In reissuing its vintage stereo recordings, RCA either reproduces the original albums as they were released on LP, or combines several recordings into much fuller programs. Fortunately, the second option pertains to this SACD of
Jascha Heifetz's masterful performances of violin concertos by Sibelius,
Prokofiev, and Glazunov; listeners get well over an hour of great music.
Heifetz recorded Sibelius' Concerto and
Prokofiev's Concerto No. 2 in 1959, and these were released on LP, with Walter Hendl and the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the former, and with
Charles Münch and the
Boston Symphony Orchestra in the latter; the Glazunov Concerto was recorded in 1963, with Hendl leading the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra. As varied as the conductors, ensembles, and venues are, there is remarkable consistency in the excellence of the recordings.
Heifetz is always in complete control, and his awe-inspiring playing binds these performances together. In terms of reproduction,
Heifetz is always distinctly separated from the orchestral accompaniment, and the three ensembles are reproduced with natural depth in the three-track masters. On multichannel systems, these tracks will be heard only on the front left, center, and right channels, so there is no studio tinkering to simulate surround sound. For
Heifetz fans who want to hear every astonishing detail, this is an ideal disc.