[@micaelabonetti949]

Me too!!!

[@jgunther3398]

watch his mozart video. it's super

[@Dilsli]

I've seen you playing in the Queen Elisabeth Competition. And in the audience we talked that you were going places.🎉 That QEC: I brought a brother who was visiting me at the time and he had his first contact with the violin then and he loved it. We went back with his boyfriend who arrived at a later date. That brother is very ill now, at the hospital in Brazil. To cheer him up, I reminisced about the fun we had at the QEC.

[@sophielee570]

Ray is so cute when his own playing appears ... great to see these comparisons, you successfully introduced me to old videos that I didn't want to listen to. Really love this showdown series and petition for more!!

[@sabrinai]

Thank you so much for making this review of the Tchaik! Can't wait for yours live in a week!!! 🎉🤩

[@familiedronkers2305]

Hi Ray, I have been really enjoying your videos. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and being such a big inspiration to so many of us. Keep it going! Love to hear your praise of David Oistrakh, one of my big heroes as well. 👍👍

[@AlejandroRomero-if2zw]

I loved the video, especially when you were explaining interpretation in the beginning. Ray you are the best.

[@ToRung]

*_pleased to meet you💞🎉😍_*

[@marjovanderknaap6515]

What a joy it was to see and hear you live performing this beautifull peace tonight in Eindhoven! And after that changing a string ON stage WHILE introducing us to your version of Waltzing Mathilda. Lucky the new string behaved 😉it was awesome!! 😍

[@RayChenViolinist]

Can you guess who the mystery musician is based on the thumbnail? 😊

[@sabrinai]

Clearly Hank!

[@bjchorny]

In the shadow of such a company is a hard place not to be.

[@ketlinsimoes2644]

Humm I think it could be you, Ray, at that concert where your strings broke during the performance heheheh

[@agatafurczyk9149]

For lack of better ideas, I'd say '2009 Ray', but this outline could be virtually anyone 😅 (though most likely a guy 😆).

[@dominicktravis6119]

Hilary Hahn

[@jnee3873]

oh My Good, You need a part 2, I mean, your tonic studio at January 13th was so good, singing and tchaikovsky❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤. Jay Chou

[@RosyOutlook17]

1:57 Ray’s face here is so emotional. Shows just how much he really enjoys and feels the music.

[@chrisma3256]

I love this concert so much ❤ thanks for this video 😊

[@katyb2793]

These are so informative and interesting to watch (and fun!) no matter what instrument you play. Thank you Ray 💕

[@stormr3x209]

I’ve been waiting for this video for a fat while 😭😭

[@user-hl4kk8wd3k]

This is a wonderful series, comparing side-by-side these great recordings. So interesting to hear how each interprets the music! My fave is still Oistrakh!

[@editionprimavista4937]

Keep them coming, @Ray! As far as I am concerned, you can dive deeper and spend more time with each performance. I am also a musician - a recorder player - but it's not easy for me to hear those subtle differences between, well, different violinists. So you pointing them out to us is really useful and educating.

[@stevec7445]

I just got to see Perlman play this piece in Houston. So amazing and beautiful.

[@dianerios880]

I LOVE your tone and phrasing. The winner IMHO! 🏆

[@antonvf9619]

please give us more of these wonderful showdowns!!

[@kes1209]

This series is awesome, really insightful for learning about these pieces and how to develop taste. Also really appreciate your candor, really respect your efforts to share honest stories so we can all learn!

[@gimletrose1985]

David O. Is one of my favorite ❤❤❤ this one and Seberius are just chef's kiss

[@pajarosaenz]

I started to study violin because i found a CD with te Oistrakh Version. I loved it and i love it since nowadays.

[@susanbryant6516]

Love this video, I really enjoyed hearing the comparisons and explanations.

[@shannonmoro401]

I can not wait to see it. Should be fun to watch and learn.

[@cc9946]

Can’t wait to see you tomorrow and listen to your Tchaikovsky!! 😍

[@edcew8236]

I like your lightness and especially your effective dynamics.

[@benjaminbleam7054]

Love the mic set up when you’re playing 👌 sounds fabulous

[@jansnauwaert1785]

I found this is a very interesting comparison. Much to be seen that otherwise a non professional wouldn't see. Kind of funny, but also courageous, that you are objective (even a bit hard) for your own interpretation. You still won the Elisabeth with it.

[@bernhard2269]

I had the honor to play the Tchaikowsky concerto in the orchestra with the wonderful Lidia Baich. It was mindblowing. My favorite recording is from Vadim Repin!

[@edm213]

Ray, thank you so much for this and all your videos. I'm not a musician and learn so much about listening to and interpretation of classical music from you.

[@Daniel27600]

Now you have to do the Bruch showdown! That first phrase can make or break the concerto.

[@chia_s_ee_d]

Yessss!!!! My faves are Hilary and Mutter

[@nafizzeybek5300]

My favourite ray chen's if you didn't listen I recommend ​@@chia_s_ee_d

[@dingbaaat5569]

i love hilary hahn and maria duenas for bruch

[@laplacian2760]

Pinchas Zukerman

[@cesardiezv]

The last music youtube video that deeply moved me had María Dueñas playing the Bruch concerto.

[@Chihuahuauno1]

NEVER heard DO's performance, it's my NEW FAV "Tcha."

[@HaoLiu_drliuhao]

This is actually very fun, to watch Ray review himself. Music is much like Surgeons performing surgery. You improve even if you are in your 60s, as long as you put in the work and effort. Thank you Ray for being an inspiration. Need to go back to practice suturing.

[@leonardobastos1945]

GREAT video, Ray! Eager for more performance analysis...

[@agatafurczyk9149]

Nice! 😄I've got a bit bumpy relationship with Tchaikovsky concerto - we didn't start getting along right off the bat. But I've listened to it a few times since then and it starts growing on me 😊. Really good examples of how differently it can be played 😄. This time I'm unable to choose which one I like best!

[@taochengliu44]

很高興在這裡聽到你分析這麼美的聲音。尤其是在欣賞回味自己的聲音。太美好了。謝謝你❤

[@shiaoyunfu-tf5dz]

Compared with here that ray cheng showed different interpretation of violinists how they played the ventage track Tchaikovsky violin concerto. I think I love ray Chen's playing better. No matter at the age of 20 that he won the Queen Elisabeth Competition or almost a year ago he play this vantage track again with Seattle symphony orchestra, actually his technic is very strong, his mucic is emotionally, and with a lot of passion also. I think the record that he performed with Seattle symphony orchestra is the best in the world, he also played with his vantage track extremely already. I hope I could watch this films again here in the near future. This is my favorite classical music that performed by ray chen.

[@fool3087]

theres just so many great tchaikovsky performances

[@farzadhozouri5365]

3:46 The photo is Igor Oistrakh the son of David

[@cesardiezv]

Last time I couldn't decide between two albums with Tchaikovsky and Sibelius violin concerts. One by Oistrakh/Ormandy and other by Lisa Batiashvili/Baremboin. Both very good yet different.

[@asya_vin]

вааааау лучшие видео!!! спасибо!

[@pradagio_]

These analyses by Ray are truly amazing and inspiraytional!!

[@EvieBear236]

When critiquing movies, have you ever thought about looking at "Music of the Heart"? Meryl Streep plays a violin teacher who starts a violin music program in an inner city school.. Based on a true story. Several well-known violinists have cameos.

[@BoraViolin]

The Perlman video has always been one of my favorites. The audience was so moved they broke tradition and gave him a rounding applause after the first movement.

[@AngelTing]

I have to say it is your interpretation that makes me love Tchaikovsky! And your video accompanies me as I work every day recently (not a good idea though, coz I will keep watching you play the piece but forget my work 😂). And pls don’t feel bad for young Ray, he is being compared to some of the very best violinists, he was actually doing not bad!

[@jgunther3398]

alena's playing is "honest and direct" as well. that sweetness and light is her personality -- a personality which will also include guns firing out of hell!

[@ElMcMeen1a]

Love these videos!

[@traderhooper]

I like the way that you reviewed your younger self. It's always good to look back to see how you have grown, both technically and emotionally.

[@alexsaldarriaga8318]

Very insightful and entertaining as always. I grew listening to the Heifetz recording. But my favorite is Milstein’s interpretation.

[@VeguldenZilverling]

Greetings from Antwerp, thanks for the concert.

[@aidehecker8011]

Can’t wait

[@MrzRobloxz]

So skilled! And talented and inspiring and iconic!

[@Jess-mk3vs]

Can we please make the leagues in Tonic optional? This give such a toxic vibe to practicing where if I do not practice for one day due to real life obligations, I am stuck in the fall zone for the rest of the week. And what about voice and woodwind players? You can only practice for so long without physical damage to your voice and/or lungs. The leagues don't seem like a fair way to promote people to practice unless you decide to make listening XP the same as practicing XP at a certain league.

[@Depression862]

All the performances are undoubtedly majestic, but my favorite is Ray's performance incredible.🔥

[@skylark5789]

same !

[@LiLi-USA]

I love this series! Please do one for Dvorak Violin Concerto!

[@rikspector]

Ray, You are helping me to develop my ear for violin nuances Cheers, Rik Spector

[@Sarcalamu-cm7jk]

I’m not a violinist but this is one of my favorite pieces

[@chia_s_ee_d]

Please review Hilary and Janine!!!

[@michaelsproule2508]

I think those octaves near the end are that hard! So many people miss them, even on recording! Always a nail biter, that passage!

[@adrianwdsouza]

Ray, your performance in Melbourne in July 2023 rates really well too! We really liked the playfulness you brought to it

[@DebHickerson]

I grew up listening to Jascha Heifetz play this. My cousin attended a masters class with Perlman. Never heard of Baeva before this.

[@marikothecheetah9342]

As a classical music enthusiast (I don't play) I absolutely love Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto No.1. It has softness, all those trinkets, swirls, and ribbons, it's so colourful (music synesthesia speaking here). These kind of pieces make me want to learn violin at the age of 40... XD

[@margaretheqiaowang5610]

Appreciate these review videos! Please do Heifetz and Gitlis!!

[@michaelgay7649]

Thanks!

[@danaray7312]

Ray Chen, your descriptive explanations really help me become a better musician, thank you so much! But please do Augustin Hadelich, a master interpreter!

[@micaelabonetti949]

Augustin, please!

[@martalopez-viviesalas1655]

Perlman has been always my favourite one but young Ray... oooh, just so cute.

[@natashastic]

I'm really looking forward to your Tchaikovsky concerto concert, which will be held in Seoul😆🤍

[@zinkmystic88]

Cant wait to perform this with you at Interlochen 2024!

[@user-kd9tt5lm2w]

I love This serie

[@sk010h]

Love this series! Please make more videos comparing interpretations of other concertos (both Prokofiev, Brahms, Beethoven, Dvorak, etc….)!

[@chia_s_ee_d]

Ooh definitely Dvorak!!! I love Hilary’s interpretation of it!

[@cks8465]

Love your videos and Tonic app! I was wondering if there could be an option to opt out of the leagues.

[@ivylan12]

How he explains the different types of interpretations and sounds >>>

[@rapidblur8647]

Henryk Szeryng has my favorite recording of this piece

[@jaegertiger384]

ITZHAK PERLMAN... 1980 with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

[@Orson2u]

Ohhhhhh, BEAUTIFUL RAY of musical sunshine...! (Seriously, you had me at “Tchaikov-”…).

[@aquamarine9568]

Ray’s Tchaikovsky is one of my favourites. I can’t remember which symphony he was playing with, but it’s the one where he breaks his e string.

[@celli_ec._.]

Ray’s Tchaikovsky violin concerto is by far my favorite ❤️! Can you review Hadelichs Tchaikovsky too!

[@chenannabel6256]

The best one goes to Ray 🤩Greeetings from Taiwan and happy new year 2024 ❤

[@cindylau8797]

I burst into tears when you talked to young Ray😢

[@NorbyHofner]

Tomorrow I will hear your version in Eindhoven Holland❤

[@lucindakubitz8193]

❤It would have to be Pauk's 1962 recording with the London Symphony Orchestra. My father owned this record and it was my introduction to the classical violin and hence my love of the instrument. Hours listening to this through enormous late 60s headphones. Then I listened to Itzak, then Hilary Hahn, then yours.

[@lucindakubitz8193]

Actually I was doing my Sunday Symphonies Afternoon yesterday and was listening to your Tchaikovsky curled up on the sofa with the cat (who also listens!) Found that picking a different violin symphony to listen to each Sunday is a wonderful way to hibernate during Winter.😂

[@johnlam7036]

Best episode, wanna see more young Ray. Your mom looks good in the photo

[@lopezjuan316jl]

Personally my favourite version is the one of Mischa Elman, he played it SO BEATIFULLY and had THAT sound, I am impressed every time I listen to it. Heifetz has the same notes because I think that it is an Auer’s arrengement but I personally enjoy more Mischa’s versions

[@Poke9403]

Brett's of course 😁

[@e2pii213]

Definitely with that very unique orchestra performance in that recording.😁

[@LinhChi93]

The random screaming of the soloist only add more juice to the performance 🤣

[@e2pii213]

Looking forward to see new progress report from you.@@LinhChi93