Jascha Heifetz premiered Korngold's Violin Concerto in 1947 and championed it on stage and in the recording studio.
Performer Biography
Itzhak Perlman, the violinist on this album, was heavily influenced by Jascha Heifetz, especially in his choice of repertoire.
Historical Context
The Violin Concerto by Julius Conus, a Russian composer and violinist, is the only one of his works remembered today, despite being performed by Fritz Kreisler in 1899 and recorded by Jascha Heifetz.
Composer Biography
Erich Wolfgang Korngold, the composer of the Violin Concerto in D major, had impressed Mahler as a child and was taught by Zemlinsky before fleeing the Nazi regime to the US.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Korngold developed a melodic gift with a "singing quality" and "immediacy of appeal" in his concert works, influenced by writing for a vast audience in Hollywood.
Critical Reception
Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Violin Concerto was once criticized as "More corn than gold" by a critic who thought he should stick to film soundtracks.
Compositional Technique
Korngold's Violin Concerto uses a sizable orchestra, including a large percussion section, to create rich and sensual colors that subtly envelop the solo violin.
