Jascha Heifetz Early Years in Russia [Hardcover]

Notoriously reticent about his early years, violinist Jascha Heifetz famously reduced the story of his childhood to Born in Russia. First lessons at 3. Debut in Russia at 7. Debut in Carnegie Hall at 17. That's all there is to say. Tracing his little-known upbringing, Jascha Heifetz: Early Years in Russia uncovers the events and experiences that shaped one of the modern era's most unique talents and enigmatic personalities. Using previously unstudied archival materials and interviews with family and friends, this biography explores Heifetz's meteoric rise in the Russian music worldfrom his first violin lessons with his father, to his studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with the well-known pedagogue Leopold Auer, to his tours throughout Russia and Europe. Spotlighting Auers close-knit circle of musicians, Galina Kopytova underscores the lives of artists in Russias Silver Age an explosion of artistic activity amid the rapid social and political changes of the early 20th century.

Galina Kopytova is a scholar and archivist specializing in the history of Russian musical culture. She heads the Office of Manuscripts of the Russian Institute for the History of the Arts in Saint Petersburg and is author of The Society for Jewish Folk Music in St. Petersburg-Petrograd (in Russian) and coauthor of From the History of Jewish Music in Russia (in Russian).

Translator Alexandra Sarlo has studied and conducted research in Russia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Ukraine.

Translator Dario Sarlo worked as a researcher on the documentary Jascha Heifetz: Gods Fiddler by Peter Rosen Productions. He is a musicologist, violinist, and writer for The Strad.

One of my lifetime heroes, Jascha Heifetz was a performer of unique perfection and beauty. This biography will be a happy discovery for the professional, the music lover, and students everywhere. Menahem Pressler, founding member and pianist for the Beaux Arts Trio and Distinguished Professor, Jacobs Schlã: