When I was about fourteen years old (around 1955) my grandfather took me to hear Ferras in the Adelaide Town Hall, South Australia. It was a life-changing experience, setting a bench-mark of desire for the violin that has never left me. Above all, it was his performance of the Fugue from Bach's C-major Solo Sonata that transfixed me. I could never have imagined that the violin could sound like that. Knowing how mu ch I owed to him, I decided, only a few years back to see if I could track him down to thank him, only to find, to my deep shock, that he had suicided at the age of fifty-five. I feel a deep grief both for him and for the fact that I could not thank him. I wonder how many hundreds, if not thousands, might have experienced a similar transformation, and whether he might have felt better about his life had he known. More recently I have listened to his recordings of The Chausson Poème and of the Sibelius Violin Concerto. Whilst I am by no means a violinist of his calibre, I could hear in his playing, seeds...nuances of elements of my own playing that I owed to him. Thank you, Christian!
Not even Oistrakh or Francescatti could play it like this…Ferras' is by far the most sensitive, poetic and eloquent reading of this sublime, but so tragic piece. Played not just with heart-stopping pyrotechnics, but with something far beyond that….
Except your first sentence I agree. There are always artists of equal abilities and, thanks God, different personality. And the same si valid for listeners. I agree and think, this is an outstanding interpretation and Oistrakh and Heifetzt did not play this like it is played in this recording, but they could most likely. They did not play it like this, because they were different personalities, not because they were less good. And again, I agree, this is the most touching performance of the poem, it is absolutely mind blowing :)
but james Vaughan didn't say that Oistrakh or Francescatti were less good....he only said that their own interpretation of this piece was not so beautiful as that of Ferras. Difficult to play better as him in this piece.
My style of French music - gentle, sweet, melancholic. At first it sounds too slow but grows on you. The vibrato, the shifts and the bowing bring it all out.
This is my favorite interpretation. The top two interpretations of this glorious Poeme, are in my opinion: it's the Ferras and Ginette Neveu. The drama of this Poeme Ferras reminds me of his unequaled interpretation of ViolinConcerto Sibeluis
Christian Ferras became from the very first audition in my favorite Violín player in so many master pieces, more and more. It's difficult for a musician just define one performer as the "favorite" because that depends on each style and composer that performer is performing, however; Ferras is always in the very top and mostly in the first place. My late Professor studied in the same time with Christian Ferras in France and she was so proud of him always, that makes me feel proud in extension. This amazing musician is really beyond limits.
Ferras for me cannot be surpassed. Unbelievably sensitive and I agree with Julia his Sibelius concerto for violin, especially the 2nd movement was einmalig. Soon after he took his life.
Christian Ferras has the purity necessary to a good rendition of this poem. This is an awesome recording ! The quality of the orchestra is also important.
Christian ferras est un merveilleux violoniste. Je l'apprécie beaucoup étant moi-même violoniste. C'est toujours un moment superbe lorsque je l'écoute. Le poeme de chausson est vraiment magnifique.
When listening to this, I have a feeling that this man is from another world. Unfortunately, he probably was convinced that he was not belonging to ours when he decided to take his own life... Karajan made him his favorite violinist, which says it all of the genius of Ferras, and also of Karajan's talent to recognise talents far away from his own universe, and help them to shine. Another example would be Maurice André.
I agree with you, dkurgano. This recording is amazing. Christian Ferras is still today my absolute favourite violinist. Everything he plays... becomes magic!
this wonderful musician and performer brought me the love of the violin. My first vinyl, Beethoven with Karian and the Berlin Philamonic. The then the Brahms concerto ...such a sad loss that he ended his life with so much genius to give.....
There are moments where you know, even though you may be of less skilled or less adept, or even less educated or versed in music, that without words, comments, blurbs from so-called critics, what you are heading is something beyond magic, beyond one-of-a-kind: it's the realization of perfect violin music making.
No one has mentioned Ferras's version of the Berg Concerto. I heard him play it live, and memorized the LP. The feeling for that piece has simply never even been approached by anyone else. Not many interpretations are "essential," but that's one of them.
Του Christian Ferras η μαεστρία ειναι αδύνατο να υπερκεραστεί. Only Ferras and Ginette Neveu, as someone else pointed out, can reach perfection and beyond it!!!!! The first took his life and Ginette lost her life in plane accident.
Chaussons bekanntestes Werk - hier einfühlsam mit dem vorzüglichen frz. Violonstar Christian Ferras, der auch mit Karajan viel musizierte. - Eine der schönsten, authentischsten Einspielungen von Poeme ist die mit Izaak Perlman und dem Orchestre de Paris unter Jean Martinon (EMI). Bei RUclips auch Beethovens Romanzen mit Ferras. Auch für Fans interessant: die Ferras-Gedenkkassetten von Brillant (Duos) und Doremi-Records ( u.a. mit Martinons 2. Violinkonzert.).
Hoy hay gente que tiene una técnica impresionante pero cuánta falta de alma a veces solo es un estudio de la obra con una cuestión emocional totalmente estructurada muchas veces es el ego de la persona el que solo quiere mostrarse sacando un sonido potente donde no dice nada, este hombre es el alma en cada notala dulzura, la pureza, la ternura, la tragedia, todo en un músico increíble
à notre époque, là , en 2019, qui dira :" je connais une plus belle interprétation du poème de Chausson que celle de Ferras ? " celui là mentira ou sera de mauvaise foi.
Yes. His only other recording of this work is the 1955 live recording under Bigot with the Orchestre national de Belgique. That live recording is less self-indulgent - it is nearly 4 minutes shorter - but less polished (and with lower audio quality)..
FERRAS WAS AMONG MY FAVORITE VIOLINISTS, BUT NO ONE PLAYS THIS PIECE AS WELL AS HEIFETZ PLAYED IT. FERRAS COMMITTED SUICIDE, BUT I CANNOT FIND OUT WHY & HOW. HE WAS ONLY 49 YEARS OLD.
Too bad it had to happen, but unfortunately top artists are hypersensitive. Think of Van Gogh's end which was apparent early on in his work. Tchaikovsky himself took arsenic after the first performance of Pathetique.
@@deperonnet happy to. Btw, since it’s been a year I hope you and yours are all well. Sincerely. Just being silly. Obviously Ferras is French but there are a few violinists who I feel truly capture the feeling of listening to French music. I know little of French composition outside of this, some Debussy, Faure etc. Heifetz and Enescu also seem to have this ability to put a different spirit into the music. Heifetz’ La Plus Que Lente is a great listen/watch if you haven’t seen it
@@alexpate8626 as i told you Alex, it is unfair to compare any violonist to Heifetz or Enescu who are the greatest among the great. I think that if Christian Ferras would have less health problems he would have been one of the greatest too. Among the great I have a particular devotion for Leonid Kogan and Zino Francescatti.
There will never be anyone other than Ginette Neveu to play this work. It as much hers as was The Enigma Variations to Jaqueline Du pre. They both were born to play those two compositions.
The Enigma Variations, by Edward Elgar, is a work for full orchestra. Perhaps you meant the Cello Concerto? Du Pre's was a highly individual, very free and emotional interpretation. Some like it, some do not. You are of course entitled to your opinion of it. But no interpreter "owns" a musical work, in the sense that their interpretation is forever the definitive one, and nothing that comes after it can possibly be of equal value. We do not inter the score alongside the artist, so that it can never be played again. The composer has gifted us the work. He has set it free, and it belongs to all of us.
@@Hermanhub How stupid can you be? If I say it is too slow it is because it is too slow, understood? Maybe it was acceptable in Christian Ferras' time but not anymore today. I am certain already now I have more musical feeling and understanding than you, so you are the one that ought to go to bed, moron.
When I was about fourteen years old (around 1955) my grandfather took me to hear Ferras in the Adelaide Town Hall, South Australia. It was a life-changing experience, setting a bench-mark of desire for the violin that has never left me. Above all, it was his performance of the Fugue from Bach's C-major Solo Sonata that transfixed me. I could never have imagined that the violin could sound like that. Knowing how mu ch I owed to him, I decided, only a few years back to see if I could track him down to thank him, only to find, to my deep shock, that he had suicided at the age of fifty-five. I feel a deep grief both for him and for the fact that I could not thank him. I wonder how many hundreds, if not thousands, might have experienced a similar
transformation, and whether he might have felt better about his life had he known. More recently I have listened to his recordings of The Chausson Poème and of the Sibelius Violin Concerto. Whilst I am by no means a violinist of his calibre, I could hear in his playing, seeds...nuances of elements of my own playing that I owed to him. Thank you, Christian!
Only a long suffering soul can paint this piece like that.. this compositions and Sibelius concerto fitted to Ferras's idiosyncrasy perfectly....
Maybe the most beautiful piece ever written for violin, played by some with an unique soul and sound. It will probably never get better than this.
Christian Ferras is just the greatest violist of all times....
@Renato Câmara tout a fait d'accord. dire simplement que Ferras "était l'un des meilleurs violonistes...etc.." one of the best !
Definitely a violist :'D
Erik Vertriest *violinist
He was a violinist, you fucking *moron.* ....
@@kennethdower7425 A very unnecessary use of abusive language.
Alma Alma ALMA más q ❤🔥 ALMA!!!🙏🙏🙏
Ferras is quickly becoming my favorite violinist. What a sound, phrasing and soul!!!
Not even Oistrakh or Francescatti could play it like this…Ferras' is by far the most sensitive, poetic and eloquent reading of this sublime, but so tragic piece. Played not just with heart-stopping pyrotechnics, but with something far beyond that….
Except your first sentence I agree. There are always artists of equal abilities and, thanks God, different personality.
And the same si valid for listeners. I agree and think, this is an outstanding interpretation and Oistrakh and Heifetzt did not play this like it is played in this recording, but they could most likely. They did not play it like this, because they were different personalities, not because they were less good.
And again, I agree, this is the most touching performance of the poem, it is absolutely mind blowing :)
....but with something far beyond that....i completely agree with you.
but james Vaughan didn't say that Oistrakh or Francescatti were less good....he only said that their own interpretation of this piece was not so beautiful as that of Ferras. Difficult to play better as him in this piece.
One who likes Christian Ferras should listen to him playing Sibelius concert. It is so beautifully played as the Chausson Poeme!
My style of French music - gentle, sweet, melancholic. At first it sounds too slow but grows on you. The vibrato, the shifts and the bowing bring it all out.
This is my favorite interpretation. The top two interpretations of this glorious Poeme, are in my opinion: it's the Ferras and Ginette Neveu. The drama of this Poeme Ferras reminds me of his unequaled interpretation of ViolinConcerto Sibeluis
I feel exactly the same as you do. The difference among the very best is Ferras' hypersensitivity. Same goes with Neveu.
I would put Enesco's performance up there too. Magnificent.
@@duvidl58
I prefer Enescu's version.
Christian Ferras became from the very first audition in my favorite Violín player in so many master pieces, more and more. It's difficult for a musician just define one performer as the "favorite" because that depends on each style and composer that performer is performing, however; Ferras is always in the very top and mostly in the first place. My late Professor studied in the same time with Christian Ferras in France and she was so proud of him always, that makes me feel proud in extension. This amazing musician is really beyond limits.
WOW!...the space of one one connecting to the next note is the magic of Ferras and of the old school of violin playing which sadly has faded today...
Ferras for me cannot be surpassed. Unbelievably sensitive and I agree with Julia his Sibelius concerto for violin, especially the 2nd movement was einmalig. Soon after he took his life.
Dans cette oeuvre il reste un idéal à atteindre . Subtilité et émotion incomparable
Christian Ferras has the purity necessary to a good rendition of this poem. This is an awesome recording ! The quality of the orchestra is also important.
Haunting, achingly beautiful.
Christian ferras est un merveilleux violoniste. Je l'apprécie beaucoup étant moi-même violoniste. C'est toujours un moment superbe lorsque je l'écoute. Le poeme de chausson est vraiment magnifique.
Une version que je découvre ! Tout est dit les premières mesures du solo. On est comme "envouté" à peine arrivé à la troisième mesure..
Le plus grand artiste parmi les violonistes. Grand Merci à Christian Ferras. peu de talent aussi haut n'ont existé
Fantastic interpretatin ! Ferras is unique! So wonderful a violin!
Struggente e stupendo. Bravo. Grazie ❤
Gorgeous!!!
Este señor es de otro mundo, cada nota con una vida con un contenido emocional tan grande que es inigualable
When listening to this, I have a feeling that this man is from another world. Unfortunately, he probably was convinced that he was not belonging to ours when he decided to take his own life... Karajan made him his favorite violinist, which says it all of the genius of Ferras, and also of Karajan's talent to recognise talents far away from his own universe, and help them to shine. Another example would be Maurice André.
This is a truly touching playing. I am in tears. Thank you for sharing.
I have heard this piece many times and found this is the best performance... Maybe it is recorded in 1953, when Ferras was only 20 years old.
Chausson had a similar skill tp Chopin.A way to discover an interval than would shine like a diamond and always seem like a refreshing surprise .
I agree with you, dkurgano. This recording is amazing. Christian Ferras is still today my absolute favourite violinist. Everything he plays... becomes magic!
Zefiraminou i
this wonderful musician and performer brought me the love of the violin. My first vinyl, Beethoven with Karian and the Berlin Philamonic. The then the Brahms concerto ...such a sad loss that he ended his life with so much genius to give.....
This is the playing of a great and desparate musician, who can not escape his despair. Why did nobody hear this and try to help him out?
There are moments where you know, even though you may be of less skilled or less adept, or even less educated or versed in music, that without words, comments, blurbs from so-called critics, what you are heading is something beyond magic, beyond one-of-a-kind: it's the realization of perfect violin music making.
Po prostu sama poezja. Genialnie.
No one has mentioned Ferras's version of the Berg Concerto. I heard him play it live, and memorized the LP. The feeling for that piece has simply never even been approached by anyone else. Not many interpretations are "essential," but that's one of them.
Heard him play back in the sixties....wonderful violinist.....
All the violinists play Chausson poeme, only Ferras recites the poeme!
Very beautiful phrasing by Ferras, thanks for uploading!
Merci beaucoup d'avoir publié cet enregistrement
It is interesting to note that the conductor George Sebastian was then Beatrice Martellière's husband who will be Christian Ferras' wife
The most telling notes are so very simple here. Bar 198 poco lento.A magical note. Salvation , Release , Light, Peace, Beauty.
Ginette Neveu both versions, studio and live Carnegie Hall rendition has never been surpassed yet.
Yes! beautiful.
He uses the same phrasing and elements that George Enescu used in his interpretation, one can really sense the imense influence Enescu had on Ferras
Beautiful!!! David Oistrak is as well! I love both playing this.
Του Christian Ferras η μαεστρία ειναι αδύνατο να υπερκεραστεί. Only Ferras and Ginette Neveu, as someone else pointed out, can reach perfection and beyond it!!!!! The first took his life and Ginette lost her life in plane accident.
Chaussons bekanntestes Werk - hier einfühlsam mit dem vorzüglichen frz. Violonstar Christian Ferras, der auch mit Karajan viel musizierte. -
Eine der schönsten, authentischsten Einspielungen von Poeme ist die mit Izaak Perlman und dem Orchestre de Paris unter Jean Martinon (EMI). Bei RUclips auch Beethovens Romanzen mit Ferras. Auch für Fans interessant: die Ferras-Gedenkkassetten von Brillant (Duos) und Doremi-Records ( u.a. mit Martinons 2. Violinkonzert.).
My favourite as well!
Fantastic!
Great piece. Thanks for posting it.
The true violoniste
the 3 thumbs down must be hilarry Hahn, Joshua Bell and Midori... can't touch this guy..
Oh ! Enfin quelqu'un qui a des oreilles !! Merci !
If I could give this 100 thumbs up I would
Hoy hay gente que tiene una técnica impresionante pero cuánta falta de alma a veces solo es un estudio de la obra con una cuestión emocional totalmente estructurada muchas veces es el ego de la persona el que solo quiere mostrarse sacando un sonido potente donde no dice nada, este hombre es el alma en cada notala dulzura, la pureza, la ternura, la tragedia, todo en un músico increíble
WOW!!! I didnt even know this violinist!
Bravo!!!!!!!!
Прекрасно!
Yes Erik, Christian Ferras is just the greatest violist of all times....
www.associationferras.fr
Muy lindo! 💝
Otherworldly phrasing. Gold standard. Aaron Rosand a close second, completely different Ysaye-like interpretation though.
à notre époque, là , en 2019, qui dira :" je connais une plus belle interprétation du poème de Chausson que celle de Ferras ? " celui là mentira ou sera de mauvaise foi.
s'agit-il de la version de 1953 ?
Yes.
His only other recording of this work is the 1955 live recording under Bigot with the Orchestre national de Belgique. That live recording is less self-indulgent - it is nearly 4 minutes shorter - but less polished (and with lower audio quality)..
FERRAS WAS AMONG MY FAVORITE VIOLINISTS, BUT NO ONE PLAYS THIS PIECE AS WELL AS HEIFETZ PLAYED IT. FERRAS COMMITTED SUICIDE, BUT I CANNOT FIND OUT WHY & HOW. HE WAS ONLY 49 YEARS OLD.
Ferras suffered lifelong depression.
YES. I JUST WONDER HOW HE COMMITTED SUICIDE. HE PLAYED WITH A VERY RICH TONE & A LOT OF GUSTO.
He threw himself from a 10th floor window
Too bad it had to happen, but unfortunately top artists are hypersensitive. Think of Van Gogh's end which was apparent early on in his work. Tchaikovsky himself took arsenic after the first performance of Pathetique.
THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION FOR A LONG TIME. HOW DID YOU FIND IT?
This goes further even than Menuhin under Enescu.
Abandon all hope ye who enter here.
il joue en vérité.
1979
Dommage que l’Orchestre ne soit pas du tout à la hauteur !
His vibrato is French
please explain the difference with others violonists countries? (russian, anglo-saxon).
Yes, he was French; your vibration is Idiot.
@@deperonnet happy to. Btw, since it’s been a year I hope you and yours are all well. Sincerely. Just being silly. Obviously Ferras is French but there are a few violinists who I feel truly capture the feeling of listening to French music. I know little of French composition outside of this, some Debussy, Faure etc. Heifetz and Enescu also seem to have this ability to put a different spirit into the music. Heifetz’ La Plus Que Lente is a great listen/watch if you haven’t seen it
@@alexpate8626 it is unfair to compare anybody to Heifetz or Enescu ;-) but Ferras would have been so great if he won’t had some problems…
@@alexpate8626 as i told you Alex, it is unfair to compare any violonist to Heifetz or Enescu who are the greatest among the great. I think that if Christian Ferras would have less health problems he would have been one of the greatest too. Among the great I have a particular devotion for Leonid Kogan and Zino Francescatti.
impressionante. Il finale e da mozzafiato. Tanto sensibile. Peccato che suona un' orchestra di merda. Incluso G.Sebastian!
No esz mi interpretacion favorita
There will never be anyone other than Ginette Neveu to play this work. It as much hers as was The Enigma Variations to Jaqueline Du pre. They both were born to play those two compositions.
Penelope White let’s let them share the piece; I wouldn’t want to be without either
Heifetz
The Enigma Variations, by Edward Elgar, is a work for full orchestra. Perhaps you meant the Cello Concerto?
Du Pre's was a highly individual, very free and emotional interpretation. Some like it, some do not. You are of course entitled to your opinion of it.
But no interpreter "owns" a musical work, in the sense that their interpretation is forever the definitive one, and nothing that comes after it can possibly be of equal value. We do not inter the score alongside the artist, so that it can never be played again. The composer has gifted us the work. He has set it free, and it belongs to all of us.
You are certainly referring to the Cello concerto; no one can play it lie DuPré
le seul violoniste auquel je ne préfère pas une femme
Too slow.
Go to bed then
@@Hermanhub Idiot.
Obviously you didn’t listen: go to bed, eat waffles, drink beer whatever...this music is not for you.
@@Hermanhub How stupid can you be? If I say it is too slow it is because it is too slow, understood? Maybe it was acceptable in Christian Ferras' time but not anymore today. I am certain already now I have more musical feeling and understanding than you, so you are the one that ought to go to bed, moron.