The Art of the Violin, Soundpost Online 7 Spring'02

"The Art of the Violin" is the fourth part of "The Art of Music" series presented as a part of PBS' "Great Performances." Written and directed by Bruno Monsaingeon, provides an invaluable and fascinating glimpse of many of the luminaries of the violin from the 20th Century. Footage of remarkable violinists such as Arthur Grumiaux, Christian Ferras, Leonid Kogan, Ginette Neveu gives the viewer a clear idea of the violinistic personality of these incredible performers from a by-gone era. Szigeti, playing “The Bee” by Schubert beautifully with his long, gangly physique, is fascinating to see. Blurry footage of Ysaye playing (without accompanying sound) is also interesting. Elman compellingly evokes a completely different era with his characteristic warm tone and captivating personality. A teenage Michael Rabin plays Kreisler’s “Tambourin Chinois” on television in the early days of that medium. Extensive footage of Yehudi Menuhin playing well and displaying his trademark musical honesty is particularly gratifying to experience as this artist was notoriously erratic in his performing career, and many who heard Lord Menuhin live will not have heard him playing like this.

The film opens with an extended section of the first movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in which the filmmakers brilliantly and seamlessly splice the viewer between performances of legendary artists such as Oistrach, Milstein, Heifetz and Kreisler, making for fascinating comparison of style and temperament. Milstein is featured prominently, playing Mendelssohn Concerto at the height of his powers. Heifetz is represented in several excerpts with his unique tonal palette and unmistakable brilliance and virility. Oistrach is given powerful voice in an earth shattering performance of the Cadenza from the first Shostakovitch Concerto. Isaac Stern is represented giving a ravishing account of the first Brahms Sonata. Ivry Gitlis sounds absolutely brilliant in an excerpt from the Second Paganini Concerto. In the second part of the film contemporary European violinist Laurent Korcia plays Ysaye with compelling flair: this writer wonders if and when Mr. Korcia will tour in the United States. There is also charming footage of Kreisler in a casual context, and Francescatti gardening and eating lunch with his mother as he is interviewed.

The film is not without flaw: The opening narrative refers to the death of Yehudi Menuhin as the passing of the last Great Violinist of the 20th Century. But Isaac Stern outlived Menuhin and certainly couldn’t be considered less a luminary than Menuhin. The film includes interviews with Ivry Gitlis (In French with subtitles on the DVD) Itzhak Perlman, Ida Haendel, and Hilary Hahn, among others, spliced into the performances of the various artists. The interviews with Gitlis and Haendel are interesting, with Perlman less so but entertaining nonetheless. The interview with Hilary Hahn feels empty and the video would be more successful if her comments were left out. Strangely, of the artists interviewed for the video only Haendel, Gitlis and Korcia are shown playing. Perlman should have been included and Hilary Hahn would have represented herself far better playing her violin than in commentary.

Despite these few warts, the Art of the Violin is a wonderfully entertaining two hours, and a must-see for any violinist or violin lover. ###
Ralph Wolin

The Art of the Violin, written and directed by Bruno Monsaingeon, 120 min.
part of PBS' "Great Performances" series (check your local listings)
Video cassette also available through www.shop.pbs.org

Ralph Wolin is a violinist and an occasional contributor to Soundpost Online

...workbench
	The Art of the Violin The Devil's Instrument Transcending the Violin
	"The Art of the Violin" is the fourth part of "The Art of Music" series presented as a part of PBS' "Great Performances." Written and directed by Bruno Monsaingeon, provides an invaluable and fascinating glimpse of many of the luminaries of the violin from the 20th Century. Footage of remarkable violinists such as Arthur Grumiaux, Christian Ferras, Leonid Kogan, Ginette Neveu gives the viewer a clear idea of the violinistic personality of these incredible performers from a by-gone era. Szigeti, playing “The Bee” by Schubert beautifully with his long, gangly physique, is fascinating to see. Blurry footage of Ysaye playing (without accompanying sound) is also interesting. Elman compellingly evokes a completely different era with his characteristic warm tone and captivating personality. A teenage Michael Rabin plays Kreisler’s “Tambourin Chinois” on television in the early days of that medium. Extensive footage of Yehudi Menuhin playing well and displaying his trademark musical honesty is particularly gratifying to experience as this artist was notoriously erratic in his performing career, and many who heard Lord Menuhin live will not have heard him playing like this. The film opens with an extended section of the first movement of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in which the filmmakers brilliantly and seamlessly splice the viewer between performances of legendary artists such as Oistrach, Milstein, Heifetz and Kreisler, making for fascinating comparison of style and temperament. Milstein is featured prominently, playing Mendelssohn Concerto at the height of his powers. Heifetz is represented in several excerpts with his unique tonal palette and unmistakable brilliance and virility. Oistrach is given powerful voice in an earth shattering performance of the Cadenza from the first Shostakovitch Concerto. Isaac Stern is represented giving a ravishing account of the first Brahms Sonata. Ivry Gitlis sounds absolutely brilliant in an excerpt from the Second Paganini Concerto. In the second part of the film contemporary European violinist Laurent Korcia plays Ysaye with compelling flair: this writer wonders if and when Mr. Korcia will tour in the United States. There is also charming footage of Kreisler in a casual context, and Francescatti gardening and eating lunch with his mother as he is interviewed. The film is not without flaw: The opening narrative refers to the death of Yehudi Menuhin as the passing of the last Great Violinist of the 20th Century. But Isaac Stern outlived Menuhin and certainly couldn’t be considered less a luminary than Menuhin. The film includes interviews with Ivry Gitlis (In French with subtitles on the DVD) Itzhak Perlman, Ida Haendel, and Hilary Hahn, among others, spliced into the performances of the various artists. The interviews with Gitlis and Haendel are interesting, with Perlman less so but entertaining nonetheless. The interview with Hilary Hahn feels empty and the video would be more successful if her comments were left out. Strangely, of the artists interviewed for the video only Haendel, Gitlis and Korcia are shown playing. Perlman should have been included and Hilary Hahn would have represented herself far better playing her violin than in commentary. Despite these few warts, the Art of the Violin is a wonderfully entertaining two hours, and a must-see for any violinist or violin lover. ### Ralph Wolin The Art of the Violin, written and directed by Bruno Monsaingeon, 120 min. part of PBS' "Great Performances" series (check your local listings) Video cassette also available through www.shop.pbs.org Ralph Wolin is a violinist and an occasional contributor to Soundpost Online