Rating: 
Summary: Invaluable for those with knowledge
Review: The two documentaries featured here are an invaluable resource for those familiar with violin playing and violin technique. Featuring interviews with today's top violinists and a gold mine of rare and meticulously reconstructed footage, the documentaries survey the playing style and contributions of all the major violin virtuosos of the 20th century. The video is definitely intended for musicians or those very familiar with the playing of the violin, as no lay explanation is provided for technical jargon. Nevertheless, this professional and smoothly flowing documentary is an extraordinary resource of footage and information difficult to obtain elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Leagacy
Review: The video starts with an intorduction with Menuhin playing the Mozart Concerto in G ( 2 min. ) recorded in '63 in his uniquely expressive way. Then comes Mendelssohn's Concerto first played by Oistrakh ( 2 min. recorded in '58 ) tobe followed by Isaac Stern in '67, and then Ferras in '63, Kreisler (recorded in '35 : sound track only, plus a silent clip ) all for a few phrases. It was to be followed by Milstein of '66 for 4 min or so and then Grumiaux, Heifetz, Elman also for a few phrases. The point was to let viewers hear the distinct sound and accent of each of these great violinists of the golden age. And then some of these giants come back again, like Elman played a passage of Tsaichovsky and then Humoresque altogether lasted for about 5 min. And then there was Heifetz, playing Paganini Caprice no. 24 for 2.5 min. and then Wieniawsky's Polonaise in D ( 4.5 min. ) recorded in '55 and then a passage of Tsaichovsky of about 2 min recorded in '45. And then we have Milstein for about 10 mins playing Bach, Paganininia and Brahms concerto. Any lover of violin music would pay any price for these clips and the quality of these clips are very acceptable. The clips for Elman really captured the beauty of his tone quite well. The clips of Heifetz are all extremely expressive. One clip witnessed his enormous sense of drama and the other his virtuosity: saying Heifetz didn't play with feelings could hardly hold water. And the cleanliness of articulation of Milstein was also well captured. On top of all these, we have 2 clips of Ginette Neveu totalling 4.5 min ; 2 clips of Thibaud ( Spanish dance and Malaguena ) for 3.5 min; 2 clips of Szeryng ( Bach and Hungarian Dance ) for 3 min; Menuhin ( St Mathew's Passion; Hungarian Dance; Chaconne in D ) totalling about 9 min. We also have short clips of Kogan, Ida Haendel playing or even Ysaye for a min. or so ( but the picture quality of Ysaye is very poor ). There is also a acceptable clip of Kreisler, and a very nice clip of Szegeti. The first part finishes with Hassid's most beautiful as well as saddest sound when he played the Hebrew Melody, and for the second or last part, it ends with Meuhin playing Mozart again.
essntially, this is not a history of the violinists nor the school of violinists, it merely shows us the varieties of violinists. One would like it to take a better coverage and one wonders why padagogues like Joachim, Sarasate, Carl Flesch, Auer, Hubay... got left out. Nor was there any mention of Morini or Huberman? Moreover, a lot of what the commentator Mr Perlman said needn't be included, nor were some of the comments from Hilary Hann. Fortunately, a lot was made up by the contribution from the other commentators like Menuhin, Ida Haendel or Gitles: they are most enlightening. Ida Haendel definitely has more insight than Perlman whereas the other commentator Gitlis, like his playing, is so precise and to the point, making it up so much. It's great legacy. How can one ever miss this?
Rating:
Summary: a violinists essential
Review: This excellently conceived DVD is a remarkable compilation of excerpts of the playing of arguably the most gifted and individualistic performers of the last century. It is especially revealing to hear and see this playing at a time when, perhaps due to the very availability of recording and world travel, otherwise excellent players begin to be indistinguishable from each other. This DVD documents playing of incredible individuality, from the elegance of a Jacques Thibaud to the fire of a Ginette Neveu, from the flawlessless of a Heifetz to the warmth and humanity of a Menuhin. A treasurable release in every way!
Rating:
Summary: Not Perfect, But Still Indispensible
Review: This film (in two parts) succeeds masterfully as both education on the art of violin and entertainment. As a violinist, myself, not only did I gain invaluable insight into the artistic contributions and musical approaches of the great violinists of the last century, I found myself watching the films, or portions of it, repeatedly, all the while mesmerized by such sights as Heifetz's electrifying renditions of Paganini, Wieniawski, and Tchaikovsky or Oistrakh's intense solo cadenza in the Shostakovich concerto. Viewing this documentary is an ennobling experience. The film, however, is less successful as history in that one does not get a real sense of how violin playing changed since the time of Vivaldi. Apart from a superficial mention of Paganini's revolutionary transformation of the violin's instrumental (i.e. technical) capabilities, little appreciation is paid to how dramatic Paganini's contribution to violin virtuosity actually was. Nor does the film really acknowledge the second revolution ushered in by Heifetz who single-handedly set the yet-unsurpassed standard for complete instrumental mastery against which all violinists are judged to this day and who introduced the modern school of violin playing which prizes complete technical command, cleanness of execution, and fidelity to the score. Heifetz and Kreisler represented antipodal destinies for the art of violin, and while there is great nostalgia and respect for the sweetly personalized approach of Kreisler, it is clear that Heifetz's legacy is the one which has carried forward into the 21st century. Nary a mention is made of this historic fact. In short, the film lacks a contextual backbone from which to assess each violinist and his or her contribution to the development of the art. That said, the film is a treasure trove of archival footage which shows each of these great violin personalities at their best. Particularly helpful is Perlman's commentary in that he explains just how daunting the mechanics of violin-playing can be and why it is rightly deemed to be the most difficult instrument to master. His impressions of several of the profiled fiddlers is quite colorful and illuminating, as well. While some may consider it distasteful, watching a film like this begs the question of who was or is the best of them all. The director Bruno Monsaingeon's seemingly egalitarian sensibilities prevents him from either positing this question outright or directly answering it. It is quite clear, however, who his favorite violinist is: Menuhin. He is treated lovingly and with special respect throughout the film. Indeed, Menuhin bookends the documentary. So this is very much a personal film for Monsaingeon. But all violin partisans have to acknowledge the singular figure of Heifetz who perfected every apsect of violin craft and infused his playing with a rugged and disciplined musicianship and sophisticated artistry. No other field of music has been so decisively dominated by one musician. No other performer has mastered his or her instrument so completely. No other artist has sustained his or her performance standards and musical integrity over so long a period of time and over so vast a repertoire. His unprecedented virtuosity only scratches at his importance to violin art - indeed, to all instrumental art. Yet, in the film, the Heifetz phenomenon is barely alluded to. To suggest that Heifetz is merely one of many noted violinists is akin to saying that Michael Jordan is just another basketball player. This may be the film's most glaring omission.
Rating:
Summary: Great Violinist...Some Mediorcre Commentators
Review: This program, first viewed on PBS, is among the best of its kind. Within the time span of two hours, Bruno Monsaingeon was able to depict all violinist at their best, some more than others. His ingenious beginning showed all the different emotions and textures that each character was able to show. The intimacy of Kreisler. The love from Stern. The demonic accuracy of Heifetz. The straightforwardness of Kogan. The technical mastery from Menuhin. Those not featured in the beginning was shown later. With Oistrakh playing the glorious Franck Sonata, Stern plays the moving Brahms sonata, Menuhin playing Bach Sonatas, Milstein playing Bach Partitas, Elman played Humoresque and Tchaikovsky, and SO MUCH MORE!!! The only aspect that disappointed me throughout was the commentators. I did not feel all of them had a mastery of what they were trying to say. Some difficulties that irritated me were Perlman's inconclusive comparisons ("Kreisler has a more...intimate sound, whereas Heifetz is a knight in full armor."). How could sound be compared to a knight? Hilary Hahn's performance is also poor. She had very intelligent comments to make but was unable to clear, perspicuously tell us. Maybe it was the pressure but the constant breaks made me focus more on her talking than the actual content of her speech.
All the others were very good commentators.
Rating:
Summary: A Great video
Review: This video is great! The main reason I like it is because it has everyone. All of the great virtuosos of the twentieth century. Milstein, Heifetz, Menuhin, Szigeti, Oistrakh, Szeryng, and more. The only thing I don't like about this video is that they have more clips of Menuhin than any of the others. I love Menuhin, but I think they obssesed over him (They also didn't have enough footage of Szeryng.He is one of my favorites). That being said, I think this video is great. I think it is great that thy had footage of guys like Szigeti and Thibaud. Even though they are widly recognized you don't see alot of footage of them. I didn't know to much about them, but they were incrdible especially Szigeti. I think the clip of him palying "the bee" is just as amazing as anything Heifetz did. If your a violinist or like the violin, you MUST have this video.
Rating:
Summary: Violin Playing at its Best
Review: This video, either DVD or VHS, is a must for all budding violinists. Being a professional violinist and a teacher, I heartily recommend this video to all my students and to anyone else who show interest in the art. Today we have some wonderful young artists on the concert scene, but there is still something missing in their playing. It is the difference between hearing a concert goer leaving the theater and saying, "Wasn't that wonderful playing? Where shall we eat tonight?" and one who says, "Oh my! What a touching performance! This is truly an experience to be remembered!" As Itzhak Perlman pointed out, each violinist is unique in his or her appoach, but all are supreme. I have worked with many of the violinists on this video, including Heifetz, Milstein, Rabin, Szigeti and Menuhin, and each one left me breathless. I guess that is what is really missing---being breathless after hearing them play. I doubt that we will ever be exposed to such artistry again---certainly not in my lifetime.
Rating:
Summary: A look at greatness
Review: This wonderful DVD brings videos from as early as 1926, with digitially remastered sound performances, into your living room. The first half in particular provides glimpses of the greatest violinists from the middle part of the 20th century. Try to watch and listen to it on a television with a good sound system connected. You'll find yourself closing your eyes and marveling at the brilliance of the performances.
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