All-Analog Vinyl LP for the First Time in Almost 50 Years!
Mastered by Bernie Grundman from a 1-to-1 Flat Transfer of the Original Analog Master Tapes!
Pressed on RTI's HQ-180 for the First Time Ever!
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Tracking Angle Rated 10/10 Music, 9/10 Sound!
TAS Rated 5/5 Music, 4.5/5 Sonics in the July/August 2024 Issue of The Absolute Sound!
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.*
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.
* (From Charles Granata's liner notes)
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!
Heifetz with his gigantic sound is right in front of you in this presentation, and it's thrilling. This is a beautiful album of one of the masters of the violin, performing intimate recital repertoire, recreated with love and care from one of the best AAA reissue labels in the game today. It is clear from everything including the packaging, mastering, documentation, and even the beautiful recreation of the original RCA Nipper maroon mono label, that for Impex this was a labor of love, and I hope not the last boutique classical effort from the label.
While the results of the improved technology is truly impressive here, the real reason you should consider getting this excellent reissue of The Lark is because Jascha Heifetz's playing throughout is almost otherworldly, and the album's program presents an opportunity for many listeners to expand their chamber music horizons significantly. It's not only a great album filled with magnificent performances, but an important piece of musical history as well. The Lark is another perfectionist audiophile release from Impex Records that deserves your utmost attention. I give it my highest recommendation!
This excellent 180-gram reissue of the original RCA mono recording from Impex Records highlights the violinist's preference for close-mic recording, leaving little acoustical space around the instrument in exchange for mesmerizingly intimate sound.
Features
- 180g Vinyl
- Mono
- Available on all-analog LP for the first time in almost 50 years and on RTI's HQ-180 for the first time ever
- Mastered by Bernie Grundman from a 1-to-1 flat transfer of the original analog master tapes
- 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
Musicians
| Jascha Heifetz | violin |
|---|---|
| Richard Ellsasser | organ (Side 1, Track 1) |
| Emanuel Bay | piano (Side 1, Track 2) |
| Brooks Smith | piano (Side 2) |
Selections
Side 1:
Tomaso Antonio Vitali (1663-1745)
- Chaconne (for Violin and Organ) with Richard Ellsasser at the organ
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968)
- The Lark (Poem in the form of a Rondo) with Emanuel Bay at the Piano
Side 2:
Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
- Sonata No. 1, In A, 0p. 13 with Brooks Smith at the Piano
