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Title: Heifetz Shows How it's Done
Review: The last century produced many great concert violinists but the best of them all was Jascha Heifetz. Here he performs two works by Max Bruch and Henri Vieuxtemps' 5th Concerto. These recordings were made in the early 1960s long before Mr. Dolby's noise reduction inventions so you'll hear some tape hiss. However, this CD isn't about sound quality, it's about how well Mr. Heifetz plays the fiddle. His performance of Bruch's Concerto No. 1 in G-minor demonstrates why it should remain in the repertoire. It compares well with Brahms' violin concerto. No matter how difficult the passage, Heifetz tosses it off effortlessly while conveying all the passion and romanticism of the music. Bruch's Scottish Fantasy is a delight and the lesser known Vieuxtemps work is full of virtuosities that Heifetz surmounts with aplomb. Listen to these works by other violinists and Heifetz invites you to compare his performances with theirs. Heifetz always comes out on top. No contest.
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