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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The Greatest Violinists Of The 20th Century - Jascha Heifitz
Klassiek - Released by Synergie OMP on 11 mei 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Korngold, E.: Violin Concerto / Lalo, E.: Symphonie Espagnole (Excerpts) (Heifetz) (1951, 1953)
Jascha Heifetz, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Alfred Wallenstein, William Steinberg
Concertmuziek - Released by Naxos Classical Archives on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky, P.I.: Piano Trio in A Minor (Heifetz, Piatigorsky, Rubinstein) (1950)
Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky, Arthur Rubinstein
Kamermuziek - Released by Naxos Classical Archives on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wolfgang amadeus mozart, Vol. 36
Szymon Goldberg, Jascha Heifetz, Jacques Thibaud, Walter Susskind, The Philharmonia Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by ArnebAudio on 12 apr. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Best of the Violinist
Klassiek - Released by Classique Perfecto on 31 jan. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classical Violin Concertos
Klassiek - Released by Classique Perfecto on 14 feb. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Violin Performances
Klassiek - Released by Classique Perfecto on 14 feb. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Violin Favorites
Klassiek - Released by Classique Perfecto on 14 feb. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Violin Concerto No. 2 - Strauss: Violin Sonata
Jascha Heifetz, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Brooks Smith, Alfred Wallenstein
Klassiek - Released by Naxos Classical Archives on 1 nov. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Violin Concertos (1955-1961)
Klassiek - Released by Unchained Melodie on 1 jan. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wieniawski & Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Violin Concerto No. 4
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jascha Heifetz
Klassiek - Released by Discover Classical Music on 10 jan. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of a Cello Legend -The Best of the Bests - Emanuel Feuermann, Vol. 7
Emanuel Feuermann, Theo van der Pas, Jascha Heifetz, Franz Rupp, Gerald Moore, Arthur Rubinstein
Klassiek - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 7 jun. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of a Legend: Jascha Heifetz, Vol. 1
Jascha Heifetz, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch
Klassiek - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 18 mrt. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Concerto in B-Flat Major, Violin Concerto No. 5
Gwydion Brooke, Jascha Heifetz, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Discover Classical Music on 28 nov. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classic del Mar, Vol. 4
Léopold Stokowski, Sir Georg Solti, Arthur Rubinstein, Siegfried Behrend, Jascha Heifetz, Charles Munch
Klassiek - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 17 jun. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of a Conductor Legend, Vol. 7
Nathan Milstein, Jascha Heifetz, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg
Klassiek - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 17 sep. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy - Platinum Edition (The Greatest Works Ever!)
Symfonische muziek - Released by Platinum Masterpieces on 3 mrt. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jean Sibelius - Platinum Edition (The Greatest Works Ever!)
Jascha Heifetz, Eugene Ormandy, Herbert von Karajan, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra
Symfonische muziek - Released by Platinum Masterpieces on 24 feb. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -