Brahms / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos [Hybrid SACD - DSD, Original recording remastered]

Johannes Brahms (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Fritz Reiner (Conductor), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Jascha Heifetz (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Jascha Heifetz
• Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Fritz Reiner
• Composer: Johannes Brahms, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
• Audio CD (July 26, 2005)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD, Original recording remastered
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B0009U55RE
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,351 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #41 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Strings > Violin
  • #52 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > General Modern
  • #64 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > General AAS

Track Listings

1. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77: Allegro non troppo

2. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77: Adagio

3. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace

4. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35: Allegro moderato

5. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35: Canzonetta: Andante

6. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35: Allegro vivacissimo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legendary performances in sound that shows what's going on, May 1, 2006

By 

Larry VanDeSande - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Brahms / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

While I believe the Brahms violin concerton is the "Emporer" of violin concertos -- principally for its well-developed architecture -- I never cared much for Heifitz's version of the concerto. Although his early stereo recording with the Chicago Symphony and Reiner was played up to his standard, I always thought their collaboration produced an impatient recording, as if they couldn't get it finished quickly enough.

What a difference SACD makes! Now, when I listen to this work, I have a much different reaction. Hearing Heifitz located on the stage just a few steps from where Reiner is leading his band, this now sounds to me more impassioned than ever before, as if the chemistry between the two highly driven performers and the virtuoso orchestra resulted in a fast reading that was driven by a burning passion and not impatience.

So what happened; does the SACD recording show a different reality or did I just get older and appreciate the greatness of these performers more in my maturity?

I think both things happened. I know I appreciate Heifitz a lot more in SACD than I ever did in stereo and the sound on this SACD -- especially when I listen with headphones -- brings dimension to the recording that never existed before. It also shows the level of detail Reiner required from his orchestra and its ability to meet his technical demands.

I enjoyed the Tchaikovksy concerto that is mated with the Brahms here but less so. The chemistry doesn't seem to be the same between the partners, who were both high profile literalits in mid 20th century. Their collective insistence on literalism probably took some of the Slavic character away from the Tchaikovsky concerto, making it another top European concerto from the late Romantic period instead of an individual opus.

I listened to Heifitz's SACD recording of the Sibelius concerto after hearing the Tchaikovksy. There, Heifitz delivered a more characterful and intense performance that projected the icy Scandanavian nature of the composer. This is the element I think the Tchaikovsky concerto lacks -- the overwhelming passion of the emotionally charged and conflicted Russian composer.

Still, this is a great CD replicated in up to the minute super audio sound that usesof all three forward speakers without surround sound. RCA tells us in its technical packaging that the third speaker is a come and go proposition in SACD reissues because that's the way they were recorded. I noticed the middle channel in use every time I got next to the speaker in this recording.

This should appeal to music historians, fans of the two concertos, musicologists and audiophiles that want to know what three-channel recordings sounded like in the early days of stereo. Even this slight misgiving I have about the Tchaikovsky, this CD powerfully appeals to me.

29 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heifetz deserves this new technology, January 29, 2006

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brahms / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

The violini is the most difficult instrument to record, and when digital sound came in during the Eighties, music lovers were dismayed by the edgy, glassy harshness of violin recordings, both solo and orchestral. Compared to the warmer, more natural sound of the best LPs, the advent of CDs was a huge step backward. Upgrades into 20-bit and 24-bit technology improved matters somewhat, but only now, with SACD, are we back to violin recordings that don't make you wince.

This classic pairing of Brahms and Tchaikovsky concertos with Heifetz and Reiner was always in good sound, despite the early recording dates, 1955 and 1957 respectively (the Tchaikovsky being the far superior one sonically). I bought this hybrid SACD to play in normal two-channel CD format, and it is impeccable. There is still a hint of wiriness in Heifetz's tone in the Brahms, but the Tchaikovsky sounds completely natural. Heifetz is far from my favorite violinist, but he deserves the best sound possible, and for the time being at least, he has it.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best version of the Tchaikovsky!, November 13, 2008

By 

P. H. (Summerfield, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brahms / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

Tchaikovsky aspired to be the Russian Beethoven. More than any other pairing, Heifetz and Reiner understand this and perform the violin concerto accordingly. With admirable virtuoso playing by the Chicago Symphony and sound that is very accurate for Orchestra Hall at the time this recording was made, this is an astonishing document. As a bonus, you will enjoy Conti's reference to the concerto's first movement in his music for "The Right Stuff," Reiner/Chicago make this abundantly clear. No other recording of this concerto comes remotely close to the power of this one. And Heifetz, unlike the majority of other famous violinists, plays all the notes, in tune, in tempo, including the last two (no falsetto here)! A fitting testament to the Orchestra Hall performances I saw with Heifetz performing; my personal favorite and a real barn-burner.