Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was the leading figure among the extraordinary group of Russian Jews who dominated violin playing in the second and third quarters of the 20th century. As a technician he had no superior, and, of all the artists of his time and later, only two or three could even offer a challenge to his electrifying precision of execution. His diamond-point tone and quick vibrato afforded his playing a clarity of line that some felt was almost too perfect, even cold. Most conductors and other violinists -- and audiences -- felt differently and a Heifetz concert inevitably drew sell-out crowds.
Heifetz was born in Vilna, where his father Ruvim was a violinist in the city theater. When he was three, his father bought for him a quarter-size instrument and gave him beginning instruction. By the age of five, Heifetz had advanced enough to enter the Vilna Conservatory, where he began instruction under Elias Malkin. Only a year later, Heifetz made his first public appearance performing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. The six-year-old was so successful that offers for other appearances came from numerous other venues in Russia and he was hailed as a real prodigy.
When Leopold Auer, then a famous professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, came to Vilna in 1909, he was persuaded by Malkin to listen to Heifetz. After hearing him in Mendelssohn and Paganini, Auer embraced him and predicted for him a splendid future, urging him to come to St. Petersburg and become his pupil.
Ruvim Heifetz resigned his position, sold the family belongings, and took his son to St. Petersburg, but Auer initially failed to recognize the boy and refused him admittance to his home. By the time Auer realized his error, the Conservatory entrance deadline had passed and Jascha had to enroll in the class of an assistant. Six months later, however, Heifetz was able enter Auer's class, and thereafter his progress was astounding.
During an appearance at the International Exposition in Odessa, the reception accorded Heifetz was so explosive that a police escort was needed afterward. Concerts throughout Europe followed immediately and, at an appearance with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1914, conductor Artur Nikisch declared that he had never heard violin playing such as his.
Heifetz's American debut took place at Carnegie Hall in 1917, eliciting such observations as "only the molten gold of Fritz Kreisler can be conjured up in comparison" (Herbert F. Peyser) and "He is a modern miracle" (Pitts Sanborn). The ensuing year brought triumph after triumph, with critics vying with each other to offer the most extravagant superlatives. A period of transition a few years later brought some critical reservations as Heifetz sought to move away from the overt emotionalism of his Russian training and become a more objective player. By the mid-1920s, however, a balance had been struck and once again accolades flew as critics and audiences noted a new, more mature approach to his music.
Heifetz became an American citizen, settled in California, and enjoyed the benefit of a long-term recording contract with RCA, amassing a sizable discography over the years. Throughout his career, Heifetz favored gut strings, perhaps to temper the fine-edged aggressiveness of his attack and the enormous strength of his bowing arm. Early recordings of concertos, made mostly overseas, were gradually redone -- though not supplanted -- with American orchestras and in improved sound. Nonetheless, many of the earlier releases, despite their having been done in short takes required by 78-rpm discs, still compel attention for their unsurpassed mastery.
© Erik Eriksson /TiVo
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Beethoven Violin Concerto Op. 61 And Mendellsohn Violin Concerto Op. 64
Jascha Heifetz, Charles Munch, Boston Symphony Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei Mangora Classical am 08.07.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorak: Quintet, Op. 81, in A, Francaix: Trio in C
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Red Seal am 29.07.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Sonata No. 8, Op. 30, No. 3 in G, Sonata No. 10, Op. 96 in G
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Red Seal am 01.01.1955
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Violin Concerto, Op. 64, in E Minor, Bruch: Scottish Fantasy
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Red Seal am 11.11.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op.35
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Red Seal am 03.01.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Concertos pour violon
Klassik - Erschienen bei Naxos am 28.04.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bis (Volume 1)
Klassik - Erschienen bei Naxos am 07.05.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven's Sonatas 1, 2, 3
Klassik - Erschienen bei The Copyright Group am 10.01.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All That Sibelius
Jascha Heifetz, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
Symphonieorchester - Erschienen bei Golden Baton Records am 12.06.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
R. Strauss, Sibelius & Prokofiev: Violin Works
Jascha Heifetz, Arpad Sandor, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Beecham, Serge Koussevitzky
Klassik - Erschienen bei Biddulph Recordings am 25.05.1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jascha Heifetz Collection, Vol. 4 (Live)
Jascha Heifetz, Serge Koussevitzky, Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Donald Voorhees, Marvin Miller
Klassik - Erschienen bei DOREMI am 01.01.1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn: Octet, Op. 20, in E-Flat, Mozart: Quintet, K. 516 in G Minor
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Red Seal am 01.01.1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Divertimento, K. 563, in E-Flat, Duo No. 2, K. 424, in B-Flat, Handel: Harpsichord Suite No. 7 in G Minor
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Red Seal am 01.07.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: String Trio in G Major, Op.9, No.1- String Trio in D Major, Op.9, NO.2 - String Trio in C Minor, Op.9, NO.3 (Live)
Jascha Heifetz, William Primrose, Gregor Piatigorsky
Klassik - Erschienen bei Altair am 08.07.2021
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bach Concerto for Two Violins, Mozart Sinfonia Concertane, Brahms Concerto for Violin and Cello
Klassik - Erschienen bei Mangora Classical am 01.01.1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Encores (Volume 2)
Klassik - Erschienen bei Naxos am 13.11.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Violin Concerto, Op. 77 & Double Concerto, Op. 102
Jascha Heifetz, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Emanuel Feuermann, Serge Koussevitzky, Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy
Klassik - Erschienen bei Biddulph Recordings am 16.09.1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jascha Heifetz Collection, Vol. 3 (Live)
Jascha Heifetz, Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Donald Voorhees, Arturo Toscanini
Klassik - Erschienen bei DOREMI am 21.04.1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius: Violin Concerto, Op. 47, in D Minor, Chausson: Concerto for Violin, Piano & String Quartet, Op. 21 in D
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Red Seal am 11.11.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Trio No. 1 in B Flat Major, Op. 99 (1999 Remastered Version)
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Red Seal am 31.12.2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Double Concerto in A Minor for Violin, Cello and Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Red Seal am 14.10.1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo