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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World's Complete Violin Collection
Classical - Lançado por Classique Perfecto em 14/02/2012
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The Great Classical Music #57 : Pëtr Iljič Čajkovskij // Max Bruck
Jascha Heifetz, Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), Fritz Reiner, David Oïstrakh, London Symphony Orchestra, Lovro von Matacic
Classical - Lançado por Ermitage Records em 30/10/2020
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Sibelius: Violin Concerto, OP.47
Jascha Heifetz, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Concertos - Lançado por Altair em 09/03/2022
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J. S. Bach Collection, Vol. 5
Classical - Lançado por ArnebAudio em 27/12/2023
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Heifetz and Violin Concertos, Vol. 2
Jascha Heifetz, Emmanuel Bay, Arturo Toscanini, Sir Thomas Beecham,Charles Munch, NBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,Boston Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Lançado por Infinity em 14/12/2022
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Violin Masterpieces
Classical - Lançado por Classique Perfecto em 31/01/2012
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Fauré, Schubert & Beethoven
Jascha Heifetz, Emanuel Bay, Jean Fournier, Paul Badura-Skoda, Antonio Janigro
Classical - Lançado por Altair em 18/07/2023
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Récital (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1952
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Récital (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1957
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn: Romance sans paroles, Op. 19b No. 1 - Schubert: Ave Maria (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Lalo: Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21 - Fauré: Sonate pour violon No. 1, Op. 13 (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1959
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Récital (Mono Version)
Chamber Music - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1952
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Romances pour violon et orchestre, Op. 40 & 50 (Mono Version)
Jascha Heifetz, William Steinberg, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Récital (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1954
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Violin Concerto, Op. 77 (Mono Version)
Jascha Heifetz, Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO)
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1956
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Sonate pour violon seul No. 2, BWV 1003 & Partita pour violon seul No. 3, BWV 1006 (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1957
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61 (Mono Version)
Jascha Heifetz, NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Sonate No. 3 & Partita No. 1 (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Lançado por BNF Collection em 01/01/1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Heifetz Plays Bach Sonata No 3 & Partita No 3
Classical - Lançado por Stave em 02/01/2007
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Rozsa & Brahms
Classical - Lançado por Stave em 06/01/2008
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Plays Beethoven Sonatas 4,5 & 6
Classical - Lançado por Stave em 12/01/2006
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