Sibelius: Violin Concerto (Heifetz)

Jascha Heifetz, violinist
Sir Thomas Beecham, London Philharmonic
Recorded November 26, 1935

[@kpokpojiji]

Someone once said to Vladimir Horowitz after a performance, "you played that piece perfectly". To which Horowitz replied, "I played it perfectly? I did not play it perfectly. I have never played anything perfectly. I am not Heifetz."

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

Rubinstein wrote in 1953!Hoeowitz and Rubinstein had salary concert fee 3000$! Heifetz was the highest paid classical player with 6000$ concert payment fee in 1953! Horowitz his Metropolitan Opera House concert in 1974 had ticket sales 100000$! 200 tickets cost 200$ and 3000 tickets costed 20$! Horowitz was paid 70000-80000$ that concert!!

[@brynjarhoff-lr6hw]

I have 3 or 4 recordings of Sibelius with Heifetz and all gives me the greatest pleasure and happyness!

[@sarahdubois2386]

let's not forget that it was primarily due to Heifetz that the worldwide level of aspiring young soloist went through the roof. he's still the gold standard

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

Rubinstein wrote his biography concert payments in 1953!Runinstein and Horowitz was paid 3000$ a concert in 1953!Heifetz was highest paid concert fee was 6000$ in 1953! That 3000$is about 48000$todays money! Heifetz's 6000$ might be over 63000$ todays money! Horowitz in 1974 his Metropolitan Opera house re ital the ticket sales was 100000$! Horowitz's this recital 200 tickets costs 200$ and 3000 tickets costed 20$ so we get 100000$

[@hoalexander4024]

Greatest recording ever made the time of Jean Sibelius. Orchestra conjoined a virtuosos viloinst playing absolutely wonderful soundtrack no doubt represents Finland soul the musical notes each inches touching our heart lingering echo lasting unbroken aggravated moods erupted feeling inflitering our original human mind instinct resulted from unidentical movement.

[@user-pj1jy6fh7r]

Простой охранник из России, слушаю и люблю с молодости! Люди богоподобны через творчество!

[@chipmousecott4051]

The more you listen, the more you love music, the more you enjoy life

[@vvmaster2010]

His speed is unmatched! And the sound and accuracy is nearly perfect.

[@osmarmayoral3996]

Heifetz is a violinist of violinist - supreme. Violinists come to listen as yours truly !!!

[@rcoates07]

For me, Heifetz rides this one like a big wave .... I love it.

[@Dylonely42]

Sibelius was still alive when he recorded his playing.

[@JitendraThakur-tp6ym]

God of the Violin

[@rubydog25]

A level of this caliber can be reached in any skill at all, yet the sacrifices one makes to reach some place are often not realized. Be happy and thankfull for the fine people out there works fantasticly hard to bring you gifts like this.

[@kerenyu]

Heifetz's great performance make me cry :))

[@rogerwinklerphoto]

This is my all time favorite interpretation of one of the richest pieces ever composed...or maybe it's just the way that Jascha Heifetz renders this work....It's breathtakingly inspiring... "Bravo" is too shy a word!

[@RamSadeh]

Breathtaking indeed

[@ZosimoLee]

Heifetz sets the highest standard for how Sibelius (and others) is to be played. That such a violinist lived, and we have his recordings, is such a heartening thought. There will always be this wonderful music to listen to and savor.

[@wisdomoftheearlychristians2037]

Yes, honestly I just got done listening to Hahn, and Vengerov play this, and then listening to the clarity, the absolute elucidation of every note in the beginning, makes me say, " Ohh". THAT's what was written. It sounds like completely different pieces. It's true, modern versions sound much more dramatic to me, but none have this "I don't even know what to call it".

[@edwardgoldsmith8011]

The greatest of them àll.the tonenation.the bowing the clear full tones of well precise beauty only Heifetz.

[@elenakun9318]

Эта игра!.. как закллинание! Это щемящее звучание скрипки сжимает сердце!...

[@jbrun3]

It's definitely distracting in the beginning to hear everything higher up, but let's be honest, this is some of the finest violin playing ever recorded. This is a 34-year-old Heifetz playing one of the most technically demanding pieces in the repertoire of the instrument. Total command of the technical elements, start to finish. And I hear emotion in there as well.

[@freddymaf7754]

All that, and then this near afterthought: "And I hear emotion in there as well." But that, for me, is more the problem: I'd have preferred more emotion and less dexterity. Heifetz is wonderful, but he is of course far from the only great violinist. I love this piece by Sibelius, and I also love that there are many and quite different versions of it for the listening.

[@Rwthless1]

I agree. There are other interpretations, but I like this one for its special qualities. As a very mediocre violinist myself, I can only learn from others. Maybe he was nervous too.

[@nattylambert2228]

Agreed the third movement is one of the all-time great virtuoso tracks.

[@TheAmer891]

you have to playback at 0,75... but the ginette neveu version is THE NEXT LEVEL ONE (i have been looking for something as good and nothing comes close to her --> do check it out!)

[@aurorafranchi6014]

, @@nattylambert2228

[@zebratee]

I don't know about anyone else but this is my favorite music for many many years maybe 30tys years ago . Don't know a lot about all of the others which I have heard but for me the Violin " I love so much always have how it is suppose to be played I don't know but I just like what I hear and now that I've found it - It's just so comforting for me : )

[@123must]

In my poor opinion, one of the most drmtic and movin' Concert for violin and orchestra ever. Heifetz and Beecham with the London !

[@user-nv1wi8xe5y]

Благодарю Вас, за доставленное удовольствие!🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿 СПАСИБО!!!

[@anahitalboyajyan3703]

GENIUS!!!!!!!🎻

[@leonardomoraga1]

A pesar del ruido de surco del disco, la exquicites de sonido de Heifel es Impresionante ..Chile

[@123must]

Beautiful rendition ! A lot of thanks

[@bungamentari]

perfection

[@reutmanusevich9781]

3:13 brings tears to my eyes every time.and 4:25 starts getting me all tense and exited! i love this peace so much! thank you Heifetz you were a walking masterpiece!

[@bababa0184]

I think 3:13 is more beautiful when played slower.

[@niceguy8935]

@@bababa0184 the stupid recording us sped up

[@RM98105]

Beecham's conducting and the LSO articulation blew me away! Heifetz of course was impressive also. But Beecham brought out orchestral segments that I have not heard nearly as clearly, and on a 1935 recording! I experienced a drama and excitement that made other recordings seem pale in comparison. Plus, Beecham seemed to be in accord with Heifetz. My first exposure to this recording was about 30 years ago. It is my favorite rendition.

[@danbond9689]

Amazing!

[@normanefox]

One way to understand his is playing is to listen to the four master classes from when he taught at USC. They are on KZbin. He appears to understand the music thoroughly and how it should be played and perhaps provide a little insight into why he is so magnificent on this instrument.

[@tigranmargaryan697]

FANTASTIC

[@annjeanmillikan]

Phenomenal and gorgeous performance!

[@jodyballew]

Thanks so much for this video! It's a part of my morning routine.

[@StephaniePatterson359]

The way it should be played!

[@papa_mia4495]

+SD Bass Amen.

[@DanielaHaberz]

You've got the feeling that there is more than one melody played by the same violin at the same time, maybe to express siblings rivalry

[@tofi21]

Goosebumps.

[@jcsf9]

The reason for the sped up quality could just be a result of the transfer of the original tape to digital format, not the actual performance. It is a recording from 1935 after all, when recording technologies were starting to become better and better, so perhaps slowing the audio down to the original performance speed could alleviate some of the complaints people are having.

[@doomknightsepulchure]

I also noticed that all the notes had been brought upward-you are probably right in that the speed up was caused by the transfer, that's why it's in a higher key.

[@brkahn]

There is another transfer by Itapirkanmaa2: he managed to put it in tune. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJitZmuud6erapI&frags=pl%2Cwn

[@sudharmansitaraman8377]

No, in fact at the time the concerto was played at a faster tempo, it was Perlman who popularized the modern slower versions (which I think suits his playing style more than the piece itself). I suppose this version would be more appropriate for someone like Hilary Hahn, but the slower version would suit folks like Maxim Vengerov and Anne Sophie-Mutter

[@user-cl8mi5qk3b]

Measured with A = 440, the pitch is almost E!!!

[@michaelturov4439]

Believe it or not this is God playing ,no matter how bad quality of recording is.

[@paulostroff99]

Superb! TY shallac1925 for posting

[@SatchmoSings]

Sibelius always liked Ida Haendel playing it; you can catch it right here on KZbin but I must admit that Viktor Tretjakov is truly a phenomenon

[@ricardosouza4530]

mesmo a gravação sendo analogica, a sonoridade e exepicionalmente maravilhosa.

[@violinspecialist]

Haven't listened to Heifetz for a long time in Concertos. He is playing faster than usual nowadays but he also creates an illusion of boosting up. Listen to the intensity and the drive, where else we hear that ?? It is like running out of his own place while he is still there at the same spot. In terms of this universe: impossible!!

[@kiarakarmic5004]

IN the realm of vilolin, Heifetz is the prophet the others are merely violinists!

[@SatchmoSings]

You'll notice that as this movement starts, Beecham has the orchestra playing more slowly; it's Heifetz who has Beecham pick up the tempo!

[@brynjarhoff600]

Remember: Sibelius and Heifetz worked together with make this concert Great. Violin teknic with Heifetz!!! Listen!! With great respect Brynjar Hoff

[@tobiolopainto]

There's a great performance of this concerto by Heifetz and Stokowski. Heifetz suppressed it because the orchestra was too loud. But it's a wonderful performance.

[@fatihyilmaz-Gtr]

İnanılmaz bir hakimiyet, mükemmel bir teknik.

[@123must]

2ndvilinist you are wright ! But Heifetz in many and many occasions was very great. Thanks

[@osmarmayoral3996]

Please also listen to his interpretation of the “three heavyweights”: Beethoven; Tchaikovsky; & Brahms !!! Unreal & angelic !!!

[@aleksandertyrala2456]

MAESTRO!!!!!

[@juanmaldecena5678]

10:55 my favourite part. gets me every time

[@valerabuk6860]

ГЕНИАЛЬНО!

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

THE KING IN SIBELIUS VIOLIN CONCERTO VIKTOR TRETJAKOV

[@user-gu6oj7iz5k]

А королева-Хилари Хан.

[@rk2qt]

Sibelius violin concerto in E# minor. Nice...

[@verenaguran3293]

sibelius never heard in this manner."der Schrei" Edvard Munch.Also the conductor and orchestra in perfect understanding

[@ikasutic1280]

❤ ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@RamSadeh]

God's Jewish fiddler. Totally unmatched.

[@kathrynmcmorrow7170]

Bar Harris Sometimes I wonder, being the devil's instrument, and all...maybe he was Lucifer incarnate.

[@RamSadeh]

Nah. To play like this … God’s Jewish fiddler was he

[@user-gu6oj7iz5k]

Гордись не тем, что ты еврей, а что родился в понедельник!

[@meloniejen8400]

Everyone we're going on a field trip! -teleporting back in time to see Heifetz perform, hop in :)

[@opus4]

This sounds nearly a whole step higher than the original key. Yes, it's sped up.

[@STFine]

You're right. It's more than a halfstep high.

[@PaperGrape]

Ugh, it's just so rushed at the end. But that transcendental intensity on that high note at 25:15 reminds me that i would gladly have paid to see Heifetz play, regardless of whether i liked yhe interpretation or not, or whether or not the orchestra was there.. Though he's not nearly my favorite violinist, his '30s recordings are, imho, the greatest violin playing ever. We're lucky that recording technology of any kind was just in time to capture it for us.

[@tanyadixon3479]

Yes, absolutely. Without a doubt. ❤

[@masoncrowder1080]

If you want to listen to this at a bit more musical speed, press the gear button on the bottom right of video and click "speed", then "0.75", and there you go!

[@svitlanaeve3903]

Супер

[@bcarsoon]

The octave passages remind me of what he used to say, that he had to play them a little out-of-tune, otherwise people would not hear them as separate notes (!). Certainly an astonishing virtuoso, but, it seems, applying the same stylistic perspective to about everything he did. And as 2ndviolinist observes, sometimes less appropriately than others. Another piece I find somewhat lacking is his recording of the Mendelssohn Octet, where he seems to revel in standing out from the ensemble.

[@sbeallvln]

Surely there is a way to slow it down to pitch. I would love to hear his interpretation instead of what sounds like a 45 rpm record.

[@sbeallvln]

5:20 They added a flat, making it a different chord. It should be a G-flat major chord going back to B-flat minor, but they changed the B-flat to B-double flat, making the chord a G-flat minor chord going back to B-flat minor. It sounds effective that way but it’s a little arrogant to change Sibelius’s music.

[@user-cl8mi5qk3b]

Measured with A = 440, the pitch is not D but almost E!!!

[@user-eo6qm3pm6i]

Why is this a (slightly imperfect) whole tone above concert pitch? The work is in D minor, the opening is close to E minor... Odd.

[@largetto55]

неподражаемый Хейфетц

[@Sploinky_doinky]

Why does it sound like it’s higher up/ in a different key

[@seho4449]

a lot faster than regular Sibelius and much clearer....how?

[@garyosama]

Bravas

[@amati89274]

what happen to the the recording?? the piece moves literally a half pitch up!!!

[@ManriquezManny2]

It's been sped up, I can tell!

[@bjarnegirotti1141]

🙂Sibelius in E minor👀 Tempo is to fast. Faster than they played. There’s another version on KZbin. Only speeded up to Eb minor😃 I’ll think it’s fair. 85 years since it was recorded. But I will love to hear it in D minor and real tempo. Heifetz can really play. Nice mono recording from before 2. World war. But I can also listen to Hilary Hahn, more music and in stereo. She’s the best❤️ Heard six of the “big” names today play Sibelius on KZbin. Hilary is the music with Sibelius, my opinion. Nice day to all

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

Hilary Hahn never played in the big violin competitions! Ann Sophie Mutter is so restless and out of rhythmic balance all the time! Mutter is famous only because Karajan was her friend! Mutter never played in the big violin competitions and the reason is no prizes for Chang! Sarah Chang has thin colorless dry cold violin sound like Black and White tv picture! Chang never played in the big violin competitions and the reason is no prizes for Chang! What was your reason Hahn not to play in the big violin competitions! Mutter and Chang steals concerts from better ones! I prefer Guila Bustabo Viktor Tretjakov David Oistrakh Henrik Szeryng Itzhak Perlman Myrian Fried!!

[@isaacliu._.6899]

I could just feel how the orchestra as well as the conductor is dying to keep up with Heifetz. I can picture how Heifetz is running and the whole crowd is trying to chase and catch up to him but he is too far

[@rutavolungeviciute9232]

Pagarba vilniečiui ...

[@rutavolungeviciute9232]

Visų Visąttų.....

[@user-b4751]

It is difficult to judge and be impressed by the quality of the recording, even the speed is probably incorrect

[@kirillvolkov00]

For me p,Heifetz's sound is like Ufo sound,I don't know how to explain this....

[@kathrynmcmorrow7170]

Kirill Volkov I have thought this as well, ha ha.

[@rubydog25]

You mean his vibrato

[@0xmegasinx]

It doesn't seem to be in the correct key... Why is that so? :(

[@SatchmoSings]

I used to think that Heifetz (and Nathan Milstein) were "it" but I don't think so anymore. Heifetz was a GREAT violinist, perhaps the greatest violinist to leave a recorded legacy but as great a violinist as Heifetz was, he was NOT a musician. There are many lesser violinists however many of them are greater musicians than Heifetz. By the way, it's good to see you again; hope all is well and my favorite concerto recording by Heifetz is The Brahms with Koussevitzky and the BSO.

[@generalsnicky3219]

this may be personal perspective, but I feel that Heifetz is definitely musical! But this comes down to your opinion as well

[@CelloCircle]

will somone explain how it’s not in d minor. everyone keeps saying e minor or e flat minor. i don’t get it

[@jeffersonfsoares]

A 440hz esta auto demais mais de 442hz

[@user-wo8sq5dv2w]

19:43

[@rutavolungeviciute9232]

Atlieka VILNIETIS

[@Rwthless1]

Thank you so much for posting this. A great performance that would be rosetted nowadays, Is it one of Mr Joan Sutherland's famed recordings? The performance is very different from say, Salvatore Accardo's with the CBSO under Andrew Litton. More sentimental, but febrile. Heifetz was a genius wasn't he! Pupil of Ysaye?

[@nattylambert2228]

Leopold Auer, I believe.

[@user-lv8fl1og7s]

Яша Хейфиц научился так играть в СССР а не в в.о.н.ю.ч.е.м. израиле.

[@lubahegre01]

Please define what you mean by musician, as in "...greater musicians..."

[@boogiewoogie9770]

Not at correct speed

[@jeffersonfsoares]

A 440hz please

[@fabiomino3506]

A 432 😍

[@user-cl6br2ol6j]

なんで音が高いの？、

[@ikasutic1280]

Peut-être, chaque militaire. ?!

[@greenseggsandsalad]

even though its an amazing recoding and playing, unfortunately I feel nothing for the Sibelius itself :( Heifetz still did a great job regardless

[@perttikilpelainen3097]

As a finn i feel everything in this.

[@jhb134]

2ndviolinist - Disagree, in certain ways. Sure, Jascha H could PUSH the playing/tempo too far, on occasion. Also, in this Concerto, and (even with his vaunted technique) ... one can hear a slightly-sour (off-tune) note, or two ... or three. NOT saying that Heifetz was the greatest, ever, in this difficult Concerto, but his contributions were remarkable and durable. ... Also, THANKS for mentioning Spivakovsky and Efrem Zimbalist! I think Tossy Spivakovsky recorded, with Tauno Hannikainen.

[@user-ei2pn1tk3i]

하이페츠 펜인데..음정이 이상하게 들리네요..

[@Mozart99900]

I prefer menuin to heifetz

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

Menuhin was trash! Menuhin was only famous! Menuhin was the most over-rated ever!! Try Guila Bustabo Viktor Tretjakov Gidon Kremer Itzhak Perlman Myrian Fried!!

[@Locogravity]

the pitch >.< awesome, but the pitch >.

[@sylevergreen]

DownhillUNO it's the playback of the recording

[@violatione]

It's sped up! It in the wrong key!

[@nemorable1]

The KZbin upload is wrong. The cd recording is correct.

[@jasonxu2771]

+violatione Sibelius gave a bit of flexibility with the tempo, but yes it is in the wrong key

[@ikasutic1280]

Et, plus difficile ?!

[@georgefigueiredo2051]

Essa interpretação é boa ... porém, não se compara a shlomo mintz !

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

THE KIG IN SIBELIUS VIOLIN CONCERTO IS VIKTO TRETJAKOV.THIS A HEIFETZ VERSION IS AN AWFUL ONE.ITZHAK PERLMAN A RAW AND POWERFUL AS HEIFETZ

[@jeffersonfsoares]

Por favor retire esse vídeo do seu canal a afinação está super alta não podemos ver a toca qualidade do Heifetz com essa afinação

[@jeffersonfsoares]

la 440Hz