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Best Violinist in the World of All Time – Top 17 You Need to Know

best violinist in the world

The history of violin playing is populated with overachievers, savants, and genius. While undoubtedly there are many great violin players who we will, sadly, never get to hear, below are some of the players we know have had a huge impact on the instrument.

Nicolo Paganini

Born: October 27, 1782
Died: May 27, 1840

Nicolo Paganini has been cited many times a benchmark in violin technique. Born in 1782 in Genoa, Nicolo first learned the mandolin from his father, before moving on to the violin at age 7. His talents were soon discovered by his tutors, and it is said that he very quickly surpassed them.

Though he had played for Napoleon’s sister, he was not very well known until his debut at La Scala in 1813. He would be honored by Pope Leo XII, and these days is revered for having established the violin as a solo instrument.

Nicolo Paganini: Opere Per Chitarra Sola by Eros Roselli

Joseph Joachim

Born: June 28, 1831
Died: August 15, 1907

Joseph Joachim was for in 1831, in what was then part of the Kingdom of Hungary. After his family moved to Budapest, he began studying violin at age five with Stanislaw Serwaczynski, who was believed at the time to be the best violinist in the region. After showing a great deal of promise, he was accepted to the Vienna Conservatory and was taught by Joseph Bohm.

At only twelve years of age, he would debut in London at the Philharmonic Society, under the conductorship of Felix Mendelssohn. He would also eventually be paid a good wage by King Georg of Hanover in return for playing and conducting at state concerts. He would die in 1907.

Symphonies CDs by Joseph Joachim

Pablo de Sarasate

Born: March 10, 1844
Died: August 15, 1907

The son of an Artillery bandmaster, Pablo de Sarasota was always destined to be a revered violin player. The legend goes that the very first time he picked up his father dusty violin he was able to play a passage of music perfectly. After a series of lessons, he would eventually be admitted to the royal court in Madrid as he developed as a musician. At age twelve, he would be sent to study in the Paris Conservatoire.

He became a favorite of Europe’s late nineteenth century composers, gaining favor with Bizet, Saint-Saens and even music critic and playwright George Bernard Shaw. After his death, works by Saint-Saens, Lalo and Bruch were dedicated to him.

Zigeunerweisen (rec. 1904) by Pablo de Sarasate

Eugène Ysaÿe

Born: July 16, 1858
Died: May 12, 1931

Belgian violinist Eugene Ysaye is regarded as something of a legendary and enigmatic figure. It was said that the violin he played had supernatural origins and had been passed down through generations of his family. Whatever the truth of the story, there’s little doubt that he continues to command great interest and admiration, his compositions played to this day.

He was among the first to play for the Berlin Philharmonic before it was even known as such. Though his playing was legendary, a lot of modern violin playing is owed to his developed technique in teaching. As he grew older, he was known as an important teacher and conductor and, after turning down the New York Philharmonic, became the music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 1922.

6 Sonatas for Solo Violin by Eugène Ysaÿe and Oscar Shumsky

Fritz Kreisler

Born: February 2, 1875
Died: January 29, 1962

Austrian born Fritz Kreisler is known as one of the most expressive and unique violinists of all time. He studied in the Vienna Conservatory under composer Anton Bruckner and was also tutored in Paris by Delibes and Massart.

Disheartened by the refusal of the Vienna Philharmonic to admit him, he took a brief break from performing. However, by 1910 he had regained his position and performed the premiere of Elgar’s Violin Concerto. His last public performance was in 1947. As well as a virtuoso player, he was known also as a composer of operettas and even film soundtracks such as one for the 1936 movie The King Steps Out.

Itzhak Perlman plays Fritz Kreisler CD

Jascha Heifetz

Born: February 2, 1901
Died: December 10, 1987

Born in Lithuania in 1901, Jewish-American violinist Jascha Heifetz traveled to the States in his teens. Having learned violin since the tender age of two, he had already played in much of Europe and Russia, eventually settling in San Francisco in 1917. Soon after, he made his debut at Carnegie Hall. He caused a stir amongst his contemporaries, with even Fritz Kreisler remarking that “We might as well take our fiddles and break them across our knees.”

Sadly, in his later years, his physical ailments forced him to curtail his performances and he focused on teaching and social causes instead.

The Magic of Jascha Heifetz

David Oistrakh

Born: September 30, 1908
Died: October 24, 1974

Born in 1908 in Ukraine, David Oistrakh was internationally revered for his extraordinary technique and tone. He began to play at age five and studied at the well-regarded Odessa Conservatory.

In the early days of the Soviet Union, he gave recitals throughout the state, including Eastern Europe. He would eventually teach violin himself and win the esteemed Eugene Ysaye prize. In the fifties, he would be one of the few Soviet players to be allowed to tour both the UK and the US. Posthumously, an asteroid, the 42516 Ostraich would be named in his honor.

The Very Best of David Oistrakh

Stephane Grappelli

Born: January 26, 1908
Died: December 1, 1997

A pioneer of jazz violin, Stephane Grappelli was born in Paris, 1908. At only 5 years old his mother died, and with the outbreak of the First World War, he was fostered by acclaimed American dancer, Isadora Duncan. It was with her that he began to enjoy French Impressionist music.

His subsequent years at an orphanage were spend in extreme poverty. He would, however eventually become well known as an important collaborator with Django Reinhardt. By the 1960s he became a much sought after session player and played with musicians as diverse as Pink Floyd, Paul Simon, and Yehudi Menuhin.

Vintage Grappelli by Stephane Grappelli

Yehudi Menuhin

Born: April 22, 1916
Died: March 12, 1999

Born in 1916 to a Lithuanian Jewish family in New York, Yehudi Menuhin became one of the most exciting players of the 20th century. He spent his teenage years playing in Germany, even as the Nazi party began to rise. Before even his 20th birthday he had garnered a reputation as a master of the instrument.

In 1945 he accompanied the composer Benjamin Britten to a number of concentration camps to perform for Holocaust survivors. He also branched out from classical music and collaborated with the jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli.

The Great Violin Concertos by Yehudi Menuhin

Papa John Creach

Born: May 28, 1917
Died: February 22, 1994

The story of Papa John Creach is an unusual one for violin players. Born in Pennsylvania in 1917, he began playing violin in Chicago bars when he was 18. As a busker, he had to pick up many different styles, including classical. He was an early advocate of the electric violin in 1943.

Preach played with some of the jazz and blues greats, including Louis Armstrong, T-Bone Walker and, Nat King Cole. He would become a well-known figure in the 1960s and would join psychedelic band Jefferson Airplane, later Starship.

Papa Blues by Papa John Creach

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Itzhak Perlman

Born: August 31, 1945

Born in Tel Aviv in 1945, Itzhak Perlman has overcome great odds to become one of the best-loved and recognized violin players in the world. In his earliest years, he taught himself violin, despite having been left disabled by Polio.

He was catapulted to stardom in 1958 having appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and has ever since been a prominent figure. He has received countless accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Itzhak Perlman’s Greatest Hits

Nigel Kennedy

Born: December 28, 1956

From the illustrious musical family, Nigel Kennedy is one of the most well regarded and diverse violin players in the world. Known for ditching a traditional classical image, he nonetheless, was accepted into the Yehudi Menuhin School of music at 7, and later the world-famous Juilliard School in York.

At only 16, he appeared with the famous jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli at Carnegie Hall. His recording alongside the English Chamber Orchestra of The Four Seasons stayed at the top of the UK classical charts for over a year. He is best known, though, for his diverse pop recordings and experimental music.

Riders On The Storm – The Doors Concerto

Anne-Sophie Mutter

Born: June 29, 1963

A frequent soloist for the esteemed Berlin Philharmonic, Anne-Sophie Mutter was introduced to music when she began playing piano at 5. After graduating to violin, she was very quickly established as a virtuoso and played her first concert with the Berlin Philharmonic at just 13 years old.

She has been a much sought after musician and played under Daniel Barenboim with the English Chamber Orchestra in 1977. As an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music, she has been head of its international violin studies. She has countless awards and continues to collaborate with her ex-husband, pianist Andre Previn.

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto by Anne-Sophie Mutter

Joshua Bell

Born: December 9, 1967

A native of Indiana, Joshua Bell started playing violin at just 4 years old. By the age of 14 he had landed a coveted appearance as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He would make his debut at Carnegie Hall at only 17 and has since toured the world with some of the most important orchestras in the world.

He is a well respected musical academic as well as a constant contributor to film soundtracks, such as The Red Violin. In 2007 he made headlines for playing incognito as a busker in a Washington Subway Station.

Voice of the Violin by Joshua Bell

Midori Gotō

Born: October 25, 1971

Japanese born American violinist Midori is one of the most celebrated violinists of modern times. A big inspiration in her playing was her mother, Setsu Goto, who was also a professional violinist. Under her tutelage, Midori began learning violin at the age of three and would give her first public performance at the age of six, playing one of Paganini’s 24 Caprices.

At age eleven she would make her debut with the New York Philharmonic. She continues to teach and play across the world, earning doctorates and teaching positions in many of the top universities.

Bruch & Mendelssohn Violin Concertos by Midori Gotō

Hilary Hahn

Born: November 27, 1979

Hilary Hahn is one of the most exciting players in the field today. She began playing at only 3 years old and made her international debut at 16 with the Budapest Festival Orchestra. A year later, in 1996, she would make her first appearance at Carnegie Hall as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

In addition to having played with the major orchestras of the world, she has embraced popular music. She has collaborated with singer-songwriters and experimental composers. She is best known for mastery of Bach’s compositions and has championed classical music performances which allow infants to attend.

Hilary Hahn plays Bach

Sarah Chang

Born: December 10, 1980

Sarah Chang was born to South Korean immigrants Myoung-Jun and Min-Soo Chang in 1980. Both heavily involved in the classical music scene in Philadelphia, Sarah was surrounded from an early age by violin music. She was accepted into the Juilliard School by performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto No 1, at the startlingly young age of 5.

She recorded her first album at only 10 years old and in her teens was playing as many as 150 concerts each year. She has been ranked as one of the Top Eight High Achieving Females in the United States by Newsweek.

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons by Sarah Chang

Who is your most favorite violinist? Let us know by comment below.

Comments

    • Brian Troy says

      Because he is not anywhere near the standard of many top violinists.. He is a showman more interested in making money and appealing to many of limited music education who are happy to see pretty girls in silly dresses playing popular music.

      Reply

      • Woodland says

        He may not be Itzhak Perlman Rieu’s live and recorded performances have brought joy to millions of people. Few in his audiences are regular classical music attendees and it could be seen as promising that, via Rieu, they are listening to standards of the classical canon. The fact that Rieu’s focus is on highly accessible, enjoyable repertoire is not an argument against his musical credentials.

        Reply

    • Sven says

      what about Janine Jansen, Nadia Salerno Solenberg, Anne Sophie Mutter, Rachel Barton, Alena Baeva? what sayeth you to that?

      Reply

      • Patrick says

        Anne Sophie Mutter is on the list! But trying to make an ‘all time’ list is impossible. Several here no one has ever heard as they’ve been dead for years.

        Reply

  2. Amy says

    I saw Nigel Kennedy perform Tchaikovsky Violn Concerto with the San Francisco Symphony.

    He came on stage wearing a purple tuxedo. That was shocking at the time. After he began playing…. no one noticed. His playing was magical!

    Reply

    • Gill says

      Alexander Rybak born in 1986 is unbelievably good. Trained by his father Igor Rybak who is also an impressive violinist.

      Reply

  7. David Blake says

    Vanesssa-mae is omitted in this selected group. Why ?
    Among the last 6 listed she has made a wider more popular and recognised public impact with her classic – pop fusion interpretations .
    She spawned a resurgence in interest in a stagnating classical music scene.

    Reply

  8. Davydd Williams says

    No Isaac Stern? You’re kidding. Stern had the passion, Menhuin the composure and Oistrakh the technique. But Stern was the Greatest.

    Reply

  14. Carl Klein says

    There are significant omissions on your list. How about Nathan Milstein? How about Leonid Kogan, Joseph Szigeti? The writer needs to listen to more violinists.

    Reply

    • nella says

      Yes! Where is She? On the technical side, she is outstanding!
      Oh, and aren’t everyone forgetting Kavakos? He plays paganini better than anyone else! And I mean everyone!

      Reply

    • nella says

      Yes! Where is She? On the technical side, she is outstanding!
      Oh, and aren’t everyone forgetting Kavakos? He plays paganini better than anyone else! And I mean everyone!

      Reply

      • Willem Coetzer says

        Agreed absolutely that Janine Janssen should by on this list along with Stern and Zuckerman. Janine’s tone is goosebumps material

        Reply

    • Derrek Erker says

      It’s not an ordinal list (1st to last). It’s a timeline of players – look at the dates of birth. The place on the list has nothing to do with subjective opinion.

      Reply

  25. Alex Labunka says

    For Perfection – like an atomic clock – it will always be Jascha Heifetz;
    but for crystal clear clarity and beauty and precision of sound – where is Kyung Wha Chung???

    and for tonal and speedy excitement – how bout Ricci and Francescatti????

    Reply

  27. Peter Hancock says

    Hilary Hahn is absolutely amazing – I love to hear her interpretations of some of the world classics. Have you seen her playing and doing the hula hoop at the same time ?👍

    Reply

  30. Naftali Zilverberg says

    As long as you bother to mention who is Jewish, Daivid Oistrach is too.
    Where are Pinchas Zuckerman, Janine Jansen, Zino Francescatti?

    Reply

  31. Pdouglas says

    Henryk Szeryng, teacher and collaborator with Artur Rubenstein, belongs on this list. Polish born, national treasure of his adopted country, traveled on a diplomatic passport as an ambassador of Mexico. In about 1969 he played the concerto scheduled to be played by his sick friend Michael Rabin. When he was announced as the stand-in at Carnegie Hall, there was a hushed gasp in the audience, who knew what an honor this was.

    Reply

  33. William Hicks says

    Kristof Barati, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Stefan Jackiw, Julian Rachlin, Joshua Bell, Maxim Vengerov, Daniel Lozakovich, Hillary Hahn, Lisa Batiashvili, James Ehnes, and Augustin Hadelich are each the equal of any great violinist who came before, and they are all alive and well. Among dead masters, Fritz Kreisler, David Oistrakh, Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Christian Ferras, Isaac Stern, Michael Rabin, Ginette Neveu, Henryk Szeryng, Arthur Grumiaux, and Leonid Kogan all come to mind.

    Reply

  34. J the V says

    My favorite is Jascha Heifetz. He made that Guarneri de gesu SING! I’ve worn out vinyl recordings of his playing. CDs/DVDs are much more durable, thank goodness! In my youth I used to alternate listening to Heifetz and then the Beach Boys, blasting the music during the summer with the windows open. Now I do it much more quietly in my car and alternate between Heifetz, Queen, and Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3. I’m not a violinist, just a mediocre oboist, but I appreciate almost all genres of music.

    Reply

  37. paras says

    My favourite violinist is sarah chang , sarah is the best violinist as she is amazing she plays so great amazing violin player , she started at the age of 5 years and she is the fastest violinist these qualities makes her no.1.

    Reply

  39. Ville says

    Kavakos is not on the list but Hahn, Chang, Mutter, Bell, Goto, Creach and Nigel Kennedy are? These violinists are a tier below Kavakos both technically and musically.

    Reply

  40. Marlene Montenegro says

    Surprised not to see Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg on this list. She is an Italian American classical violinist and teacher, a technical virtuoso who in 1981 became the youngest ever prize winner in the Walter W. Naumburg International Violin Competition and was also awarded the Avery Fisher Prize for “outstanding achievement and excellence in music.” She studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and later at the Juilliard School of Music and has released many recordings on Angel/EMI Classics and Nonesuch and in 2005 created her own label, NSS Music. She has performed with orchestras around the world and played at the White House. In 2008 she was selected Music Director of the New Century Chamber Orchestra and joined Loyola University New Orleans as a Resident Artist in 2015. She continues to perform with various symphonies, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Seattle Symphony. Ms. Salerno-Sonnenberg delivers exhilarating, passionate, and musically and technically flawless performances. Any list that features best Violinists in the World must include Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg.

    Reply

    • Lynne says

      My favorite violinist performing today is Gil Shaham. He plays in the tradition of Perlman & I believe he is heads and shoulders above every violinist who is active today.

      Reply

  41. ALEXANDER JOHN PURVES says

    The list should comprise former top violinists, now deceased, and present worlds best movers and shakers both in technicality and musicality… And of course known pieces performed on the world stage.

    Reply

    • Rambu says

      for sure, u right..admin put the people we doesnt know his pieces..with video..but video use the legendary pieces song? example sarah chang? wtf? same like put CR7 the best football player but kickout Pele..Vivaldi must be on the rank..very influence..Johann Sebastian Bach was deeply influenced by Vivaldi’s concertos and arias (recalled in his St John Passion, St Matthew Passion, and cantatas). Bach transcribed six of Vivaldi’s concerti for solo keyboard, three for organ, and one for four harpsichords, strings, and basso continuo (BWV 1065) based upon the concerto for four violins, two violas, cello, and basso continuo (RV 580)..this is proof what is vivaldi art..

      Reply

  42. Joanie says

    I’ve read ALL of the lovely feedback, and yet, STILL no one has mentioned the passionate, beautiful violinist, Gil Shaham, of Isreal.

    His Schubert album leaves me exquisitely relaxed and in awe. We can hear his EVERY breath on the album as he’s playing with his magnificent passion. I LOVE his articulation.

    Reply

  44. Don Rosnberg says

    Rachel Barton Pine plays all 24 Paganini caprices beautifully in a singe concert. Does anyone else do that? I also heard her play the Mendelssohn with the Chicago Symphony and she brought out a richness to it that I’ve never heard from anyone else. And she is a champion of unusual repertoire.

    Reply

  48. Tahi Lu says

    Where is Vivaldi? Vivaldi is better than most of them..famous music around the world..and very famous than most of them..including in text typing, vivaldi font was exist..fact

    Reply

  49. Rambu says

    Look noob..modern people u put..but legend and famous people not include..ANTONIO VIVALDI is a master in violin..he is near paganini..cant u see how modern violist use vivaldi music? sarah chang u said good, but the video use vivaldi song? look noob bro..that the proof vivaldi is a giant..one of masterpiece is 4 season..most of modern metal and rock band use vivaldi song too..very influence for many genre you know..lol

    Reply

  51. Ron K. says

    There is no doubt about it. Joshua Bell by far is the greatest violist on the planet. His talent and passion shows in every piece he plays. All the others are great, but Josh is by far the most sensitive, talented musician alive today.

    Reply

  52. Nicholas says

    The following violinists worth also a well deserved mention: Henryk Szeryng, Ion Voicu, Lola Bobescu, and Shizuka Ishikawa.

    Reply

  53. MarieTherese Curtin says

    Mr Warwick Adeney Maestro of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra is without a doubt, the finest in the World. This mans hands were kissed by God. Genius. Spiritually illuminating. Musically, impreccable.😇

    Reply

  55. Sven says

    Jack Benny believe it or not was so good that Heifetz himself would at times seek out Jack’s consul on certain difficult pieces.

    Reply

  59. David says

    I tell my friends (who only know classical music as one would feel without thinking) that i think Hillary Hahn is the greatest violinist today. The confidence of her phrasing, and visual expression of it seems so complete and perfected. Her technique is flawless. Her feelings are at the moment. I have only listened to her concerto repertoire. Some things are played better than others. She has a particular style. Many greatest pianists (my field) had their best moments with certain composers. I read that she was playing in Chicago last week. The best seats were selling for $700.

    Reply

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