Customer Reviews

Bruch: Concerto for violin in Gm; Scottish Fantasy

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These classic recordings were issued in the early 1960s in excellent sound. Unlike many earlier Heifetz records, you don't have to make allowances for the substandard, boxy sound that seems to be the norm for the majority of Heifetz recordings from the 1950's (the Brahms Concerto being a notable exception). The performances are first-rate, especially the Scottish Fantasy. This has been recorded by quite a few violinists (Perlman, Chung, etc.), but nobody else comes close to the awesome exhibition of virtuosity Heifetz provides. Perhaps you have to play the violin to grasp what you're hearing, but the Finale is hair-raising. Everyone else sounds like they're working hard in the Finale, but not Jascha. One of the great, classic violin recordings. BUY IT.

I have three recordings of the Bruch VC, Perlman, Midori, Kyung Wha Chung,and all of them are pretty good, with Perlman standing out in the group of three, but when I heard Heifetz's rendition I was blown away. The 1st movement, which is played quite often, had a new flair to it that made me feel like i HADNT heard the piece 1000 times. The second movement was very heartfelt and the best I have heard, along with the technically perfect 3rd mvt. As for the Scottish Fantasy, it's the best around, and I havent really listened to teh Vieuxtemps yet, but so far an AWESOME CD, especially the VC, a must have!!!!

Bruch concerto he did very well. It's quite a thrill to hear especially the first movement with his intrepretation and speed. If you like his style I also recommand his Sibelius concerto in D, listen to the third movement that's where Hifetz definitely earned himself his fame. The Scottish fantacy he played is definitely the best I've ever heard, as compared to Midori, Pearlman etc. if not my subjective opinion, listen for the precision which is really impressive and what he was well known for. sadly, his Vieuxtemps wasn't so precise. The mid parts of the first movement gets rough as the notes accelerate. The scratches are not hard to find and any novice could notice them. I think he might be getting old and perhaps couldn't summon up enough stamina to put up with the flashy scales. That however, being a fan of Heiftz myself would understand since this was quite common in his late works and it happens to all musicians. He did well in the third movement though. It's a short 1 min and 10 sec movement and there was a thrust of energy that Mr. Heifetz gave in the final ascend which energized it to perfection. Unlike Sarah Chang's intrepretation I personally enjoyed Heifetz's better. He is the kind of man that makes exciting pieces aflame. Anyways, I give it a 5 star in spite of the flaws in Vieuxtems. He did so well in the parts I described above, far surpassing any of his contemperories and even the generations nowadays. trust me it's worth it. Buy his Sibelius too and listen to the third movement.

Bruch's Scottish Fantasy, not as oft played as the famous violin concerto, definitely deserves a wider audience. It does suffer, however, from being able to irritate (at least this listener) if not well-performed. The piece to me seems to tell a story as well as being a model for violin virtuosity, although not for virtuosity's sake.

Heifetz has the full measure of the piece, and is well-partnered and accompanied. He can tell the story, and of course, he can play ALL of the notes. Meyers (w/ Lopez-Cobos on BMG/RCA) in this piece might have a leg up on the introduction: truly a breath-taking experience; but Heifetz will definitely satisfy.

However, I find the Bruck VC to be a little more cold than I like. Lin has a great conception for this work; although my absolute favorite is Gitlis on Vox (okay, that whole set of Gitlis's work is one of the greatest violin treasuries of all time).

Vieuxtemps is a flashy piece that can't really hold my attention beyond the first movement.

The quicksilver of Heifetz is well suited to the modest but attractive Fifth concerto of Vieuxtemps...And Sir Malcolm provides a musical and well recorded accompaniment...The balance of the soloist is rather close, but the digital remastering is succesful and the couplings are both attractive and generous...
Good job.

Bruch's Scottish Fantasy, not as oft played as the famous violin concerto, definitely deserves a wider audience. It does suffer, however, from being able to irritate (at least this listener) if not well-performed. The piece to me seems to tell a story as well as being a model for violin virtuosity, although not for virtuosity's sake.

Heifetz has the full measure of the piece, and is well-partnered and accompanied. He can tell the story, and of course, he can play ALL of the notes. Meyers (w/ Lopez-Cobos on BMG/RCA) in this piece might have a leg up on the introduction: truly a breath-taking experience; but Heifetz will definitely satisfy.

However, I find the Bruck VC to be a little more cold than I like. Lin has a great conception for this work; although my absolute favorite is Gitlis on Vox (okay, that whole set of Gitlis's work is one of the greatest violin treasuries of all time).

Vieuxtemps is a flashy piece that can't really hold my attention beyond the first movement.

For my taste, Jascha Heifetz has been the greatest violinist ever.
He did many great recordings of principal violin works by the most
important composers. Max Bruch was for sure included in his repertoire,
so we can listen here a wonderful Violin Concerto Nr.1, but the real
hors concors belongs to the Scottish Fantasy, that is the best recording
of this work available. This is a gem from the complete Heifetz series.

I say this, because in Bruch's violin concerto I prefer Salvatore Accardo-Kurt Masur version with the Gewandhaus Orch., like we know the absolute reference for this work, now in a bargain title in "eloquence" series, and I think that Oistrach-von Matacic, Grumiaux-Wallberg, Vengerov-Masur are also magnific versions of this work (more than Perlman, Chung or Lin' versions mentioned here). For my taste in Heifetz hands the last movt. is something fast, this is a virtuosistic version and I prefer a poetic one. But, Heifetz is Heifetz, and indeed this is an interesting version of this work. Instead, in Scottisch Fantasy Heifetz is the number one, because this is a more appropiated work for his style and also in Vieuxtemp's concerto, 5 stars for him in both works. ¡Excellent sound for a 1960's recording!. Oscar Olavarría, Santiago, Chile.

This is my all time favorite...Scottish Fantasies by Jascha Heifetz, a superb master of the violin. This is a beautiful piece accompanied by thrilling virtuosity of the instrument, I never tire of listeniing to it

I agree with many of the reviews here about Heifetz's remarkable performance of the Scottish Fantasy on this disc. I would recommend it for that alone. I have multiple versions that are all serviceable enough but I had always regarded the piece as fairly lightweight - a bit of a "puff" piece to show off a violinist's technique - a little like a Sarasate encore. Enjoyable enough but not something to return to for regular listening or deep insights. And then I came across this performance. Somehow Heifetz imbues the violin line with such utter conviction and "rightness" that you will, by the end, be totally convinced that he has stumbled upon a great, undiscovered concertante work. Coupled with his technical prowess, his "muscularity" and the sheer showman's bravura he brings to it all this is, as some others have observed, almost like listening to a completely different piece of music to the many other recordings out there. Amazing in all respects. Well worth seeking out and the audio is fantastic for a 50 year old recording.