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November 29, 2006 - 11:12am
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Yes. I have it and I treasure it. I heard Joshua Bell play the piece a month ago, and his performance was captivating, but he's not Heifetz. Of course, being live, Bell has the infinite advantage. But I don't think I would ever go out and buy a Bell version, not with Heifetz on the shelves. If you love the standard violin repertoire, check out Sony Classical's new "Great Performances" recording of Zino Francesatti's performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. The sonics are a tad raunchy, but the excitement of this performance will draw you in immediately.
Clifton,unfortunately i can't find everything i want.Over here,if you are lucky,you can only find "best of"in classical music.As for UK,i can only get limited choices since the companies i allready know and purchase from,are mainly dvd mail orders.In the States,again,the sellection is quite limited to certain "names" (performers,conductors etc).I've listened/watched a guy performing this piece on tv
in a satellite channel called "Mezzo" and his performance was capyivating.Unfortunately,as usual,i don't remember his name lol Anyway,true,Heifetz performance is excellent although i have to admit i find him just a little bit "soulless" He reminds me of most Asian performers of nowdays.The have the skills and technique but lacking in drama and emotion.Nevertheless,Heifetz is great,especially if you are lucky enough to watch an old film of him performing.
One of my favorites too. I trust the recording you have is the RCA Victor with Munch and the Boston Symphony which also includes the Prokofieff Concerto in G Minor Opus 63. Given your affection for the Mendelssohn, you should get, if you don't have it already, the Brahms Concerto in D Op. 77 - also an RCA Victor wih Heifetz, Reiner, and the Chicago Symphony. The second movement of the Brahms is as good as it gets.
I know what you mean when you say sometimes Heifetz' playing is "soulless". My favorite violinist is still Perlman because he never leaves out his soul, but I can't resist playing Heifetz recordings - they're just too good to be without. Do get the Brahms, you'll love it.
Hi Clay
It is the Classic records Heifetz box set i have.
Oops,forgot to mention i agree with you regarding perlman.
He is good.Do listen to oistrakh (if i remember his name correctly)and Zimmerman.Both good.
It seems I've always had a favorite violinist - and always been ready to replace him when someone I liked better came along. I started with Stern because I got chances many to hear him play live, but he was pretty sterile compared with David Oistrakh. Perlman replaced Oistrakh and he's still at the top of my list. I do like Hilary Hahn, though. If there is a better reason than great violinists to invest in high fidelity equipment, I don't know what it would be.
Clay,it seems we have quite similar tastes.I've saved this for last.For me,the best violinist ever born and to my own tastes i would go as far as to say better than Heifetz , is sir Yehudi Menuhin but as you allready know,and this goes for both performers and conductors,all are specialized in a certain area and type of music.What i mean is,Sir Neville Mariner is great with Mozart but not so great with other composers,Willy Boskovsky is great with Lizt and Strauss but that's about it.Mitsuka Uchida is also excellent with Mozart but average with other composers.James Levine is the greatest with large scale symphonic pieces (although this debatable.Personally,i find his Wagner's "the ring" better than Solti's" but he is not so good with smaller pieces.
Absolutely, Yiangos. As they say, "horses for courses..". Have your heard any of the Daniele Gatti/Royal Philharmonic recordings of the Tchaikovsky symphonies? Great stuff and he's young enough to be conducting when I'm long gone and you have inherited my record collection.
Nope.Any particular cd i should look for ?
I have the 4th, 5th, and 6th on Harmonia Mundi SACD - Stereo and Multi-channel. I don't know if they're available in any other format. They're worth looking for. Hope you can find them.
Clay,found them all,in sacd.I've placed the 6th in "my wish list" and get it when i decide for the rest of my order.
I will probably have it by the end of next week.It can be quite expensive to ship for USA,so,i wait a little bit to get as many software as i can.I will let you know.