Jascha Heifetz - Violin Greatest Hits (2000)

Jascha Heifetz possessed a unique combination of incredible technical virtuosity, luminous tone, and inspired artistry. He set a standard that few, if any, have been able to approach and is considered by many to be the greatest violinist of the 20th century. He dominated the landscape of musical performance from his U.S. debut in 1917 until his retirement from the concert stage in 1972.
This CD offers a glimpse of the brilliance of this legendary performer. The selections are from his recorded output from the time period of 1946 through 1965 and include excerpts from works with which he became closely associated. Heifetz achieved enormous popularity with two works featured in this collection: his own arrangement of Dinicu's 'Hora Staccato,' and the 'Carmen' Fantasy, written specifically for him by Franz Waxman. Heifetz's performances of both are remarkable and leave no doubt as to why they captured the public's imagination. He demonstrates his extraordinary technique in the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, and a sublime lyrical sensitivity in the Adagio from the Brahms Concerto. His transcription of Gershwin's "Summertime" displays his singular abilities as an instrumentalist as well as his skill as an arranger. The disc ends appropriately with the Finale from Mendelssohn's Concerto in E minor, the piece with which he achieved his first major success.