Notes and Editorial Reviews
In more than 60 years of public performance, Jasha Heifetz took on some of the world's most difficult violin compositions--and won. On this recording, part of RCA Victor's ongoing tribute to one of the great violinists of this, or any, century, Heifetz shows a master's talent for untangling technical puzzles.
Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto is well known for its Russian vigor, a quality criticized by contemporaries as too rough for civilized audiences. Viennese critic Eduard Hanslick complained, "The violin is no longer played but torn apart, beaten black and blue." However, to the modern ear, this vitality is a perfect example of how a performer such as Heifetz can translate raw emotion into a transcendent musical experience.
As
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counterpoint, Mendelssohn's Concerto is a blend of Romantic and Classic styles. Its comparative serenity highlights the craftsmanship of both composer and performer. The seamless structure brings lyricism to the fore.
The final two Tchaikovsky pieces are from Heifetz's very last recording session. "Sérénade mélancolique," was most likely an early sketch of the concerto's slow movement. The festive waltz from Serenade in C Major was always an audience favorite. It is a fitting closure to this album: Heifetz enjoyed performing dances as much as he loved pleasing the crowd Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Concerto for Violin in D major, Op. 35 by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Jascha Heifetz (Violin)
Conductor:
Fritz Reiner
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1878; Russia
Date of Recording: 04/19/1957
Venue: Orchestra Hall, Chicago, Illinois
Length: 29 Minutes 34 Secs.
2.
Concerto for Violin in E minor, Op. 64 by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Jascha Heifetz (Violin)
Conductor:
Charles Munch
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1844; Germany
Date of Recording: 02/1959
Venue: Symphony Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Length: 24 Minutes 2 Secs.
3.
Sérénade mélancolique for Violin and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 26 by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Jascha Heifetz (Violin)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Chamber Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1875; Russia
Date of Recording: 07/1970
Venue: RCA Studio A, Hollywood, California
Length: 6 Minutes 45 Secs.
4.
Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48: 2nd movement, Waltz by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Jascha Heifetz (Violin)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Chamber Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1880; Russia
Date of Recording: 07/1970
Venue: RCA Studio A, Hollywood, California
Length: 3 Minutes 58 Secs.
Sound Samples
Allegro molto appassionato
Allegretto non troppo; Allegro molto vivace
Sérénade mélancolique, Op. 26
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