I think the purpose is not to define which one is the greatest (what "great" means ?) but why I love one version or another. We can often read on youtube : the best ever, the greatest of all time of the universe... Life and music aren't hit-parades. We all have different sensibilities... In this case the purpose was to make this version available to listening because it exists, I really love it and it wasn't on youtube. Enjoy !

Divine rendition. Such grace (after all the chaconne is a dance) and sense musical discourse.

he's got a really gentle sound.

ビブラートがさざ波のようで、とてもきれい。大自然を空想しながら聴くと気持ちがいい。アルチュールって、あの詩人と同じ名前だよね。関係ないけど・・・。個人的な感想だけど、名演は詩情が伴っていないと生まれてこない。絵画を鑑賞するのも同じだと思います。異論はあるだろうけど、子供では無理です。

One of my idols growing up. Wore out his Mozart recordings. I haven''t heard this version of this piece.

What true artist you are!! Didn’t want u to stop playing!!

I really can't tell wich Chaconne of the greats is the greatest. They all have there own very unique and wonderful beauty to it :)

C'est vraiment beau.

Wonderful recording. He played this on his Guarneri that he played before acquiring the General Dupont Strad which was used on his Phillips recordings.

No any other violinist in the world's sound quality, phrasing, dominancy and sonority count to my ears when Arthur Grumiaux starts playing the Violin; No doubt he was the BEST Violinist of the 20th Century.

I needed this today - the heart is indeed a lonely hunter. Thank you.

Heavenly performance.

LOVELY!

Very nice!!♡☆

this Dickinson's poem fits perfectly with the soul of this interpretation. Something like the sad gracefulness of resignation... Thank you for posting !

Merci, Maître ,

Beautiful sound and 'baroque' interpretation. Surely with an italian violin...made in Cremona...

@venusianagent: THANKS A TON for putting this up!

BRAVISIMOOOOO¡¡¡¡¡¡

Grumiaux' version is interesting for being the only one, I think, among the major "traditional" fiddlers, NOT to play the much extrapolated versions derived from Ferdinand David's 1867 edition (like the edition of Leopold Charlier which is the one most ordinarily played, with its violin techniques closer to Ysaye than to 17th or 18th Century violin), but to have gone back to the original manuscript kept at the State Library of Dresden. It is certainly less virtuosic and romantic, but, despite the piano accompaniment (kept very lean), definitely more authentic.

@octcerviolin : Hello ! I don't know on which score Grumiaux based his interpretation. But something is sure : it's exactly the same as the one published in 1966 (10 years after the Grumiaux recording...) by Diethard Hellemann for Bärenreiter and still available (Hortus Musicus 100). In the preface Mr Hellemann says that "his" version is taken from a manuscript of Dresden library (Musica 2037 R/1). I hope it can help you.

Something like Gods playing !!! LES

Thanks! Very interesting, I came from Zino Francescettis version with its wonderful rich and bold tone, Grumiaux is more delicate lighter. Both versions are so beautiful. I highly recommend Grumiauxs Bach Violin sonatas with obligatory cembalo.

I think this is another elegant and romantic way of expression! It is different from Heifetz's strong and affectionate way of expression!

Thanks!

In the original, this recording lasts 12:25, and this recording was processed on a computer

This is not Grumiaux's 1956 Version, But other violinist. You can recognize that this version has fast tempo than Grumiaux's one. (Grumiaux's version has duration_ 12:13 seconds) And this performance is rather light and not has rich and deep sound that grumiaux always has.

To the best of my knowledge, this is a sort of original unembellished version. Sorry I don't remember the publisher, but I used to play this version.

@venusianagent Then it may be the original version of the Chaconne, not the version in which it was transformed into a violin showpiece by Ferdinand David and others. Thanks for putting it up!

@parachutes2005 : it's our pleasure !!! :-)

the best

I know well all the versions of this piece, and this performance is one of the most faithful to the original manuscript...even to much, since Grumiaux ( but is it him really?) plays many chords as written in the manuscript, but they clearly should be performed as arpeggios.

the cd/itunes ref are now in the description of the video ! :-)

Is it just me or did he play a “C” and not a “C flat” at 1:34

You're welcome !

it´s grumiaux version? because it´s not David, Anzelloti, Auer or Charlier. Thanks for putting this !

on which release is this recording/where can i buy it?

What happened with this sound track? This isn't the Grumiaux sound.

What happened with the audio? This NOT the sound of Grumiaux. Vibrato and phrasing.....

This doesn’t sound like Grumiaux to me. The vibrato is too fast and the lower strings don’t have the warm, horn-like quality that Grumiaux is known for. Nevertheless, the violinist, whoever it is, is magnificent. I enjoyed listening to this off the beaten path version of the Vitali Chaconne.

The violín is superb. But I prefer an organ than piano in this piece

Все хорошо, но не люблю я фортепиано!

Superb playing. I think in thé release speed slightly increased though pitch stays thé same. I Know his playing and normally vibrato a bit more relaxed due to increase of speed while pitch thanfully correct.

No any other violinist in the world's sound quality, phrasing, dominancy and sonority count to my ears when Arthur Grumiaux starts playing the Violin; No doubt he was the BEST Violinist of the 20th Century.