Product Details

• Actors: Shlomo Mintz, Isaac Stern, Zubin Mehta
• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: August 26, 1993
• Run Time: 48 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302903912
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,383 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Running time: 48 minutes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Soaring lyricism :) Weak production :(, December 26, 2002

By 

Scott68 (Columbus, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mendelssohn Violin Concerto & Bach Concerto for Two Violins / Mintz, Stern [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I still remember the first time I heard Schlomo Mintz play the Paganini Caprices, I was totally hooked from then on. I then found his Sibelius/Dvorak CD to be completely peerless, his emotion, tone, and phrasing have put him in the all time violin hall of fame for me so of course I had to buy this. It is so sad that many of his recordings have gone out of print, especially when I consider most of his recordings are alot better than what has been coming out since.

This video is a display of completely effortless technique, rhythmic sensitivity, a wonderful and perfect vibrato, and intelligent and emotional phrasing. It is apparent that every note came from inside him, every note played has meaning and is played with undeniable conviction.

Of course Zubin Mehta is simply rock solid and brilliant as usual. I found the Bach double to be rather dull compared to the Stern Perlman video performance.

I am aware that Kyung Wha Chung made a video of the Mendelssohn but I have never seen it because it is unbelievably rare and difficult to get so I have no other Mendelssohn video to compare this to.

The only reason I give this video four stars is because of the poor recording quality. Mintz's tone becomes thin and buried behind the orchestra forcing me to strain to hear him in many sections. Do not misunderstand that his tone is wonderful when recorded properly.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most ravishingly beautiful playing we mortals can hope to hear..., January 22, 2006

By 

Helena Dolphin (Holland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mendelssohn Violin Concerto & Bach Concerto for Two Violins / Mintz, Stern [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This VHS contains two of the most famous works of the violin literature and, before I write this review, I can already say that it is a "must" for every violinist and/or violin lover.
Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto is played remarkably splendid by the young Shlomo Mintz; those who know his performances will agree with me that his interpretations have only grown since then, but already this interpretation exceeds all performances of Mendelssohn that I have heard on recording or live. It is romantic, virtuoso, profound and honest.
No wonder that a critic of the Milwaukee Sentinel once wrote about Shlomo Mintz: "The most ravishingly beautiful playing we mortals can hope to hear".
Bach's Double Concerto is a romantic reading of the work; a reading that people who prefer the authentic way of playing might not appreciate, but for me it is a document; a dialogue between two great personalities; a dialogue between the older generation and the younger generation. Again: an absolute "must"!

5.0 out of 5 stars Mint Mintz, January 30, 2004

By 

Rod Saunders (Tulsa, Ok) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mendelssohn Violin Concerto & Bach Concerto for Two Violins / Mintz, Stern [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I bought this video just to have the opportunity to see a professional playing Mendelssohn. I never heard Shlomo play before, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this effortless performance of a classic. The quality of the video and audio is good by 1983 standards. It was especially nice to see this performance done with (a bearded) Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic. You get a real sense of how important the arts are to the Israeli people. Until a more state of the art production from an equally gifted violinist comes along this is the best you could hope for.