Brahms, Tchikovsky: Violin Concertos

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This recording was one for the record books from the day it was made. There's an absolutely terrible 1940s movie called Carnegie Hall about a woman who works at the hall as an usher after the death of her drunken husband, supporting her young, musically talented son. She wants him to be a great classical artist, and he wants to play (gasp!) jazz. There are a million star turns by great musicians here, and two of them are Jascha Heifetz and Fritz Reiner, so you actually see them together. Reiner wears his habitual scowl, while Heifetz is coldly aristocratic; in fact, they look totally miserable. But what music they make! Thank God we can't see them on CD, and only have the incredible sound that they have left behind. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Concerto in D, Op. 77: Allegro non troppo
Concerto in D, Op. 77: Adagio
Concerto in D, Op. 77: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace
Concerto In D, Op. 35: Allegro moderato
Concerto In D, Op. 35: Canzonetta: Andante
Concerto In D, Op. 35: Allegro vivacissimo

Amazon.com

This recording was one for the record books from the day it was made. There's an absolutely terrible 1940s movie called Carnegie Hall about a woman who works at the hall as an usher after the death of her drunken husband, supporting her young, musically talented son. She wants him to be a great classical artist, and he wants to play (gasp!) jazz. There are a million star turns by great musicians here, and two of them are Jascha Heifetz and Fritz Reiner, so you actually see them together. Reiner wears his habitual scowl, while Heifetz is coldly aristocratic; in fact, they look totally miserable. But what music they make! Thank God we can't see them on CD, and only have the incredible sound that they have left behind. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

The best recordings of both of these concerti.......2005-11-25

The Brahms is absolutely magnificent. It is lyrical, exciting, and utterly perfect. The Tchaikovsky is similar. Heifetz plays these two pieces at faster tempos than other violinists, but they never sound rushed. In fact, they sound more wonderful and beautiful than any other recording. After you buy this CD, you'll wonder how you were ever happy before. I know this sounds like a bit of an overstatement, but I mean it. A lot.

Preferables Barbirolli and Koussevitzky's mono recordings.......2005-06-19

There are two versions of Thaikovsky' violin concerto: the original composer's version with some hateful repetitions in third movt.(Grumiaux, Mullova, Vengerov' versions, etc.), and Heifetz teacher Leopold Auer's version, without that repetitions, which I prefer. In this recording Heifetz plays -fortunately- Leopold Auer's version, but the problem here is the performance's speed, because this is a virtuose but at the same time an acelerate version, and I think with J. Buxton that Heifetz-Barbirolli 1937' version, now edited in NAXOS label, is preferable, but in my opinion the definitive version of this work is Erica Morini-Arthur Rodzinski's with Royal Philharmonic Orch. in UNIVERSAL, yesterday Westminster, in a 20' bit resolution edition. At the same time, in Brahms' violin concerto, I also prefer mono Heifetz-Koussevitzky version, with Boston Orch., and the definitive version for me is Henryk Szeryng-Pierre Monteux's with London Symphony in RCA label, commented here, a 1958 recording that sounds better than more recent versions. Oscar Olavarría A.

Reiner forgot his glasses.......2005-02-08

How can people be called "melomans" when they give high points to these awfull recording?
Awfull, because there is a great pair of concertos. This is big music. Big and contrasting, for here you have one of the most virtuosic and at the same time beautiful of the entire repertoire (Tchaikovsky) and the best violin (and perhaps of any instrument) concerto (Brahms).
So I see Brahms as the best, because his is a unique blend of tragic pathos, autummnal lyricism and enchanting orchestral colours (with a no giant orchestration), combined with the greatest artistic wisdom. Tchaikovsky adds melodic beauty and is more virtuosic, I think. I would like having in one CD Sibelius (they say is the best 20 century) and Brahms. Beethoven - Brahms in one CD is useful to understand Brahms point of departure (overall plan is the same), but Brahms is better than Beethoven in every measure. Only a great composer can win over a great work of another great composer. Please dont vociferate: Brahms has greater emotional range and please, Beethoven never was a great concerto writer, in the sense that his orchestra never is used at his full potential to have a dialogue with the soloist. For that, please go to this brahms or the late Mozart piano concertos. Please see what limited is the wind writting in Bethoven and how Brahms orchestra gets more colours (in essence the instrumentation is not so different). Beethoven set the basis, brahms improved it.
I said in this review about a magical blending of pathos and lyricism. "pathos" and tragedy: some sections are really dramatic and should be played with the appropiate urgency, but there are moments where poetry is the centre of the passage. And that is where Reiner fails. For heifetz is one of the best violinists and is a great concerto artist, but fell in a wrong field. Reiner suffered from his eyes, did you know? And here he forgot his glasses. He couldnt read the score, namely the parts marked MA NON TROPPO!!!!!!! Where is the elegiac, autummnal quality that gives this concerto his fragance? please, Reiner spoils this best of the best concertos with that speed. If you want Heifetz' Brahms, go for Naxos with Koussevitzky (sound is not so worse). Another point is that brahms was a lover of ancient music. He was interested in polyphony and this point is present in all his works: the internal voices. here they are engulfed by a huge string, insensitive to the colour nuances that make this work so unforgetable. Please, for Brahms go to Harnoncourt.
And speaking about Tchaikovsky, frankly I did not listened too much. If Reiner fails so evidently in the best violin concerto, there is no reason to go forward listening. I have a special place in my heart to a live recording (with deserved final applause) given by Oistrakh and recorded by Melodya label. This concerto belongs to Oistrakh and to no other else.

Tchaikowsky concert at it's best.......2004-05-31

No one has ever performed this Tchaikowsky concerto better than Heifetz. The most romantic, lyrical playing ever. His intonation is second to non. It is known that his personality was difficult at times. ALL is forgiven to a man who plays like a superman! I could not recommend this recording more to anyone who loves Tchaikowsky. As for the Brahms, it is almost as strong, but I have a little bit of a problem with the tempos. Nevertheless, it is a great performance.

Consummate Heifetz demands space on your shelf.......2004-01-10

Although my favorite recording of Tchaikovsky's violin concerto is David Oistrakh with Ormandy, Heifetz's superhuman technique is something marvelous to behold. Besides that, Heifetz adds a few embellishments of his own to the first movement, so that for those who like to compare different performances, this one will be pleasantly surprising.

Heifetz's performance of Brahms concerto is, likewise, consummate. However, I have heard some violinists legitimately complain about the speed with which Mr. Heifetz plays; it doesn't feel entirely appropriate to the first movement of Brahms. On the other hand, one could find it refreshing and full of momentum. Heifetz isn't mechanical, certainly, and the Brahms second movement and third movements should amply prove that assertion.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

The Memorial Album/Your Cheatin' Heart [Original recording remastered]

Dvorák: Double Bass Quintet; The American Quartet

Clavierubung 2

Trisha Yearwood [Enhanced] [Karaoke]

Catastrophe Ballet

Dreaming

Beautiful Life! [Import]

Bomb the Twist

BBC Sessions [Live] [Import]

Blockbuster: 18 Smashes of the 70's

Compact Jazz: Bud Powell

Bordel Inside

Beg for Mercy [Explicit Lyrics]

Ultimate Yanni

Lombardo Goes Latin!/Bells Are Ringing