11 Great Violinists of the 20th Century (10 CDs)

A new 10 CD box set from Parnassus featuring eleven of the greatest violinists of the 20th Century. Featuring performances from Mischa Elman, Ida Haendel, Josif Hassid, Jascha Heifetz, Fritz Kreisler, Yehudi Menuhin, Nathan Milstein, David Oistrakh, Michael Rabin, Toscha Seidel and Joseph Szigeti. This collection is a must have for any violin lover’s collection.

“Not all collections that attempt to laud musicians of the last century as ‘great’ realise their ambitions, but this one from Parnassus certainly does. Every featured player was a giant in his or her particular way. … A feast of great playing — and one thing’s for sure, no two violinists sound alike. Is that still the case today?” -Rob Cown, Gramophone

DISC 1 - Mischa Elman [78:35]
Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto in D major, Op.35 [34:18]
[1] Allegro moderato 18:37
[2] Canzonetta (Andante) 6:46
[3] Finale: Allegro vivacissimo 8:54
with London Symphony Orchestra / John Barbirolli / 1929
Queen’s Hall, London. First issued on HMV DB 1405/08
Encores: from Vanguard ATM 1656 (4-15 with Joseph Seiger, piano)
(1963 prod: Seymour Solomon from VRS 1049-1051)
[4] César Cui - Orientale, Op.50/9 2:02
[5] L.von Beethoven - Minuet in G, Woo10/2 2:34
[6] Fréderic Chopin - Nocturne in Eb, Op.9/2 5:21
[7] Francois-Joseph Gossec - Gavotte in D ‘Rosine’ 1:56
Hebraic Melodies: (Vanguard ATM 1882, 1963 prod: S. Solomon)
[8] Joseph Achron - Hebrew Melody, Op.33 5:43
[9] Josef Bonimé - Dance Hebraique 3:10
[10] George Perlman - Dance of The Rebbitzen 2:47
[11] Abraham Goldfaden - Raisins & Almonds (arr. Anthony Collins) 3:44
[12] Marc Lavry - Yemenite Wedding 3:48
[13] Joseph Sulzer - Sarabande 4:22
[14] César Espéjo - Airs Tziganes 3:24
[15] Pyotr Tchaikovsky - Melodie, Op.42 No.3 4:17

Disc 2: Ida Haendel / Josef Hassid [77:55]
Ida Haendel & Gerald Moore
[1] Andante and Presto –Tartini arr. Bridgewater CLP1021-1953 6:47
[2] Caprice in A Minor, Op.1 No.24 –Paganini CLP1021-1953 7:37
[3] Nigun (No.2 from ‘Baal Shem’) –Bloch CLP1021-1953 6:17
[4] Slavonic Dance E minor, Op.46 No.2 –
 Dvořák arr Kreisler C4262 & 7P151 30/7/53 CLP1021 4:40
[5] Waltz in Ab major, Op.39/15 –
 Brahms arr. Hochstein CLP1021-1953 2:29
[6] Six Romanian Folk Dances –Bartók arr. Székely CLP1021-1953 6:04
[7] Habanera –Ravel B9994-18/5/50                                  3:02
[8] Polonaise Brillante No.1 –Wieniawski C3818-21/9/48    4:34
[9] Scherzo Impromptu –Grieg B10135-18/5/50                      2:24
[10] Hoe Down (Rodeo) –Copland B9994 18/5/50                      2:56
Josef Hassid & Gerald Moore (3 recording sessions, 1940)
[11] Mélodie, Op.42 No.3 –Tchaikovsky OEA8550 B9074 3:10
[12] Humoresque, Op.101 No.7 –Dvořák arr. Kreisler 2EA9052: C3219 3:26
[13] Meditation (Thais) –Massenet arr. Marsick 2EA9053; C3208 4:00
[14] La Capricieuse, Op.17 –Elgar OEA8803; B9074 3:25
[15] Playera, Op.23/1 (Danzas Españolas No.5)–Sarasate 2EA8801 C3185 4:07
[16] Zapateado, Op.23/2 (Danzas Españolas No.6)–Sarasate 2EA8802 C3185 3:30
[17] Caprice Viennois, Op.2 –Kreisler 2EA8900; C3208 3:43
[18] Hebrew Melody, Op.33 –Achron 2EA9051: C3219 4:41

Disc 3: Jascha Heifetz [73:45]
Korngold: Violin Concerto in D, Op.35 [21:33] (Rec.1953)
with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orcherstra / Alfred Wallenstein
[1] I: Moderato nobile 7:52 [2] II: Andante 7:11
[3] III: Allegro assai vivace 6:30
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole, Op.21 [23:56] (Rec.1951)
with the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra / William Steinberg
N.B. The third movement of ‘Symphonie Espagnole’ was not recorded
[4] I: Allegro non troppo 7:17 [5] II: Scherzando 4:21
[6] IV:Andante 5:44 [7] V: Rondo 6:34
George Gershwin Encores with Emanuel Bay (Piano) (Rec.1944)
[8] Gershwin (arr.Heifetz): Prelude No.1 1:31
[9] Gershwin (arr.Heifetz): Prelude No.2 2:50
[10] Gershwin (arr.Heifetz): Prelude No.3 1:14
[11] Gershwin (from ‘Porgy and Bess’): Summertime 1:46
[12] Gershwin (from ‘Porgy and Bess’): A Woman Is A Sometime Thing 1:49
[13] Gershwin (from ‘Porgy and Bess’): My Man’s Gone Now 3:54
[14] Gershwin (from ‘Porgy and Bess’): It Ain’t Necessarily So 2:29
[15] Gershwin (from ‘Porgy and Bess’): Tempo di Blues 2:53
[16] Gershwin (from ‘Porgy and Bess’): Bess, You Is My Woman Now 3:02
[17] Trad.: Deep River (with Milton Kaye, Piano Rec.1944) 2:20
[18] Weill (arr.Frenkel) (from ‘The Threepenny Opera’): Moderato assai 2:18
 with Emmanuel Bay (Piano) Rec.1944
[19] Benjamin (arr.Primrose): Jamaican Rumba /Milton Kaye (Piano, 1944 1:36
Re-mastering 2025 Paul Arden-Taylor

Disc 4: Fritz Kreisler [79:17]
His Arrangements and Compositions [*K = Arranged]
1926 with Arpád Sándor (piano)
[1] May Breeze (Mendelssohn: Songs without Words)*K 2:43
1926-8 with Carl Lamson (piano)
[2] Deep in My Heart, Dear (Romberg)*K 3:14
[3] At Dawning (Cadman) 2:33
[4] En Bateau (Debussy/arr. Choisnel)) 3:09
[5] The Girl with Flaxen Hair (Debussy/arr. Hartmann) 2:29
[6] Ruralia - Molto vivace (exc) (Dohnányi) 2:07
[7] Mighty lak’ a Rose (Trad.)*K 2:11
[8] The Rosary (Nevin)*K 2:02
[9] Indian Lament (Dvořák)*K 4:22
[10] Songs My Mother Taught Me (Dvořák)*K 2:40
[11] Blue Skies (Irving Berlin)*K 3:37
1927 &1930 with Michael Raucheisen (piano)
[12] Syncopation (Kreisler)[Trio MR also Hugo Kreisler, cello] 1927 1:58
[13] Marche Miniature Viennoise (Kreisler) [Trio also Hugo] 1927 2:54
[14] Intermezzo 2nd Suite L’Arlesienne (Bizet)*K [Trio, 1927] 4:28
[15] Chanson de Louis X111 (Kreisler in style of Couperin) 3:37
[16] Ballet de Rosamunde (Schubert)*Kreisler 2:59
[17] Polichinelle/Pulcinella - Serenade (Kreisler) 2:19
[18] Serenade Espangole (Glazunov)*K 2:37
[19] The Old Refrain (Brandl)*K 3:10
[20] Scherzo alla Dittersdorf (Kreisler in style of ) [Kreisler Quartet: Thomas Petre, William Primrose and Lauri Kennedy] (1935) 3:20
1936-8 with Franz Rupp (piano)
[21] Hymn to the Sun (Rimsky-Korsakov- Coq d’Or)*K 4:00
[22] Spanish Dance (Falla-La Vida Breve)*K 3:29
[23] Song of India (Rimsky-Korsakov -Sadko)*K 3:13
[24] Dancing Doll (Poldini)*K 2:24
[25] La Gitana (Kreisler) 3:06
[26] Tambourin Chinois (Kreisler) 3:26
Re-mastering 2024 Paul Arden-Taylor

Disc 5: Yehudi Menuhin [78:50]
‘The Young Menuhin’
Schumann - Violin Concerto in D minor [26:59]
[1] I. In kräftigem, nicht zu schnellem Tempo 12:23
[2] II. Langsam 5:48 [3] Lebhaft, doch nicht zu schnell 8:47
New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra / John Barbirolli (1938)
Brahms: Hungarian Dances (arr Joachim)
[4] No.1 in G minor 2:49 [5] No.7 in A major 1:58
with Marcel Gazelle (piano) (1936)
Enescu: Sonata No.3 in A minor, Op.25 [23:33]
[6] I. Moderato malinconico 7:55
[7] II. Andante sostenuto e misterioso 8:19
[8] III. Allegro con brio, ma non troppo mosso 7:19
with Hephzibah Menuhin (piano) (1936)
Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No.4 in D minor, Op.31 [23:10]
[9] I. Andante – Moderato 6:49 [10] II. Adagio religioso 6:23
[11] III. Scherzo & Trio 4:16 [12] IV. Finale: Allegro 5:41
with Philharmonia Orchestra / Walter Susskind (1951)
Re-mastering 2025 Paul Arden-Taylor

Disc 6: Nathan Milstein [79:08]
(with Leon Pommers piano)
1. Smetana - From Má Vlast (No.2) 4:39
2. Gluck arr.Kreisler - Dance of the Blessed Spirits 2:45
3. Wieniawski - Mazurka Op.19 No.2 3:13
4. Vivaldi – Siciliano from Concerto in E Àat ‘Il Retiro’ 3:09
5. Kodály arr. Milstein - It Rains in the Village 1:30
6. Chopin arr.Milstein - Nocturne C sharp minor No.20, op.posth. 3:39
7. Ries - Perpetuum mobile 2:45
8. Nardini – Larghetto from Sonata in B Àat 2:49
9. Brahms arr.Joachim - Hungarian Dance No.2 in D minor 3:08
10. Massenet arr.Marsick - Meditation from Thais 4:03
11. Stravinsky arr. Dushkin - Russian Maiden’s Song 3:15
12. Paradis arr. Dushkin - Sicilienne 2:39
13. Rimsky-Korsakov arr.Hartmann - Flight of the Bumblebee 1:15
14. Brahms arr.Hochstein - Waltz Op.39 No.15 1:26
15. Poldini arr. Kreisler - The Dancing Doll 2:34
16. Wieniawski - Polonaise brillante No.1 in D, Op.4) 4:25
17. Falla arr.Kochanski - Asturiana 2:19
18. Falla arr.Kochanski - Jota 2:44
19. Ravel - Berceuse on the name of Gabriel Fauré 2:05

20. Sarasate - Romanza Andaluza 4:08
21. Schumann arr.Hullweck - Traumerei 2:33
22. J.S.Bach arr.Wilhelmj - Air from Suite No.3 4:39
23. Novacek - Perpetuum Mobile 2:37
24. Tchaikovsky - Melodie 3:32
25. Debussy arr.Hartmann- The Maid with the Flaxen Hair 2:08
26. Wieniawski - Scherzo-Tarantelle Op.16 3:43
[HMV recordings from 3 LPs 1958-62] Re-mastering 2023 Paul Arden-Taylor

Disc 7: David Oistrakh [75:23]
Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in Eb major, K364 [30:34]
[1] Allegro maestoso 12:50
[2] Andante 11:54
[3] Presto 5:49
Violin Concerto No.3 in G major, K216 [23:17]
[4] Allegro 8:44
[5] Adagio 8:17
[6] Rondeau: Allegro 6:15
Moscow Chamber Orchestra / Rudolf Barshai (also Viola in K364)
Violin Concerto No.1 in Bb major, K207* [21:14]
[7] Allegro moderato 7:22
[8] Adagio 7:49
[9] Presto 6:02
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra / Kirill Kondrashin*
Originally issued: Artia (1-3, 1960); M.K (4-6, 1960); Artia (7-9, 1963)
All recorded in Moscow; New digital master 2022 by Paul Arden-Taylor

Disc 8: Michael Rabin [74:53]
from Parnassus Complete Bell Telephone Hours Recordings
1. Paganini: Caprice No.17 (7 August 1950) 3:16
2. Kreisler: Tambourin Chinois (2 February 1962) 3:39
3. Saint-Saens: Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso (17/12/51) 8:50
4. Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen (24 October 1955) 7:55
5. Saint-Saens: Havanaise (10 May 1954) 9:18
6. Elgar: La capricieuse (23 August 1954) 3:53
7. Kreisler: Liebesleid (23 August 1954) 3:30
8. Suk: Burleska (28 March 1955) 2:40
9. Brahms: Violin Concerto – ¿nale (13 June 1955) 7:34
10. Engel: Sea Shell (18 June 1956) 2:49
11. Saint-Saens/Ysaye: Caprice (18 June 1956) 6:05
12. Bruch: Scottish Fantasia - 3rd movement (3 June 1957) 2:03
13. Bruch: Scottish Fantasia - 4th movement (3 June 1957) 6:40
14. Gardner: From the Canebreak (3 February 1958) 1:23
15. Sarasate: Habanera (3 February 1958) 4:05

Disc 9: Toscha Seidel [79:34]
‘Rare & Re-mastered’
1. Hebrew Melody Achron, arr. Zimbalist, Op.33 3:46
 Philip Goodman, pf, ex Columbia 98615 50133-D 30.1.29
2. Schön Rosmarin Kreisler 1:46
 Emanuel Bay, pf, ex Columbia W144855 DB 29 13.10.27
3. Liebesfreud Kreisler 2:48
 Emanuel Bay, pf, ex Columbia W144862 DB 29 14.10.27 

4. Ave Maria Schubert, arr. Wilhelmj 4:30
 Philip Goodman, pf, ex Columbia 98616 50133-D 30.1.29
5. Romance Wieniawski: Concerto No.2 D minor, Op.22 (II) 4:23
 Louis T. Gruenberg, pf, ex Columbia 49447 7361 17.6.18
6. Hejre Kati Hubay: Scenes from the Csàrda, Op.32 No.4 3:55
 Louis T. Gruenberg, pf, ex Columbia 49630 49630 7.5.19
7. Caprice viennois Kreisler, Op.2 4:23
 Louis T. Gruenberg, pf, ex Columbia 49449 7231 18/19.6.19
8. Serenade (Ständchen) Schubert, arr. Elman 3:44
 Louis T. Gruenberg, pf, ex Columbia 49453 7361 20.6.18
9. Andante Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole, Op.21 - (IV) 4:23
 With orchestra ex Columbia 98099 68021-D 9.10.23
10. Finale Mendelssohn: Concerto in D minor, Op.64 (IV) 2:46
 With orchestra ex Columbia 98111 68021-D 20.12.23
11. Orientale Cui: (from Kaleidoscope Op.50) 2:37
 With orchestra ex Columbia 78138 33027-D 22.10.18
12. Valse Bleue Margis 2:17
 Harry Kaufman, pf , ex Columbia 78760 33041-D 27.10.19
13. Indian Snake Dance Burleigh 2:12
 Francisco Longo, pf, ex Columbia 80821 33002-D 19.5.23
14. Chanson Arabe Rimsky-Korsakov (Scheherazade) arr Kreisler 3:14
 Francisco Longo, pf, ex Columbia 80825 33002-D 2.2.23
15. Prelude (Le Déluge) Saint-Saens 4:07
 Max Rabinwitsch, pf, ex Columbia 09505 98276-4-C 11.6.26
16. Minuet in G (Humoresques) Paderewski 3:49
 Harry Kaufman, pf, ex Columbia 49950 68029-D 15.3.21
17. Canzonetta d’Ambrosio 3:34
 Harry Kaufman, pf, ex Columbia 49689 68072-D 5.11.19
18. Chausson: Poème Live radio broadcast from Hollywood Bowl, 1945 17:46

Disc 10: Joseph Szigeti [76:55]
1. J S Bach: Chaconne from Partita No.2 in D minor 16:05
(Vanguard ATMCD 1246, rec 1955/56, New York)
Beethoven: Sonata No.4 in A minor, Op.23 [16:47] (ATMCD 1585)
2. Presto 5:32
3. Andante scherzoso piu allegretto 6:08
4. Allegro molto 5:06
with Claudio Arrau (piano): Library of Congress Washington, 1944)
Bartok: Rhapsody No.1 [9:07] with Béla Bartók (piano)
5. Lassu 4:12 6. Friss 4:55
(Vanguard 1583, Library of Congress, Washington, 1940)
Bloch: Violin Concerto in A minor [34:30]
7. Allegro deciso 18:07
8. Andante 6:10
9. Deciso 10:12
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra / Charles Munch (1939, Paris)