Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The singing tone and wide range of the violin have made it the archetypal musical instrument, and in Violin Virtuosos, violinist and music critic Henry Roth has created a work of rare insight into this singular and beloved instrument.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Speaking with commanding authority but also with genuine affection, professional violinist Roth combines an encyclopedic knowledge of violin lore with a journalist's flair for storytelling in this enormous, and enormously entertaining, volume. His subjective, opinionated commentary may offend some, but most readers will appreciate his uncompromising honesty in evaluating performances and recordings, even of players still alive. A chapter on women violinists is a welcome addition, though current luminaries such as Midori and Sarah Chang rate only a listing and photo in the final chapter, "Whither Violin Art?" The book clearly is a celebration of past artists rather than an in-depth view of the current crop, but that's understandable, given the length of time necessary to evaluate an artist's achievement properly. Recommended for libraries with large music holdings.‘Larry A. Lipkis, Moravian Coll., Bethlehem, Pa. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Violin Virtuosos is a fascinating compilation of detailed characterizations of the playing of 20 legendary violinists (e.g., Kreisler, Heifetz, Stern, Perlman) plus briefer mentions of many more. Although some biographical details are included, this is a book about the playing of the violin. With the exception of Paganini, everyone discussed in this volume falls within the recording era--Roth has heard all of them play, either in person or on recordings or both. His characterizations are precise, perceptive, and to the point. Roth is himself a violinist and violin teacher, a judge of major violin competitions, and a longtime music critic. Although a considerable portion of this volume consists of re-edited versions of his Master Violinists in Performance (Paganiniana, 1982) and Great Violinists in Performance (Panjandrum, 1987), six new detailed profiles are added and others are updated. The major entries range from 8 to 16 pages each; in addition there are chapters about American and Soviet violinists and one titled "Women and the Violin;" these entries range from just a brief mention to two pages or so. Maud Powell is one woman who has a profile outside the chapter on women. Many of the younger new violinists are included in these group chapters as well as players from earlier in the century, e.g., Michael Rabin, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Kyung-Wha Chung as well as Michel Piastro, Efrem Zimbalist, and Mischa Mischakoff. The volume is heavily illustrated with many historical photographs; long entries have multiple photos, and some players who receive a very brief mention may be pictured. In answer to whether Paganini was "The Greatest Violinist Who Ever Lived," Roth quotes liberally from reports of Paganini's day and then makes his own assessment so that Paganini "can be seen in historical perspective according to the violinistic and musical standards of the 1990s." Roth speaks his mind in a very lucid way; he knows the violin, its players, its repertoire and its many nuances. His prose is clear and effective, his characterizations well done. While not all may agree with all of what he says, his goal to stimulate "constructive penetrating thought about the past, present, and future of the glorious art of violin playing" seems to have been successful. Violin Virtuosos is a fascinating look at violin playing that will be of value to all music lovers, not just to violinists, teachers, and students. Libraries may also want to consider this for circulating collections.