Artist(s): Heifetz, Jascha
Label: Naxos Historical
Series: Great Violinists
Genre: Concerto; Orchestral
Period: 20th Century; Romantic
Catalogue No: 8.111367
Barcode: 747313336722
Distribution Note(s):
Not available in the United States due to possible copyright restrictions.
Release Date: 04/2011

WALTON, W.: Violin Concerto / CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO, M.: Violin Concerto No. 2 (Heifetz) (1950-1954)

William Walton’s Violin Concerto, heard here in its revised version in a now legendary recording conducted by the composer, was undoubtedly Jascha Heifetz’s most successful commission. Like the other Romantic works on this disc by Camille Saint-Saëns and Christian Sinding, it perfectly suited Heifetz’s polished elegance and scintillating virtuosity. Written for and premièred by Heifetz, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Second Violin Concerto was described by the composer as ‘a kind of Biblical concerto, an evocation of times in the glorious past’. Although the work predates the composer’s Hollywood days by seven years, any one of the three movements, which portray the Old Testament prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Elijah, would not be out of place as part of the soundtrack to an epic, Biblical film.

Tracklist

Walton, William
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Walton, William (Conductor)
1I. Andante tranquillo09:49
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Walton, William (Conductor)
2II. Presto capriccioso alla napolitana05:50
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Walton, William (Conductor)
3III. Vivace11:14
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Walton, William (Conductor)
Saint-Saëns, Camille
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Steinberg, William (Conductor)
4Havanaise, Op. 8309:19
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Steinberg, William (Conductor)
Sinding, Christian
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Wallenstein, Alfred (Conductor)
5I. Presto01:46
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Wallenstein, Alfred (Conductor)
6II. Adagio05:20
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Wallenstein, Alfred (Conductor)
7III. Tempo giusto04:40
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Wallenstein, Alfred (Conductor)
Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mario
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Wallenstein, Alfred (Conductor)
8I. Isaiah: Grave e meditative12:23
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Wallenstein, Alfred (Conductor)
9II. Jeremiah: Espressivo e dolente09:34
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Wallenstein, Alfred (Conductor)
10III. Elijah: Fiero e impetuoso (ma sostenuto e ben marcato il ritmo)07:30
Heifetz, Jascha (violin)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)
Wallenstein, Alfred (Conductor)

Total Playing Time: 01:17:25