Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition 1967

The top 3 prizewinners at the 1967 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition were:

1) Philippe Hirschhorn (Paganini 1)
2) Stoïka Milanova (Ravel Tzigane)
3) Gidon Kremer (Elgar Concerto)

When I listen to the recordings I can't help but wonder what has happened to violin playing in the past 40+ years. People often speak nostalgically of the "Golden Age" of violinists (1930s and 40s)--how you could instantly tell apart, say, Kreisler from Heifetz--but even in recordings from the 1960s individuality is way more discernible than nowadays.

Hirschhorn's Paganini is brilliant--no safety nets, and absolutely assured, while still managing somehow to stay light. He deserved to win. He also deserved more recognition during his lifetime, tragically cut short by a brain tumor at age 50.

I'd never heard Milanova before--judging by her strong, gutsy playing, she should not have subsequently fallen into obscurity.

But the stand-out recording for me is Kremer's. He was only 20. He plays the first movement like his life depends on it. There are moments of raw eccentricity in II and III (he has since become a mature eccentric).

Here's a brief excerpt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDfLi7-QHZ0&feature=related