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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: Tschaikowsky, [Violin] Concerto in D, Reiner/Chicago/Heifetz
Post Subject: The “ice maiden” status.Posted by Romy the Cat on: 12/23/2007
Interning that Heifetz has that same “ice maiden” status, primary because he did not express any facial or body emotionalism while he was plying. Ms. Mullova is the same she appears almost like “detached” and just “renders the notes”. It is hard to me, the person who do not play to judge them, I think it is upon the personally and if Heifetz or Mullova has no habits to express them physically then it is fine by me. What they do with Sound is fine enough, allowing them to behave in any what they like. Do Heifetz and Mullova, both ice maidens, have any relation between “body language coolness” and emotional coolness of play? I do not think so. We need to listen a violinist not to look at him/her…


Young Viktoria Mullova at Barbican Concert Hall 1983

BTW, Heifetz had own things with his “coolness”. I read somewhere an interview with RCA engineers who told that Heifetz insisted to position microphones in extreme proximity to his instrument. Rumors are that Heifetzs’ favorite instilment was del Gesù Guarneri but for his recordings he use up-miked Strads. People who know suggest that Stradivarius need a room to breathe and it is it recorded too up-close then it might sound too sharp and “cool”. Pay attention when Heifetz recorded not “too hot” and more ambianic then he does sound different…

The Cat

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