Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Alexander Glazunov, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart :: The Earliest Concerto Recordings, Vol. 1

Jascha Heifetz's post-war remakes of these 1934-40 concerto discs, good as they were, weren't always as warm or as involving as these versions which feature superhuman violinism and sound--often very insightful interpretations. The classic combination with Arturo Toscanini in the Beethoven leads off the collection, forward-moving with tensile strength and a flowing, inward-looking slow movement. The Mozart Turkish Concerto sparkles with grace; the Tchaikowsky is dazzling in its tonal finesse; the Sibelius, with Sir Thomas Beecham, never bettered. In his hands, even the Glazunov sounds like a major work. Terrific transfers yield sound that fully conveys Hiefetz's tonal splendors. This is Volume One; Volume Two (Pearl GEMM CDS 9167) offers two further well-filled discs of delights. --Dan Davis