an inktroduction & tribute to
Leonid Kogan
by Ng Yeuk FanSeveral years ago, I was at my usual haunt - a CD shop specialising in classical and audiophile stuff, when the sales assistant-friend I had become so familiar with handed me a disc and asked me for my opinion about it. I looked at the brown ugly covers with much skepticism. It was a recording of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto played by Leonid Kogan on the Arlechinno label. I had already heard countless numbers of this concerto and was in possession of several rather good recordings.
[I flipped on the S$300 headphones... an additional service provided by the now defunct HI-FI Corner, famed for their service and no-limit listen-before-you-buy policy at no additional costs - and about the S$300 headphones, they provided at least 12 for their listening stations in a shop the size of my bed room!!! Major shops should follow suite if they care to earn the business of audiophiles and ...]
....to my amazement - "???? [gasp] - who on earth is this Leonid Kogan?"
Leonid Borisovitch Kogan (1924-1982) was born in Dnepropetrosk, a small Russian town. At age ten, having learnt the basics of violin from his photographer-father who was also an amateur violonist, the family moved to Moscow so that young Kogan could receive tutoring from the famed Leopold Auer.
Taken under his wings, Kogan developed such excellent purity of tone such as to rival Mischa Elman - his mastery of technique more secure than the senior violinist notwithstanding. Kogan quickly came to be counted among the most famed of Auer's students - mentioned in one breath with the likes of David Oistrakh and Eduard Gratch. He toured all of the USSR at 17 years, winning 1st prizes both in Russia and in Europe, and not long later, followed his successes with debuts in Paris, London and the USA.
How would I describe the Kogan tone? Kogan plays with the fearlessness of Heifetz, but with that added to the remarkable tone - which is larger and mightier than Elman's, creates something distinctly Kogan. There can be no comparisons here. It is something about that bowing arm that draws from his Guarnerius an unmistakable propelling tone that is even throughout all registers. High notes do not thin out and there is no weeping mellowness on his G-string.
Altogether, it is a beautiful cross between magnetic brillance and soulful wood - truly a unique violin voice; and regarding tone, it is well-known that tone alone makes or breaks a violinist in his quest for legendary status - all things else equal. Just by listening to the Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky recordings, one gathers that Kogan is a sensitive musician - there is enough madness in the Prokofiev while his Tchaikovsky balances virtuosity with tenderness.
Kogan was made a professor of the Moscow Conservatoire in 1963. As a futher testament to his greatness, there is no shortage of works inspired by and dedicated to him. Concerto works include those of Knipper, Krennibov, Karayev and Bunin, plus Khachaturian's Concerto-Rhapsody (1961); sonatas include those by Levitin and Vainberg. He was also the first Soviet violinist to play and record the Berg Violin Concerto.
Leonid Kogan married Elizaveta Gilels, the sister of Emil Gilels. Together with him and Rostropovich, Kogan is said to have explored the trio repertory with great success.
Fate has it that this unfortunate violinstist was to die prematurely on 17 November 1982 at the age of 58, while travelling in a train at the Mytischa railway station. It is fortunate however, that what little this giant of the violin has recorded has been preserved and we can hear him on the Arlecchino label.
There are more than 30 albums in the Arlechinno Kogan series, comprising most major concertos, 'live' concerts and rare works. Though the packaging of the series dedicated to Kogan is far from being 'up-to-date' and is definitely not eye-catching, the music in them is stunning and it is a living testament to the great flair and musical genius of the late Leonid Kogan.
Further, each album is packed full (70 minutes or so) with multiple recordings of similar works recorded at different venues and concerts, included as bonuses after the main offerings. They are remarkable for the added insight one can make about this great musician - this is probably the only way we can fathom the 'live' concert 'experience' that his audiences were privy to. Sound quality is above average for that period with noted engineering to enhance the violin sound. Poorer sounding 'live' recordings have been restored to make the best of the Kogan tone - which when placed forwards catapults the venonmous tone that Kogan draws from his Guarneri del Ges (1726) to orgasmic levels.
Ng Yeuk Fan brews all types of coffee, Spinelli, Boncafe, Star-Bucks, Fauchon and del-GesuLEONID KOGAN performs: Prokofiev (Concerto No.2 and Sonatas) | Tchaikovsky: Complete Music for Violin and Orchestra | Music for Violin, Guitar & Piano
Back to the Classical Index!... or read previous classical music reviews and features at the InkpotOther classical music reviews by this or any other writer can be obtained from the InkVault by doing a key word search with the writer's name.
337: 10.11.98 ŠNg Yeuk Fan
Readers' Comments
From: Murphy (mezzo99@ms28.hinet.net / Thursday, March 11, 1999 at 02:20:39)
I love Kogan very much . I 'm glad to see there is a web site belong to him and philharmonic who like his music .
From: Gerard (gerard_chia@hotmail.com / Saturday, August 21, 1999 at 23:41:02)
Its really great to know that there's now a page on one of my violin idols for the longest time. His recordings are not only amazing.... most of them are "live" recordings from real concerts, that i think is what makes it awesome. Folks who are serious about the violin should check out his "Art" at least once. I especially recommend his recording of the Shostikovich Violin Concerto No. 1
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