CENTENARY
DAVID BRYSON | Glossop Derbyshire England | 08/09/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of a projected Naxos series marking the centenary of Heifetz's birth, which was in 1901 according to the liner note.If this disc is anything to go by it should be an exciting series, and younger music-lovers not familiar with this great player have a marvellous opportunity to get to know him at such a modest price. These three concerto performances date from 1934, 1947 and 1939 respectively. They have been restored from the best available 78's by Mr Mark Obert-Thorn, and what a good job he has made of them. The thing that struck me more than anything else is that Heifetz's tone is fuller and richer than I used to associate with him, and how far this is down to Heifetz and how far to Mr Obert-Thorn I can't say. Obviously there are limits to even Mr Obert-Thorn's wizardry, and the orchestral sound in the Brahms is not awfully clear, but one should not be unreasonable. As those who know his work would expect, Heifetz does not hang around and tempi are on the brisk side throughout, which suits me for one, but there is plenty of romantic emotion in the Glazunov and the Bruch (for such a miserable cantankerous old blighter Bruch wrote some gorgeous music!) The Brahms is of unique interest because here Heifetz is partnered by Feuerman, cut down before he was quite 40. The cello is the senior partner by a small but distinct margin in this piece, and Heifetz just about concedes this. For all its difficulty it is not a virtuoso concerto, and I was fascinated to hear it done by artists whose temperaments were very much those of soloists not to say prima donnas. Comparisons with modern versions I take to be beside the point, which is presumably to hear this music specifically from Heifetz. However there is a very interesting near-contemporary version from team-players, the principals of Toscanini's orchestra, very much operating to the boss's directions (even a cellist called Frank Miller!). It is from 1948 and was recorded in the notorious Studio 8-H with its dry-as-a-bone acoustic, and I found it very illuminating to play it straight after Heifetz and Feuerman. It makes Heifetz sound almost leisurely, but each performance highlights the virtues of the other for me. Be that as it may, the stature of the Heifetz/Feuerman account ought to be pretty clear without any comparisons. Of its kind this disc strikes me as outstanding."
Heifetz in rare form and super sound
Robert Sorrentino | Cherry Hill, N.J. | 08/05/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"While all of the Naxos Historical CDs in their Heifetz Centennial series are terrific, this, for me, is perhaps the best, as it brings back the great Heifetz/Steinberg 1947 recording of Bruch's Scottish Fantasy in excellent, clear sound, far better than the recent Pearl re-issue, where it always sounded like someone was frying bacon in the same room. Although the 1961 Heifetz/Sargent recording is terrific, as well, this is the recording of the piece that I grew up on, and it's better than ever.
The Brahms Double Concerto is worth hearing, as well. Even though the 1939 sound is a little muddy, you get the dynamic team of Heifetz and Feuermann, with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the young Eugene Ormandy. Even before I knew the concerto, I knew the second movement main theme as the theme from the soap opera "The Secret Storm" when I was a kid. No one disappoints here. Likewise, you have the Glazounov, dating from 1934. As with the Bruch, the sound is crystal clear, for the period, and the performance exceptional."
Great Bargain!!!
Robert Sorrentino | 03/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a must-have! Heifetz's playing in the Glazunov is excellent! The sound pretty good, but it could be better. It is the Scottish Fantasy that really makes this recording. No-one can play it like Heifetz. It is the ultimate recording of the concerto (or whatever you want to call it). The Brahms is excellent-one of the most memorable performances! All of Naxos' old recordings are bargains. They are dirt-cheap, and while the sound isn't as good as it could be, the performers are usually the best of the best, as are the performances. Enjoy!!"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1