Search - Jascha Heifetz :: Jascha Heifetz (Complete Original Jacket Collection) (104 CD)

This monumental set - the biggest CD edition for a classical solo artist in the world - contains more than 2.5 hours of previously unissued Heifetz recordings in an unparalleled collection of 103 CDs and a bonus DVD containing video of Heifetz in performance. It is accompanied by a 312-page hardback book, which contains an original essay by John and John Anthony Maltese, rare photos, and a complete Heifetz discography. The incredible recorded legacy contained in this collection spans 55 years of Heifetz's career: from his first recording session for Victor, just days after his triumphant 1917 Carnegie Hall debut, to his last public recital in October 1972. In between are decades of benchmark recordings and legendary collaborations with many of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century. Through them all, the Heifetz magic shines through: his unforgettable mixture of intensity and aristocracy grounded in impeccable technique, tonal purity, and rhythmic control, all of which he combined to create an absolutely unique sound. The repertoire is vast: staples of the concerto, sonata, and chamber music literature alongside rarely performed gems. Included are world premiere recordings of concertos by Sibelius, Prokofiev, Korngold, Walton, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Gruenberg, and Rózsa. Rounding out the collection are dozens of short pieces played in Heifetz's inimitable style. Among them are many of his own acclaimed transcriptions, including his only stereo recordings of selections from Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess." These recordings are presented as originally issued on LP by RCA Red Seal, Columbia Masterworks, and Vox cum Laude. Original jacket covers AND original labels are reproduced as they first appeared. Bonus CDs contain previously unreleased recordings dating from 1934 to 1964 of concertos, sonatas, and chamber music. These include a performance of the Brahms concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Serge Koussevitzky that Heifetz recorded a year and half before the familiar issued version. This beautifully crafted and carefully restored collection will allow a new generation to discover the Heifetz magic, and will remind the rest of us why the great critic Deems Taylor once wrote that Heifetz has "only one rival, one violinist whom he is trying to beat: Jascha Heifetz."