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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Jascha Heifetz - It Ain't Necessarily So. Legendary classic and jazz studio takes
Clásica - Editado por Deutsche Grammophon (DG) el 01-01-2006
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Heifetz: Showpieces
Clásica - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 11-11-2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Heifetz: Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn Concertos
Clásica - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 01-01-1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Heifetz Violin Greatest Hits
Clásica - Editado por RCA Victor - Hits - 100 el 16-06-1998
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Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1; Scottish Fantasy & Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 5
Clásica - Editado por Living Stereo el 07-02-2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20, Saint-Saëns: Havanaise, Op. 83
Clásica - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 01-01-1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Los Angeles October 23, 1972 ((Heifetz Remastered))
Clásica - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 22-07-2016
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bruch/Vieuxtemps: Concertos
Música concertante - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 01-01-1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Master Violinist
Clásica - Editado por Warner Classics el 22-09-2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Artists Of The Century: Jascha Heifetz
Clásica - Editado por RCA Classics el 18-06-1999
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Gershwin: Selections, Music of France
Clásica - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 01-01-1965
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Bach: Concerto for Two Violins/Mozart: Sinfonia concertante/Brahms: Double Concerto
Clásica - Editado por Living Stereo el 01-01-1957
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Bach: Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor; Brahms: Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor; Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat
Clásica - Editado por Living Stereo el 23-01-2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Heifetz Collection Vol. 30 - Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Händel
Clásica - Editado por RCA Gold Seal el 01-01-1994
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Saint-Saëns: Sonata No. 1, Op. 75, in D Minor, Sibelius, Wieniawski, Rachmaninoff, de Falla
Clásica - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 01-01-1967
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Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor; Schubert: Violin Sonatina in G Minor; Bach: Partita No. 2 in D Minor, Chaconne
Clásica - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 11-11-2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Piano Trio Collection - Schubert: Trio No. 2 in E-Flat Major, D. 929 - Brahms: Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87 ((Heifetz Remastered))
Clásica - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 01-01-1994
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Korngold: Violin Concerto, Op. 35, in D, Lalo: Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21
Clásica - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 14-11-2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Heifetz Collection; Volume 17; Bach: Sonatas & Partitas
Clásica - Editado por RCA Gold Seal el 13-03-1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák: Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 81 - Franck: Piano Quintet in F Minor ((Heifetz Remastered))
Clásica - Editado por RCA Red Seal el 22-07-2016
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo