Jascha Heifetz, born on February 2, 1901, in Vilnius, Lithuania (then part of the Russian Empire), is universally hailed as one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. A child prodigy, he began to play the violin at the tender age of three under the tutelage of his father, a violinist, before enrolling in the Royal Conservatory of Warsaw to study under Ilya Malkin. Recognized for his extraordinary talent, he then moved to St. Petersburg to study under the famed Leopold Auer at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. Heifetz made his first public debut at the age of seven and by 1917, he made his historic American debut at Carnegie Hall, receiving rave reviews for his virtuosic precision, profound interpretations, and unparalleled technique, which set the stage for a career that would span over six decades.

Throughout his illustrious career, Heifetz traversed the global music scene, captivating audiences with his performances and making significant contributions to the violin repertoire, including commissions and premieres of new works by contemporary composers. Not only was he a master performer, but he also dedicated himself to teaching, sharing his artistry and technique with young violinists at the University of Southern California and through his widely viewed masterclasses. His recorded legacy, which includes groundbreaking interpretations of violin concertos by Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Beethoven among others, continues to inspire both musicians and listeners alike, cementing his status as a titan in the world of classical music. Heifetz passed away on December 10, 1987, in Los Angeles, California, but his profound impact on the violin and classical music endures.

Genres

Violin

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Isaac Stern

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Tasmin Little

Latest Release

An American in Paris

George Gershwin•

Jascha Heifetz•

Bruno Fontaine

Single - Released September 15, 2023