It's no surprise that Jascha Heifetz held an affinity for the vast, tempestuous ocean and its endlessly opposing forces, that same intensity and sensitivity, the furious and the serene, with its infinite subtleties and nuances, are hallmarks of his sound. That sound, rich in expressiveness, sonority and texture, branded Heifetz the most illustrious violinist in the world.

• HQ-180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl
• Pressed at RTI, USA
• Mono Recording
• Mastered by Bernie Grundman

• Cut from a 1-to-1 flat transfer of the original analog master tapes

• Available on all-analog LP for the first time in almost 50 years

• Deluxe "reversed" tip-on jacket that faithfully reproduces the original with highest-grade materials

Exclusive full-color insert with new historical and production notes by Charles L. Granata and photos from the Sony Music Archives

It's no surprise that Jascha Heifetz held an affinity for the vast, tempestuous ocean and its endlessly opposing forces; that same intensity and sensitivity— the furious and the serene, with its infinite subtleties and nuances— are hallmarks of his sound. That sound— rich in expressiveness, sonority and texture— branded Heifetz the most illustrious violinist in the world. (From Charles Granata's liner notes)

Our next all-analog, HQ-180 gram LP is an impeccably performed and stunningly recorded late-period gem from The Titan of modern violinists. The Lark revisits works that helped define Heifetz in various points of his illustrious career and which highlight his crisp attacks, imaginative phrasings, and mellifluous sustained notes.

The repertoire is intriguing, combining two iconic pieces (Tomaso Antonio Vitali's Chaconne in g minor for Violin and Continuo, written in the Baroque period; and Gabriel Fauré's Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13, written in the late-Romantic period) with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's The Lark: Poem for Violin and Piano (a 20th-century modern tone poem). Although nearly two-hundred years separate their composition, these pieces complement each other beautifully: a testament to the discerning judgment of Heifetz and producer John (Jack) Pfeiffer, who helped create his albums.*

The LP was cut by Bernie Grundman from a straight 1-to-1 copy of the original session masters, meticulously created by Andreas Meyer at Swan Studios NYC. No digital processing of any kind was used. The original reverse-tip-on-style jacket and a brand new 4-page insert split the difference between the authentic, nostalgic feel of a mint original and a reissue's value proposition you've come to expect from Impex Records.

The surfaces are silent so the full impact of the Heifetz sound is heard from bar 1. By the final bar of the Vitali, after Heifetz has had his way with you, if you are not completely emotionally wrung out, well, I don't know! -Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia

Musicians:

Jascha Heifetz, violin
Richard Ellsasser, organ (A1)
Emanuel Bay, piano (A2)
Brooks Smith, piano (B1)

Track Listing:

Side A
TOMASO ANTONIO VITALI (1663-1745)
1. Chaconne (for Violin and Organ) with Richard Ellsasser at the organ
MARIO CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO (1895-1968)
2. The Lark (Poem in the form of a Rondo) with Emanuel Bay at the Piano

Side B
GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845-1924)
1. Sonata No. 1, In A, 0p. 13 with Brooks Smith at the Piano

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫