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 in D Major, Op. 61 - Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 ((Heifetz Remastered))
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 12 jan. 2015
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 - Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 63 - Glazunov: Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 82 ((Heifetz Remastered))
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 12 jan. 2015
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 - Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 ((Heifetz Remastered))
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 12 jan. 2015
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35
Concertmuziek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 27 nov. 2001
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77
Concertmuziek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 1 jan. 1955
The Qobuz Essential Discography24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Violin Concertos No. 4 in D Major, K. 218 & No. 5 in A Major, K. 219 "Turkish" - Vivaldi: Concerto for Violin and Cello in B-Flat Major, RV 547 ((Heifetz Remastered))
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 22 jul. 2016
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47
Concertmuziek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 1 jan. 1960
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Minor, Op. 37, Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 1 jan. 1962
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 - Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 63 (2004 Remastered Version)
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 1 jan. 1959
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wieniawski, Saint-Saëns, Vieuxtemps & Sarasate: Works for Violin and Orchestra
Jascha Heifetz, Sir John Barbirolli
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 10 jul. 2020
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Final Recordings & Popular Encores ((Heifetz Remastered))
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 22 jul. 2016
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn & Bruch: Violin Concertos
Klassiek - Released by Sony Classical on 25 feb. 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins, BWV 1043 - Mozart: Sinfonia concertante in E-Flat Major, K. 364 - Brahms: Concerto in A Minor for Violin and Cello, Op. 102 ((Heifetz Remastered)
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 23 jan. 2007
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto
Klassiek - Released by Living Stereo on 1 mei 1998
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach : Partitas & Concertos pour violon (Diapason n°565)
Jascha Heifetz / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Alfred Wallenstein
Concertmuziek - Released by Les Indispensables de Diapason on 25 aug. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rózsa: Violin Concerto, Op. 24 & Sinfonia concertante, Op. 29 - Benjamin: Romantic Fantasy ((Heifetz Remastered))
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 22 jul. 2016
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Magic of Jascha Heifetz (remastered)
Klassiek - Released by Masterworks on 29 jul. 2016
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Heifetz, Primrose and Piatigorksy: The String Trio Collection ((Heifetz Remastered))
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 22 jul. 2016
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Rosza: Violin Concerto, Op. 24, Spohr: Violin Concerto No. 8, Op. 47 in A Minor, Tchaikovsky: Sérénade mélancolique, Op. 26
Concertmuziek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 1 jan. 1956
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruch : Violin Concerto No.1 - Mozart : Violin Concerto No.4
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 1 jan. 1962
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vitali: Chaconne in G Minor - Tedesco: The Lark - Fauré: Sonata No. 1, Op. 13, in A
Klassiek - Released by RCA Red Seal on 5 aug. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo