Heifetz: Double Concertos [Hybrid SACD] [HYBRID SACD] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Gregor Piatigorsky (Performer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Johannes Brahms (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Alfred Wallenstein (Conductor), Izler Solomon (Conductor), Malcolm Sargent (Conductor), Thornton Lofthouse (Performer), New Symphony Orchestra of London (Orchestra), RCA Victor Orchestra (Orchestra), William Primrose (Performer), Erick Friedman (Performer), Jascha Heifetz (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Gregor Piatigorsky, Thornton Lofthouse, William Primrose, Erick Friedman, Jascha Heifetz
• Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra of London, RCA Victor Orchestra
• Conductor: Alfred Wallenstein, Izler Solomon, Malcolm Sargent
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Audio CD (January 23, 2007)
• SPARS Code: A-D
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD, Original recording remastered
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000KP7LYS
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #110,482 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #17 in	Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( H ) > Heifetz, Jascha
  #47 in	Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Symphonies > Sinfonia Concertante

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice Brahms - So-so Bach and Mozart, April 4, 2009

By	Virginia Opera Fan (Falls Church, VA USA) - See all my reviews

The Brahms "Double" is the best thing on this collection of Heifetz items. The chamber music partnership of Heifetz and Piatigorsky is evident in the soloists interplay and Wallenstein and the pick orchestra provide good accompaniment. The three track 1960 sound has held up well in the SACD remastering. Audiophiles should investigate the excellent Pentatone issue (Fischer/Muller-Schott/Kreizberg) coupled with Fischer's excellent reading of the Brahms Violin Concerto in state of the art sound.

The Mozart Sinfonia concertante receives a decent performance even though a little hard driven for my taste. The 1956 three track recording is nothing special - claustrophobic and with more grain and hiss than we've come to expect from this series of re-issues.

The Bach is an improvement on Heifetz' harsh and brutal monophonic version (accompanying himself through the miracle of tape recording). It still sounds rushed and perfunctory - clocking in at 14:35 compared to the recent lickety split Hahn/Batjer/Kahane version at 14:25. Heifetz also indulges in swoopy portamento in the Largo (a anachronism his partner Friedman largely avoids). Sargent is OK as an accompanist, unstylish retards aside. The two channel stereo is decent 1961 vintage.

On balance, this one is for Heifetz fans and the curious. The modest price shouldn't be a deterrant. If you own the earlier Living Stereo issue, don't feel compelled to replace it with the SACD. The improvement is marginal at best.