Heifetz plays Mendelssohn Violin Concerto - Third Movement

[jobbergisch]

this is playing! his tone and finesse is superb! and it´s also a beautyfull recording by the way!

what a beautyfull instrument he played.... i´m quiet... in peace and exited!!! Rock ´n Roll!!

[toonyE]

Holy shit.

[assindiastignani]

This performance is absolutely hair-raising. Personally, I'm not at all certain there was any particular antagonism between Toscanini and Heifetz - they're obviously completely ignoring eachother. Two geniuses with superhuman talent, mamouth wills,and each with an ego large enough to fill the Grand Canyon twice over. I wouldn't have it any other way. Compare that to what we get nowadays.

[max31416]

If they were recording using two different electrical circuits, perhaps the result was out of sync.

[max31416]

But Toscanini was the director. It should have been his interpretation. Another thing, the mics for the orchestra sound dull. Perhaps there was another, technical, problem.

[Ninjaboji]

Back then they tuned their strings to a higher pitch than they do now. That's why the notes are higher.

[jeffersonfsoares]

Talvez se arrumasem a afinação pra la 440 ficaria uns 2 a 3 segundos mais lento mesmo assim ainda rapido.

[wop9999]

And the violin was billowing smoke at the end..

[srinitaaigaura]

Best way to sum it up, Heifetz vs Orchestra fighting to the finish. But there are many real brilliant moments.

[Elainelps0421]

I like it fast:) It's supposed to show off the virtuosity of the soloist. If he played it slowly, it would sound like a Sevcik or a Wohlfahrt exercise.

[spbviolin]

rush? just check it with a metronome and you'll change your mind...

[zeppelinman71]

Does anybody know what orchestra is playing this?

[henrykmusic]

@zeppelinman71 nbc symphony orchestra

[myertveho]

I think heifetz rushes this entirely too much, as if he is showing off

[rockyj74426]

Great joys of early television (1951-2) were the Bell Telephone Hour and the NBC/RCA Symphony Orchestra live broadcasts featuring this brilliant man!!!

[Stjudeuser2]

pure perfection.

[Stjudeuser2]

pure perfection

[liranrok1]

i dont think so! this is not sped up!

[utra1337]

awww man, heifetz ruined this!!

[ianchow107]

so fast and clean!! can someone give him a speed ticket.....

[Runescape28]

Perfect spirit! I think this is exactly what Mendelssohn intended

[Karlcarl]

My violin teacher was Mischakoff who was the concertmaster under Toscanini and during this recording. This is not sped up by machine. This is long before cut and paste recordings. They played this way live! As for expression, do not watch Heifetz, listen to him. His expression is all in the sound, not the look.

[preposterous3637]

I don't think he's any worse than Itzhak Perlman...

[DualThunder]

@FiddlerAdam It's called artist's interpretation. Not all performances aim to replicate what the composer wanted. If they did, music would be far less interesting to listen to. Also, you may call it rushing, but it's still controlled. It's done for a purpose and not because they suck as musicians. I would have thought if an orchestra under Toscanini were not able to keep up with the soloist then there is something wrong there.

[wagonkit]

Yo... he's not playing it fast. The recording is sped up. The first note is an E... get a tuner, you'll see its super sharp... results from a sped up recording. Get some editing software and record the youtube vid playing and slow it down a bit. Sounds great, quite remarkable actually. Heifetz is prob one of the best violinists to have ever lived on this earth. He was not rushing...

[rapter9800]

@wagonkit Yo, he really is playing it that fast, there are at least 2 plausible explanations for the high note.

1) The age of the recording, which is slightly less likely because this was recorded 1944.

2) Maybe he played it sharp by accident? The great Jascha Heifetz does occasionally make mistakes.

Either way, I have an earlier recording. Heifetz plays it this fast, this is not sped up.

[wagonkit]

@rapter9800 He may have played this particular piece this fast but he was known to specifically ask the people recording him to speed up the recording for final print. Especially in his earlier years. Your 2nd reason holds no weight at all. Jascha Heifetz prided himself on his perfect intonation and articulation in a time where every violinists took liberties and expression to the extreme. Heifetz believed you could have beautiful music while still following the exact rhythm and dynamics.

[wagonkit]

@rapter9800 Look up Jasha Heiftez speeding up performance recordings. if you get a tuner you'll notice its far beyond even the sharpest you could imagine. For example. Search "Historic LIVE recording of Jascha Heifetz playing Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, with Arturo Toscanini as conductor. " It's "live" but grab the tuner again. That is over a whole step higher. Sped up. Quite obviously.

[DelfosMX]

It seems, like the poet said, that all past time was better.

Gosh, to have been here to see Heifetz and Toscanini...

I need the Delorean

[angelofmyown]

Amazing. Lots have commented that the tempi (all the way from mvt 1) is v fast, but I like it. For the rest of my life, I'll probably be able to recognise this recording almost instantly - any time, any place (somewhat like Kennedy's 4 seasons recording). It makes it so uniquely and idiosyncratically him, i guess :)

[dauiske79]

Overly mechanical and cold, Heifetz was certainly a sociopath

[rapter9800]

@dauiske79 Virtuostic, and carefree, those are 2 milder words to describe this performance, masterful, perfect, flawless, beautiful would also do. Are you one of those people who don't really pay attention to Heifetz's playing? Because I'm really sick of those type of people who say that Heifetz was "cold" or "mechanical," because he really isn't. If you need proof, go listen to his recording of Vitali's Chaconne with the organ.

[ellenol1014]

I think this would be about the craziest combination.....toscanini and heifitz....wonder how they get along...hehehehe

[tamerlanenj]

I would kill for a video of this.

[ftomtom1971]

@tamerlanenj

I agree: I must see, how it happened!!!!!

[raoultak]

Heifetz is the greatest, I got tears and my heart stopped beating for a while.....my God, Heifetz is the best violinist! But the next morning I thought I didn't hear music but just technique.

[lenechka836]

@raoultak Probably next morning is not your best time. (just kidding!). But seriously

trust your heart and tears,they behave very naturally when you are listening to such

a great genius as Heifetz. Best wishes.

[Curatica]

I wonder how these two were able to get along together...

[rew987654321]

Wow, 168 - 208 bpm. That's presto - prestissimo.

[OldTrancer]

were they in a rush to get to the pub or something ? Wow that was fast.

[iluv2write]

Seems a little...... sharp, must be in transferring to this format. beautiful!

[saxman3903]

never ceases to amaze

[yongrenjie]

Just because you can't play at this speed doesn't mean no one can.

[ipmoic]

Sounds like a Midsummer's Night Dream Scherzo!

Imagine the adrenalin (and egos) of these two together.

BIG disagreement at 3:52-54. Toscanini wants to hold back but Heifetz is having none of it!!

A battle of wills. Notice how Heifetz beats Toscanini to the last chord. This is more like Violin Versus Orchestra with no clear winner.

[ewongkl]

I think I remember Heifetz commented in one of his masterclasses that sometimes it's a good idea to build up tension by staying slightly ahead of the orchestra.

[punkypenguin321]

@ipmoic no, I just think, like many performers, Heifetz was just prone to rushing.

[kaminskiian]

@punkypenguin321 one thing you have to understand about Heifetz is that he does NOTHING without a reason. its it bad for a great musician to have fun once in a while?

[punkypenguin321]

@kaminskiian contrary to popular belief, Heifetz was human, he made mistakes just like anybody else.

[121ego]

@ipmoic - Heiftz was right, check it with a Metronome (Maetzel's gift to Beethoven) and see for yourself. Beside, it was written as "Allegro MOLTO Vivace" as in "Happy and FULL of Life". Toscanini should have known better.

[pianissimo5]

@ipmoic heifetz always wins in the end! :D

[65attila]

@ipmoic

Friend - Those of us hearing this performance are All Winners.

Regards-JOhn

[CanadaPisces]

An outstanding performance by a master violinist!

[AugustaRomania]

CanadaPisces,

It's good to hear from you again, dear friend! I really missed your postings. I hope everything is OK at your end. Thank you for posting this amazing video.

[CanadaPisces]

The master violinist! Outstanding speed, coordination, and fingering make for a marvelous performance!

[Herur22]

A real enjoyment. Thank you, James and Marking19.

[TheEternaut]

MY GOODNESS!!! I have got some recordings of Heifetz at home in CD's (playing Sibelius, Tchaicovsky, Wienawski, Saint-Saens, Glazunov, Sarasate) but this guy never ceases to amaze me with his devlish speed and coordination!! He sounds like no other violin player I have ever heard. Five stars are not enough to valuate this show of heavenly performance. My thanks, Marking