How good IS Josh Bell?

Question

Does his fame come from his involvement in movie soundtracks, or is it well earned through his brilliance?

I'm not a violinist, so It is difficult for me to judge one.

Matt

You don't HAVE to be polite either, but it would be an improvement.

Answer 1

Josh Bell is a good fiddle player, no question about that, but he IS overrated, due mainly to marketing hype and because he's a pretty boy.

He plays the notes beautifully but I often have doubts that the MUSIC is really there. He also does not have much integrity - he will go where the money is, sometimes at the expense of artistic values. One such example is that the renowned British composer Nicholas Maw was commissioned to write a concerto for him. The result was one of the great violin concertos of the 20th century. Bell recorded it but soon after ceased performing it because it wasn't earning him enough money in live performances.

There are better violinists around and I think that time will be Bell's best judge.

Answer 2

Thanks for your question Matt. I had never heard of Josh Bell; and I'm a long time classical music lover.

So I went to You Tube and clicked him on. And my answer to your question is - and I don't think any sincere person would disagree - definitely brilliant: no doubt about it.

The only thing that bothered me, and it was probably because of the close up view, was his double chin.

Should this interfere with his rise to fame as a great violinist? Probably not: but then again, maybe, perhaps.

But the bottom line is, or should be, it shouldn't matter.

Just thought I would put this out for pondering, or for whatever it may be worth.

I don't know how much exposure you have had to great violinist, but if you haven't seen/heard Jascha Heifetz(Sp-?)play, you should. He's the greatest of the last one-hundred years or so in my opinion.

And again, thanks for your question, and humor,

Wotan

Answer 3

He is good. He has a good technique of the instrument. He knows the instrument. He plays with a good sound, full of harmonics. It's OK.
But I don't like his musical approach. It's too "commercial" (maybe it's not the right word, but I hope you'll understand the meaning). Some passages are not written in the tempos he plays. But the speed is for the public. He is substituting the musical meaning, the inner tension of the musical phrase with the speed. And for being so spectacular, the public loves him.
I saw him this autumn, in "George Enescu Festival" (September, Bucharest, Romania). He was replacing Maxim Vengherov in Ceaikovski's Violin concerto. The best part of his "show" was the last movement of the concerto. He was brilliant (in the sense of being a virtuoso, of course). The first moment was OK, but the second... I didn't liked. Not a single beat (I mean... bit). He was playing very mechanical.

Answer 4

Joshua Bell is one of the top violinists in his class, which would consist of Sarah Chang, Gil Shaham, Maxim Vengerov.
Although not so great with the actual serious classical repertoire, he is very good with the "show off" types of pieces.

Answer 5

I saw him this summer and he was awesome.

I can't really speak on how well he is compared to others (cause I'm not a violinist either), but it was great watching and hearing him perform.

Answer 6

The answer is very good. But not as good as say Maxim Vengerov or for that matter Gil Shaham.

Answer 7

Can't say anything about Josh Bell, but I love your sense of humor.

You get a star.

Answer 8

He's a genius, and has been since childhood, I play classical guitar, but I also love violin and I've been watching his career since he was very young....and he is a great player !!!!!!!!

Answer 9

you dont have to put your name at the bottom of the question