REVIEW: Impex Reissue of Jascha Heifetz Playing "The Lark" and more...

A detailed discussion and review of Impex's new deluxe vinyl reissue of a classic Jascha Heifetz record - in Glorious MONO! Plus a quick look at more Heifetz on AAA reissue vinyl....
Impex: www.impexrecords.com/the-lark...
Incidentally, in discussing restoration engineer Andreas Meyer, I mistakenly gave him credit for engineering Murray Perahia's later Sony recordings - that engineer/producer was, in fact, Andreas Neubronner. Mea culpa. However, I was correct in attributing much of the excellent remastering work on Sony's classical reissue boxes to Mr. Meyer. His work in this area is stellar.
You can read my articles and reviews at trackingangle.com
You can read Michael Johnson's far more detailed Tracking Angle review, full of his characteristic insights, here: trackingangle.com/music/heife...
Watch the first Classical Bums Livestream here: kzbin.infoi91PEFQq...
Follow me on instagram: / music_on_record
Recommended channels for classical music fans and collectors:
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by David Hurwitz
kzbin.info/door/Sf-...
Poetry On Plastic
kzbin.info/door/ShT...
Flowering Spikes
www.youtube.com/@FLOWERINGSPI...
An invaluable guide to all the different pressings of the main classical labels:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iJYk...
Another excellent resource for new classical recordings is BBC Radio 3's long-standing weekly broadcast "Record Review". Shows remain available to listen to for 30 days after first broadcast:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06w...
My system, which has evolved over 20-plus years, is tube based and many pieces were acquired used. It was mostly put together with the invaluable help and ears of Eliot Midwood at Acoustic Image (acousticimage.com) who is also responsible for many of the fine recordings on the Yarlung label.
Well-Tempered Classic Turntable (round motor)
Micro-Benz Ruby 2 MC Cartridge
Phonostage: L.A. Audio (currently out of commission - so I am using the stellar Schiit Mani 2 phonostage)
Cary Audio CD/SACD 306
Preamp: Kora Equinoxe
Amps: Genesis Monoblocks 60 Amp Valve
Speakers: Silverline Sonatas with upgraded crossover and tweeters (Dynaudio)
Cabling: Aural Symphonics
Custom-made stands, with a Townshend Seismic Sink for the Well-Tempered turntable

[@nigelmasters8552]

Hi there, so very glad to have you back on. Looking forward to your further reviews.

[@NotedArchived]

Beauty, Mark. What a lovely release. Hope Abey and Impex does more in this vein. Cheers!

[@musiconrecord6724]

For sure! Cheers, Michael!

[@peterbanks4262]

Love your enthusiasm and respect your knowledge

[@celtic-audiophile]

Played it twice today, just stunning

[@Andrew_from_Oz_Vinyl_Landscape]

Great job Mark, the best review of this reissue I have watched

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thanks!

[@TL3721]

So nice to have you back!!! I just bought this phenomenal record in Hong Kong a few days ago, absolutely superb 😊

[@raywelsh5335]

Couldn't agree more -Beautiful.

[@danielemastrangelo8016]

It’s important that you put your attention on the new liner notes: they (I mean new booklets) should be part of all the reissues that aspire to be serious, audiophile, for the ages. If the new vinyls express our taste about sound, they should be matched by our historical knowledge about the specific interpretation we are hearing. This is a flow in the otherwise wonderful “DG Original Source” (for example).

[@musiconrecord6724]

I agree.

[@chiphoward5863]

Thank you so much for this. Just purchased!

[@henryoliver2833]

Welcome back! Please keep the channel going!

[@musiconrecord6724]

I will do my best.....!!! Thanks so much for the encouragement.

[@Monterey_Tom]

Excellent review. I also purchased a few weeks ago and love it. Very happy to see your return. Hopefully more from you in the near future.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Will do my best.....

[@MichaelVinyl75]

Great video Mark! And nice to see something new from you. I just ordered "The Lark". Hope to have it in the next days.

[@glennsolva1567]

A very BIG welcome back!! I've missed you although I know why you've been absent. What a lovely release. Also great to see the George Szell box behind you in the video. I got it recently together with the Mitropoulos box also from Sony Classics. Take good care of yourself & here's hoping for more videos. Best regards from Sweden. 🎼🎶🎶🎶

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thanks so much. I bet that Mitropolous is wonderful. I have my eye on the Robert Craft box. (The Ormandy mono is superb too).

[@JazzBums]

Chuck's book Sessions with Sinatra is fantastic, my #1 source when I was collecting Frank's catalogue. Chuck is also is in charge of Frank's Columbia catalogue at Sony, and was behind Impex's reissue of Sing and Dance w/ Frank Sinatra. Fantastic review of the Heifetz! I have my copy by my side and am now ready for my first listen! -- Mike

[@musiconrecord6724]

You'll love it! I've been eying that Impex Sinatra release.... The book is clearly a mandatory purchase.

[@alienglassii435]

So great to see a new video from you! Please keep them coming!!

[@rc2257]

Thanks for such a thoughtful, detailed review. I have a dozen titles on Impex and every one of them is superb. Impex is picky about the recordings it reissues, and it does an exceptional job squeezing out the best and most natural sound quality. I love them.

[@MarkChristensen-yw9kz]

After discovering Heifetz in a thrift store (his solo Bach partiita box set for .99) oh those were the days! I've been hooked and buying everything I come across. His playing is astounding and jaw dropping to me. I have no problem paying modern prices also, this record is worth every penny! Well done Impex!

[@johnlamarca3339]

Welcome back, Mark! I have a copy of this on pre-order. I’m really looking forward to it, and to more of your videos. Keep them coming please!

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thanks! You'll love it!

[@ThePressingMatters]

This was a great discussion of this amazing record. I agree with you on all points. I've been playing this since it arrived and am so impressed with Impex.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thanks, Scott! It really is wonderful, isn't it?

[@JamesHLee-un8un]

Welcome back

[@dat1phoenix173]

Thank you for your honest review and opinion!

[@retohofmann5878]

Oh, they did it on Studer?!

[@musiconrecord6724]

Yup!

[@chickenringNYC]

Even worth mentioning that they BEAT the competition in pricing. $39.99 for this? Versus what DG is charging for Original Source?? C'mon! Cheers!

[@musiconrecord6724]

I was wondering when someone was going to mention this..... C'mon indeed.

[@robertedwards3654]

I'm listening to it on Spotify (sorry) but thanks for alerting me to this wonderful recording.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Important thing is you are listening!

[@heifetz14]

Heifetz also recorded the 2nd concerto of C.T. It is called "The Prophets".. Great to see George in the background. A stunning box set.

[@musiconrecord6724]

It really is!

[@GP52408]

Game-changing stuff coming up? I'd better start pinching pennies! Thanks for this review; I'm anxiously awaiting my copy. l love it that Impex included such detailed information about the transfer.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Everything about this release is a model for how other companies should be doing reissues.

[@fredericmorris2931]

Delightful video, looking forward to the record. Appears Impex did this one like ERC at a reasonable price!

[@musiconrecord6724]

It can be done. ERC is such a rip-off. They could always do a double-tier release, priced accordingly. So many of those titles (especially the early French stuff) are drool-making, but those who would most appreciate them cannot possibly afford them.

[@analogueanorak1904]

Hi Mark, what a treat this morning to come across your review of this exciting mono release. I have already pre ordered a copy and hope this release generates more interest in revisiting the mono classical gems that are seriously underestimated due to only being available through 1950’s cutting technology and the ravages of time or through CD which often completely loses the magic available in spades via vinyl. My knowledge of Analogphonic techniques is patchy as far as the possible digital involvement of most of their Decca mono resurrections but did notice the Campoli encores lp did have etched in the dead wax used the EBS all analogue pathway; which none of their Fournier recordings mention.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Even if mastered from digital, anything cut by EBS is going to be of very high quality. Their set of the Pierre Fornier/Friedrich Gulda Beethoven 'cello sonatas is cut from digital, and one need make no allowances. But analogue done right always has a certain "magic", as you rightly say.

[@Andrew_from_Oz_Vinyl_Landscape]

Love ur content, and agree about Milstein preference , but doesn’t mean Heifetz isn’t amazing, but additionally I do generally prefer Guarneri violin sounds

[@musiconrecord6724]

What a sound!

[@recordhead]

I'm a newbie and I know (for me) it's overkill but, I can't take my eyes off the Szell box in the background. Or the crooked lampshade.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Then my evil plan has worked.......!!!!!😎