Heifetz / Munch -

Beethoven Violin Concerto In D, Op.61

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Heifetz’s Beethoven Violin Concerto with Charles Munch is the greatest recording of its kind. It’s pointless in a work this lyrical and calm to accuse Heifetz of overpowering the music–he doesn’t–and while there will always be favorite versions that view the work from a more, well, “olympian” perspective (Oistrakh/Cluytens, or Menuhin/Furtwängler, for example), Heifetz and Munch play the music with a classical poise and chiseled perfection that is very special. In the first movement particularly, the swift basic tempo produces a tension, a quiet energy that seems very much to Beethoven’s point, while the Larghetto and Finale couldn’t be better paced. It goes without saying that Heifetz’s flawless intonation and ear-catching articulation leave most other players in the shade, and if this comes across as “cold” to some listeners then that impression cannot be due to any lack of nuance or sensitivity.

Label: Sony