You know a piece is difficult when the soloist plays the tutti section to warm up

it’s unfortunate that this concerto isn’t often played. It is definitely a most unusual composition, with its ridiculously complex passages, with it not being in an open string key, rarely used techniques, such as downbow flying staccato, and many more. This concerto should always be remembered as physical evidence that unlike some other Violinist composers, Wieniawski was not only fantastic at composing for the Violin, he was capable of creating fantastic compositions for full orchestra and solo violin. He was very much a gifted man.

he has improved a lot in the last years, you can notice a musical maturity in him, which is great...a fuckin difficult concerto but so emotional, wieniawski was a damn intense poet

That was such an outstanding performance, he played unbelievably. There's a reason this concerto doesn't get performed a lot, and Ray just nailed it.

Every part of the concerto I. Allegro. Moderato 0:00 - the opening of the concerto 0:21 - tutti start 2:59 - build up for solo entrance 3:14 - explosive solo entrance 4:24 - mix of power & calmness 5:25 - skip-pie part 6:34 - slow & calming part 7:40 - bright part 8:07 - triumphant part 9:56 - grand ending of phrase 10:55 - cadenza start 13:00 - similar to 6:34 but with flute 13:36 - hopeful & pleading part 13:58 - anxious & panicky part 14:25 - most epic part 14:57 - last phrase of 1st mvmt 15:30 - ending of 1st mvmt ll. Preghiera. Larghetto 16:18 - the beginning 18:01 - soft solo start 19:15 - same melody but emptier 20:24 - hopeful part 21:00 - quiet ending of 2nd mvmt III. Rondo. Allegro Giocoso 21:24 - the beginning 21:33 - solo start 22:20 - powerful part 23:02 - cute ending of phrase 23:16 - warm part 24:31 - calm & light part 25:52 - main theme return 26:34 - 23:16 but different notes 27:15 - most beautiful part 27:40 - panicky part 28:26 - intense ending of the Concerto

Like a fish in water or a bird in the air, Ray Chen is squarely in his element in this concerto. It is indeed one of the best interpretations of this crazy difficult piece. It's rarely played in public for various reasons that I won't bore your with. Suffice to say that I'm impressed with Chen's wizardry. Bravo!!

I'd pay hundreds of thousands to go back in time and see Wieniawski play, compose, and improvise. That would be stunning beyond words.

I saw this live ... I was so impressed with everyones playing!

This concerto is so freaking gorgeous. And Ray Chen always delivers an amazing performance.

TwoSet has made me (noob to claasical music) appreciate the talent, devotion, and professionalism required to play this piece. While I do not not all the techniques, I have a greater understanding of how much I don not know!

I'm not a violin player or any other instrument player, I'm just a listener. I should say this concerto sounds like fighting with dragon and dancing with it in an absolute harmony in same time. Ray Chen plays it and fights it really good but my mind cannot comprehend how da hell Wieniawski composed this. Whatta genius.

I can't believe I'm only just now realizing how long Ray's pinkies are...

Ray is so sweet to give his flowers to the lady in the first row. What a nice treat for her.

you know its good when they clap between movements

just when i think he's already perfect, he gets even better

15:50 Ray and the conductor were saying "hey, this is a good audience, they aren't clapping in between movements". And then they clapped.

I’d be so distracted if I were an orchestra member with him as soloist - torn between playing my part and wanting to focus on his performance.

Most underrated concerto ever! Ray nailed it!

Twoset violin should react to this, to point out why this is so difficult, therefore rarely (almost never, really) played.

Waw, upbow stacc,nailing those high notes, even double harmonics. All hail ray.

Hearing that concerto and seeing Chen's performance I know why the earth is still spinning and mankind is not crushed by a meteorite yet because God must be enjoying this so much. :)

I got a ticket for this concert and am so happy right now, that they put it on youtube for me to relive this great experience. It was so fantastic! Thanks to all the participants.

Brilliant, natural talent plus true dedication and a big heart! Look at him give away his bouquet in the end to a granny.

I keep coming back to this. Despite the out of tune tenths, pretty much everything Ray does with this piece more than makes up for it. The sheer sound and virtuosity he is able to achieve with this piece is outmatched.

Someone on here criticized his intonation--if that commenter is reading this: welcome to real life, pal. Every solo performance is not going to be perfectly squeaky clean. Ray is human, not a robot. ESPECIALLY with this concerto that relies almost entirely on technical finesse to even work. Every video or recording that an artist puts out is edited and pitch-adjusted to some degree, and it's all for views and following, just like any other celebrity platform. The imperfections are part of being an artist and don't need ABSOLUTE MERCILESS scrutiny every time.

A historic performance. It takes a lot of inner energy to do what he did with ease and a smile on his face. An exceptional soloist.

Sometimes I find an artist's performance so complete there is no need to listen to anyone else's performance: Eureka! Chen's intensity is gripping and intoxicating!!

This should be in the repertoire of every listener who loves violin concertos. Intense, fiery, immensely demanding. Ray, you are legendary! Fiddler from Melb

Brett should play this for the next livestream

Anything Ray plays becomes the best interpretation of the piece...

Today is Henryk Wieniawski 185 birthday. Brilliant virtuoso and composer lived a vibrant life, not affraid to take many risks, died too early. Happy birthday Henryk!

Jeez, you can sometimes hear how hard the music is. Especially the jumps or chords that you have to play so high up, Ray is doing such a good job of making them speak. Right when it feels like he might make a mistake he proves me wrong and absolutely nails this piece without losing any of its quality to his own interpretation. Well done Mr. Chen.

A lively and powerful performance from Ray Chen! His interpretation of the music is moving.

I don’t know how it can be possible but Ray plays everything the exact way I want to hear them. Every single time

Screw that "Don't applaud between movements" rules, that's composer's business. A great Virtuoso like Ray totally worth a giant applause after such BRAVO 1st movement! Leave this comment right after listened to 1st movement.

Amazing, so many linglings in 1 orchestra. Pure joy

One of, if not the most powerful and intense solo openings of all concertos I’ve heard. Well done Ray!

Can we just appreciate how much fun Ray’s having with that third movement

The clarinettist is surely enjoying himself playing this piece! Superb!

I think Ray’s aggressive playing style nowadays is perfect for this piece

What a gifted Player and what a brilliant composer !!! BRAVO RAY CHEN, you do your teacher a great justice here.

When I listen to this I always get the feeling that this performance/piece sounded way better live in person, with certain qualities of the music just needing the solid, reverberating tones of a high quality concert hall rather than a small speaker.

the end there from 27:00 onwards... just incredible, you can see wieniawski's talent in both playing the violin and composing orchestral pieces

Here Ray Chen clearly shows his excellent can. He plays the violin in perfection with incomparable expression. He has also become incomparable. Great!

我最近一直在欣賞您的出色演奏，這首作品實在令人驚嘆不已！其難度數倍于其它作品（包括帕格尼尼）！我非常欣賞您的音樂感和舞台感染力！我的心隨著琴聲舞動著… 旋律優美感人令人人回味無窮…..我也生活在紐約多年，也曾是專業音樂人，希望有机會在卡內基或林肯中心去聽您的天才演奏🙏🙏👍👍

Ray and Benny Tseng are my fave violin bros... On point all the time... The emotions just pour out in their performances.

Wonderful command over a devilishly difficult piece. Ray's slender, Paganini-length fingers are a great advantage here, and he is a sensation on stage. There is always some humour, coupled to great facial expressions, and an appreciation of the audience comes through every time. Luckily, I have heard him many times, and will try to catch as many of his future performances as I can. Of course, mid-piece applause (a purist's bane) could not be contained :).

I honestly don't understand how this video only has 589k views lol. There aren't even that many recordings of this concerto anywher. Ray's performance is superb.

What an exceptional violinist! Absolutely amazing!

Брависсимо! Как долго я искала этот концерт! Невероятно красивая мелодия.Талантливый композитор!

I always felt butterflies swirling around my stomach whenever I listened to Violin concerto of rare talents, like that of Ray Chen's! What a genius violinist!

Not only impressive, filled with emotions. Loved it!!

Upon all the concerto's in the repertoire, this for me is the most beautiful. I have tears in my eyes every single time I listen to it. And Ray just made it even more beautiful 😭😭😭

Oh my !! This is first time I am watching, listening !!!!! It’s beautiful and dynamic violin concerto , Ray plays beautifully with full of power and emotions , I haven’t watched his concerts for some time , I am glad that found this wonderful concert , many thanks uploading !!!!!!

I keep coming back again and again to this video…perfection!👌🏽

Wie's No.1 is among the most difficult violin concertos, just the first 10th double stop is a killer

My jaw just hit the ground! Just superb!

The second movement always sends chills down my spine with how warm and pretty it is..

Magnifique ! J’adore ce concerto. Merci à cet immense interprète et à cet excellent orchestre de m’avoir comblé avec cette interprétation. Une musicalité hyper profonde alliée à une technique sans faille. Du très très grand violon 🎻 bravo !

I have been waiting for this!He played bits of this on his Instagram account and it sounded so good.This performance is too good for words!

It was the most ethereal and lyrical performance !bravo ray chen, just bravo!

I’m beyond words!! Most breathtaking performance I’ve ever experienced!

When I first heard this performance, I thought it had too many intonation errors - but the more I listen to this, the more I LOVE it! It has become my go-to music every time I'm using the computer!

I never thought Ray Chen was this good until I had a chance to play this piece myself. It is so extremely difficult I don't want to spend my lifetime learning it. And that's why it's rarely performed. It was easy for Wieniawski to put it on paper. Maybe he could even play it himself.

I love how hes just performing with so much joy, it's really captivating!

Music for our troubled souls and Ray Chen brings it to us. Just fantastic. Thank you Ray.

I love this. Ray, you are an incredible violinist! Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

Geniales meisterwerk von wieniawski. Ray Chen schenkt oma noch einen blumenstrauß. Ach ist die welt nicht schön

Omg that tone!I will continue to listen to this,this is outstanding

Okay... What an expression from Ray...This is the level of music where you can put your feelings into your instrument, and you can communicate your audience and watchers.

A true artist....no playing safe and 100% centred....so many performances can sound so safe, secure and technically correct....and of course tasteful....stunningly performed....the orchestra and conductor enjoyed the full musical experience....so happy to have heard and seen this performance.....thank you.

Did I just see Ray play along with the orchestra in the beginning? Gotta admit must be fun being one with the orchestra

I once played piano for a violinist who wanted to play it because "everyone does the 2nd Concerto", He was a huge guy with giant hands so he had no trouble at all with the 10ths but he had to slow down for the double stops at around 5:30, which I thought was funny. I really enjoyed playing it, and I think it is quite beautiful actually, and it's nice to hear it played by someone at this level.

Wow! What a beautifully composed piece- so glad this popped up in my feed!❤

Ahh such an amazing concerto. Had me glued to my seat in ecstasy. Ray Chen adding that touch is the cherry on top! Beautiful setting, and great audience! Wish I was there! Thank you for recording and uploading for all of us to enjoy!

The tenths on such level right at the beginning of solo part just kill 99% of violinist...and the rest part will give a hundred heart attack...

This is incredible! Beyond words

Ray, thank u for sharing ur great passion in music with us

The second movement never failed to make me teary with its romantic and pure melody every time I come back to listen to it, playing all the notes on the G string really sounds like a singing voice, and with Ray’s beautiful vibrato, impossible to not get emotional

crazy intonation and speed at 27:59 absolutely stunning ray chen

Yooo FINALLY! :D (I also love how he plays the intro w/the orchestra)

Bravo, outstanding performance! I had tickets for a concert with Ray in the end of Oktober but due to Coronavirus it was cancelled. Recordings like this really help to get through those times and I'm very grateful to live in a time where you can listen to such beautiful recordings on demand. Thanks to Ray and the Kölner Philharmonie for uploading this wonderful recording.

19th century mind in blown 🤯 Brilliant playing, Ray!

I keep coming back to this recording

the best always. what an unbelievable performance.

Bravissimo, maestro Chen ! You are glorious.

Inigualable, genial, gran talento...Ray Chen, me dejas sin palabras ......cerrar los ojos y escuchar..... maravilloso

there's something i strangely like about him playing the opening with the orchestra. am I assuming correctly that that wasn't written?

This is a legendary perform Mad respect for Ray

Great job Ray! Sounds awesome.

Thank you so much for posting this!

That sacrilegious clapping after the 1st movement! Though i get it. Ray Chens playing is just flawless!

What a great melody maker Wieniawski is !

why have i never heard this ! Brilliant performer, brilliant composition

I'd call it a triumph. I really enjoyed the performance. Bravo!

Korrekt der 1. Kommentar. Wie geil. Danke wdr. Ton und bild perfekt. Satzbezeichnungen drin ,top. Dazu ein genialer violinist.

LOL, the people who hear some intonation; why do you think most virtuosi avoid this concerto - because it's a walk in the park? The great Heifetz, who I am sure could have played everything by Paganini with ease, never recorded any of his concerti; why? He was very guarded about his reputation for perfection, and I posit that if he made one slip during recording, critics would seize on that one fault for 200 years. BTW, on a side note, one of Kreisler's pedagogues told him that the great Wieniawski played with what we would now call the modern vibrato, which was pretty rare in those days. Ysaye, who followed him had it. Wieniawski must have been a very unique musician, especially in his time. Music is to be enjoyed - enjoy the performance and the music and remember not to put vinegar in your drink before the concert . Remember the great Chopin; some of his own works he could not play very well; he deferred to Franz Liszt, who reportedly played them better. For my part, I'm enjoying this to the full - wolf notes be damned. I can see that Mr. Chen enjoys playing it, too. It's all about enjoyment, isn't it?

its amazing the orchestra sounds beautiful , coming to RAY he dominated the full orchestra and he was technicaly outstanding , this concerto sounds great

This is AMASING. Virtuoso.... Im the former violin player and this is outstanding performance. BRAVOOOOOO

So many "experts" commenting on Ray's technique and performance. Yet, he's the one standing on that stage, not them, and they never will. It's so easy to criticize what you can't do yourself.