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Ivry Gitlis: Celebrated Israeli virtuoso violinist dies at 98
Ivry Gitlis: Celebrated Israeli virtuoso violinist dies at 98
Described as one of the modern greats of classical music, he was a hugely charismatic figure. Source link
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"Il y a un avant Paganini, et un après Paganini. Toute la musique, toute l'écriture de la musique a été métamorphosée par Paganini." Ivry Gitlis
Valiant Vengerov is Victorious #alliteration
The last face off of Tchaikovsky Round pitted Maxim Vengerov against Ivry Gitlis. This was not a particularly difficult decision for me. Each violinist presents a very different vision of the piece (as opposed to the Milstein vs. Shaham battle where the differences were subtle at best), which provided plenty of grounds for comparison. I love both recordings, but ultimately Vengerov was victorious.
Let me start by saying that I LOVE Ivry Gitlis. Everything about his playing is so unique. His unrelenting vibrato in particular is delightful. He's the kind of artist where I am just dying to know how he will play something. If I stumble upon a recording of a piece by him that I didn't know existed, I must listen to it to find out how he approaches that piece. This doesn't mean I always love what he does, but I love his unflinching dedication to his point of view. Do I think all violinists should sound like him? Certaintly not, but I'm very happy that there's one of him for us to enjoy.
His Tchaikovsky is full of his trademark quirks. The crazy (but wonderful) vibrato, an abundance of passion, and an overall execution which borders on frenetic. Ultimately, I think this latter trait is where he falls slightly short. There are many spots which feel rushy (the transition into the 2nd theme and the development come to mind). Often, he seems to be just a split second ahead of the orchestra, which ends up fighting to keep up. I don't mind this per se. As a matter of fact, if I'm listening to this recording without comparing it to any other recordings, it doesn't bother me at all. However, compared to Vengerov, Gitlis's idiosyncrasies overwhelm the piece just a bit.
In contrast to Gitlis's frenzied approach, Vengerov delivers a performance which is perfectly paced and sumptuously beautiful. His tempo falls right in the middle of the pack (Gitlis is about 2 1/2 minutes faster). His technical passage work is crystal clear, where Gitlis's often goes by in a blur. Additionally, I find his vibrato in the upper register to be wonderfully decadent (notably in the climax of the second theme). It's right on the line between perfection and a slightly too much, and this fascinates me. Any more would go too far, but any less would make it less compelling.
Since I love both recordings, the question is not whose is "better". This is pretty much a meaningless issue at this point. The question is, who did more justice to Tchaikovsky's masterpiece? Vengerov's playing elevates every aspect of this concerto and strikes the ideal balance between gorgeous melody and dizzying technique. Gitlis's rendition is a dazzling display of virtuosity, but his personality ultimately over shadows the piece.
So, Tchaikovsky Round concludes with Vengerov victory. Gitlis will always have a special place in my heart, but he just couldn't quite pull through with this concerto.
Thus begins Mendelssohn Round.
Israeli violinist Ivry Gitlis (with Shuku Iwasaki) playing Pablo de Sarasate's "Romanza Andaluza" Op.22 No.1.
I can't believe that this is the first Sarasate post of Hintersatz. I totally forgot to post.
Ivry Gitlis plays Paganini.
Gitlis playing Debussy's violin sonata. Martha Argerich accompanying.
No one plays like him. His tone is so unique.
It's not often I'm really surprised by a violinist's playing, nor is it often that I find really unconventional styles of playing very interesting.
But I'm completely taken aback by Ivry Gitlis. His tone is one-of-a-kind, and his interpretations are pretty bold in comparison to the more reserved, traditional schools of playing I hear in so many others.
This is his version of Saint-Saens's Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, a showpiece I've known for a long time. His interpretation isn't my favorite, but it's the most interesting I've heard in a long time.
So yeah. New obsession.
