The violinists' violinist

The Guardian has asked a number of eminent violinists to choose their number one fiddler.  Interestingly, there are two mentions apiece for Ida Haendel, Pinchas Zukerman and Gidon Kremer, but no Oistrakh, Heifetz, Milstein, Szigeti, etc, etc.  I would have chosen Oistrakh myself, and Julia Fischer from the crop of current violinists.  Who would you choose?  Let us know in the comments section.

Zukerman at RFH London

There are few violinists of Pinchas Zukerman's vintage still doing the rounds; how different from the scene when he was rising to the top.  Zukerman gave us an excellent Beethoven Violin Concerto at the Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday, sounding like a visitor from a more warm-hearted past and if his conducting wasn't much cop, it didn't diminish the thrill of hearing him live.  Read my full concert review at Classicalsource .