Heifetz Rediscovered [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Does Heifetz really need to be "rediscovered?" One of the greatest violinists of his own or any other time, his name, though he died 15 years ago, has lost none of its luster, and his lasting fame is assured through his enormous discography, which captures his matchless art with astonishing fidelity. In 1994, RCA itself issued a 65-CD set of his "approved" recordings; this new release presents what was omitted as "unapproved." Though the Heifetz estate supported the project, one cannot help wondering what the violinist himself, famous for his stringent self-criticism and perfectionism, would have thought of it. However, even a less than top-drawer Heifetz performance is eminently worth hearing, and though on this reissue, the music, the playing, and the recorded sound vary in quality, the best parts fully display his unique, inimitable magic: the breathtaking virtuosity, the incomparably beautiful tone, the unmistakably elegant style! The original recordings of the short pieces were made acoustically in 1922 and '24; their age shows in the background noise and in the choice of sentimental and stylistically inappropriate transcriptions along with real violin pieces by Wieniawski and Sarasate. All are played marvelously. A half-jazzy four-hand piano arrangement of a Spanish song by Padilla, played by Heifetz and Isidore Achron with unbridled relish, adds a light touch. In the sonatas, the piano sounds distant, harsh, and unresonant. Brahms's G-major Sonata is disappointing: very fast, prosaic, unromantic, full of slides, and false accents; in the Finale, a frequently misread piano note goes undetected. Grieg's C-minor Sonata, however, is wonderful: dramatic, wistful, charming, elegant, restrained, but so warm and passionate that it should lay to rest forever the illusion that Heifetz was a cold player. --Edith Eisler

Heifetz Rediscovered, Music, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Edvard Grieg, Jose Padilla, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Pablo de Sarasate, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Henryk Wieniawski, Emanuel Bay, Isidor Achron, Jascha Heifetz, Samuel Chotzinoff, Chamber, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Flute Solo/Sonata, Individual Dance for Keyboard, Keyboard, Opera, Russian Romantic Opera, Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra, Trio for Keyboard and Two String Instruments, Violin Etude, Violin with Keyboard, Vocal
Heifetz Rediscovered (Dlx)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A true master
  • Great CD!
  • noise starting with track4
 Heifetz Rediscovered (Dlx)
Jascha Heifetz
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000065VDS
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

  1. Allegro Molto Ed Appassionato - Jascha Heifetz
  2. Allegretto Espressivo Alla Romanza; Allegro Molto; Tempo - Jascha Heifetz
  3. Allegro Animato - Jascha Heifetz
  4. Vivace Ma Non Troppo - Jascha Heifetz
  5. Adagio - Jascha Heifetz
  6. Allegro Molto Moderato - Jascha Heifetz
  7. Caprice 'Alla Saltarella' - Isidor Achron
  8. Lensky's Aria - Jascha Heifetz
  9. Tambourin - Isidor Achron
  10. Sicilienne - Isidor Achron
  11. Valencia - Isidor Achron
  12. Zapateado - Isidor Achron

Amazon.com

Does Heifetz really need to be "rediscovered?" One of the greatest violinists of his own or any other time, his name, though he died 15 years ago, has lost none of its luster, and his lasting fame is assured through his enormous discography, which captures his matchless art with astonishing fidelity. In 1994, RCA itself issued a 65-CD set of his "approved" recordings; this new release presents what was omitted as "unapproved." Though the Heifetz estate supported the project, one cannot help wondering what the violinist himself, famous for his stringent self-criticism and perfectionism, would have thought of it. However, even a less than top-drawer Heifetz performance is eminently worth hearing, and though on this reissue, the music, the playing, and the recorded sound vary in quality, the best parts fully display his unique, inimitable magic: the breathtaking virtuosity, the incomparably beautiful tone, the unmistakably elegant style! The original recordings of the short pieces were made acoustically in 1922 and '24; their age shows in the background noise and in the choice of sentimental and stylistically inappropriate transcriptions along with real violin pieces by Wieniawski and Sarasate. All are played marvelously. A half-jazzy four-hand piano arrangement of a Spanish song by Padilla, played by Heifetz and Isidore Achron with unbridled relish, adds a light touch. In the sonatas, the piano sounds distant, harsh, and unresonant. Brahms's G-major Sonata is disappointing: very fast, prosaic, unromantic, full of slides, and false accents; in the Finale, a frequently misread piano note goes undetected. Grieg's C-minor Sonata, however, is wonderful: dramatic, wistful, charming, elegant, restrained, but so warm and passionate that it should lay to rest forever the illusion that Heifetz was a cold player. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A true master.......2002-06-08

This is a valueable insight into the development of a master. The playing is spectacular. Very violinistic in the true sense. We don't here this lushness anymore. To think his peers thought he was cold. They didn't have any idea how bitterly detached violin playing would come to be.

Saying that one can see why Heifetz suppressed some of this during his life. He only wanted to project perfection. Is interpretation of 6/4 time in the Brahms is just plain wrong.

5 out of 5 stars Great CD!.......2002-06-07

... The sound quality is just fine. If you have listened to any old recordings you will hear a little static. The playing is very audible and easy to listen to. Best of all, you get to hear never-before-released Heifetz recordings of the Grieg C minor Sonata, Brahms Sonata No. 1 and some other pieces by Wieniawski, Tchaikovsky, and Bach among others. If you want to hear some amazing Heifetz playing this is the CD to get.

3 out of 5 stars noise starting with track4.......2002-05-16

I enjoyed the first 3 tracks but after the 4th track, background
noise became worse and after 8th track, it is unbearable. Since
I opened the CD wrapper, I cannot return it. So let this be a lesson to future buyers.

Track Listings:

  1. Herbert Howells: Hymnus Paradisi/An English Mass
  2. Kodaly: Missa Brevis; Laudes Organi
  3. Ligeti: Requiem Aventures Nouvelles Aventures
  4. Lotte Lenya Sings American & Berlin Theater Songs of Kurt Weill
  5. Mahler: Symphony No.6 [Import]
  6. Mendelssohn: Concerto for violin in Em; Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Op35
  7. Mendelssohn: Fantasy on 'The Last Rose of Summer'
  8. Mendelssohn String Quartets
  9. Michael Torke: Six
  10. Mirabile Mysterium: Xmas Music Through the Ages

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