J. Heifetz Plays Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (4/4)

[srinitaaigaura]

Actually with the plugins we have today, we could enhance anybody's recording to approximately simulate concert hall sound -- and to say the least, the results are breathtaking, especially the remastered recordings.

[srinitaaigaura]

@ipmoic @assindiastignani In a large hall, the sound of those double stop ricochets (or spiccato) at 7:20 would have been incredible. I don't think anyone plays them with such full bodied tone as Heifetz does. Sound quality is better if you download it, Youtube compression to blame.

Proper graphic equalizer settings enhancing the lower frequencies plus a reverb plugin to simulate everything from room size to humidity turned this into a warm very luminous sound - mostly removed that harsh edge.

[hjdjoo]

Am I one of the few people whose favorite recording of the Tchaikovsky is this one? There aren't so many romanticisms and liberties taken as in other interpretations, but for me, Heifetz brings technical perfection to such a level to impart emotion without the need for excessive coloration. But then again, as with everything in music, that's "just my opinion..."

[zolochnaya]

I think Oistrakh has it on fingering and coloring the music, Heifetz has it on technical ability, and Zimmerman has it on everything! God Bless a great violinist!

[JC5268]

Those artificial harmonics and fast notes! Even a cello guy like me goes thumbs up

[elzbieta52]

What fingering. Whoa!

[kehj0131]

I really love how I can finally hear some parts of this song as fast. Maybe not using poco rit. on some of the 'would-be-slower-parts' makes it sound unique and different.

[radiootoo]

The wondrous thing about YouTube is that we can hear and compare all the favorite posted interpretations in a single sitting! This HAS to be the best thing since Gutenberg!

[Lassannn]

Heifetz is the only player I've heard who can play the final high note with vibrato. It only lasts about 1/5 of a second, and he still manages to put some emotion into it. What emotion! This man was the greatest of the age of record. Misch Elman and Nathan Milstein, and all the boys, you know, they're superb, but this man is superlative for the 20th Century.

[lachendeindiaan]

@Lassannn ik ben het volledig met u eens

[Levill91]

Sencillamente brillante... la verdad es que es la mejor interpretación que he escuchado de este concierto.

[rociolumieredelune]

Well everybody has an opinion, i do like heifetz and i think there are other violinist that are very good also, but you can´t deny heifetz is really amazing and i belive that he is both a violinist and a musician he was a virtuoso, but of course everybody has the right to disagree...

[MrDouglasfairbanks]

heifetz crashes the violin and literally murders this darn thing to death!

listen to suwanai or anne sophie mutter and you will be listening to some of the best recordings of the tchaikovsky!

heifetz really is not the greatest violinist in the world there are many who are much better!

[violmaster94]

I disagree with these statements. Here's why. There are indeed places wear the sound from Heifetz's instrument is not good but he is the only one that is able to play this technically advance peace so easily so that he can forcus on the expression and emotion of climatic entrances. Suwanai is known to have practiced way to much thus murdering the innate ability to judge a piece musically. The word violinist is described to a person who can technically play the violin. (I stress technically).

[violmaster94]

As i was saying.

A violist is someone who can play the viola to its technical effeciences. However an instrumentalist/ musician is someone that can interpret well and give feeling. Heifetz wasn't the best musician however he was the best violinist who could bring a piece of music to attention in seconds and change every fingering in an hour. Born a prodigy and performing the mendelssohn at the age of 7 I highly doubt that he can not be seen as the greatest violinist of the time.

[violmaster94]

I do agree with you on one matter. It isn't the best recording by one of them. Mutter's is outstanding

[JC5268]

@violmaster94 I have to agree with you! I'm not saying that Heifetz's is bad or anything like that, and I'm a great fan of Heifetz too, but sometimes what he plays become too mechanical and technically perfect, and most of the time it is the technical imperfections and the innate musical quality that makes music interesting. For this violin concerto, I'd prefer Mutter+Karajan+VPO.

[carrottoponcrak]

shame on you sir

[rapter9800]

@MrDouglasfairbanks And what makes you qualified to make that statement? After all, Itzhak Perlman, Mischa Elman, Ivry Gitlis, Fritz Kreisler, Arthur Nikisch, etc would all like to differ, and I think that their opinions carry much more weight than your

[Ralessi]

Leonid Kogan's is the single greatest recording of this piece ever.... honestly it's quite possibly one of the greatest recordings in classical music.

[chicagoman58]

always gives me goosebumps!

[rapter9800]

Every time I listen to this I am stunned by the totally amazing articulation!

[demdio07]

this concerto blows me away every time I listen to it (and I've listened to it a lot)

[chazzunusmaven]

According to all of the reports and accounts of Heifetz' preferences, he prefered to be right on top of the microphone.

[ipmoic]

Magnificent. Perhaps Heifetz is recorded just a bit too closely with the microphones? His amazing, yet cutting, tone made for him being heard clearly even in the uppermost regions of a theater's balcony, but perhaps a foot further back would have been advisable in this recording? Just a comment. Also, what wonderful wind players from the great days of the Chicago symphony--couldn't be better! An unsurpassed recording for me.

[Sinfoniette]

Yes, Heifetz has that stormy edge which is found nowhere, even in the great Oistrakh. And I find no problem with the recording process, frankly; that having said, I have a low expectation for sound quality. Heck, it just needs to be great music!

[assindiastignani]

@ipmoic I agree with you, but a producer at RCA once told that this is the way Heifetz wanted it: the microphone as close to the bridge of the violin as possible, and noone could talk him out of it, although many tried...As for Chicago under Reiner - what is there to say? That is THE standard for all time

[Sinfoniette]

You're welcome. ;)

It is a great concerto...

[RabidCh]

Thanks for posting this :)

[CsOH23]

I love this concerto!