Episode 19: It Ain’t Necessarily So

On this edition, “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” Classical favorites revised, reworked, and reimagined for the Heifetz Institute stage. Featuring great works by Gershwin, Dvorak, Manuel de Falla, and even a Beethoven Symphony in unique Heifetz Institute performances.  

This Episode’s Playlist

Gluck, arr. Kreisler: Mélodie fr. Orfeo ed Euridice
Lilya Milcheva, violin | Carlos Avila, piano
Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.31.2016

Gershwin, arr. Jascha Heifetz: Three Selection from Porgy & Bess
A Woman Is a Sometime Thing 
Bess You Is My Woman Now
It Ain’t Necessarily So
Ji-Won Song, violin | Carlos Avila, piano
Monroe’s Highland, Charlottesville, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.04.2016

Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet, Op. 64 (arr. viola & piano). I.  Introduction [excerpt]
En-Chi Cheng, viola | Anton Smirnoff, piano
Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | June 29, 2015

Dvořák, arr. Julia Egan: Silent Woods
Andrew Gonzalez, viola | Robby Brown, guitar
Blackfriars Playhouse, American Shakespeare Center, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.02.2019

Manuel de Falla, arr. Piatigorsky: Ritual Fire Dance fr. El Amor Brujo
Dominic Lee, cello | Zhenni Li-Cohen, piano
Monroe’s Highland, Charlottesville, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.04.2019

Ervin T. Rouse: Orange Blossom Special
Pauline Lee, violin
Page Terrace, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.14.2018

Paganini: Caprice No. 24
Nicholas Wong, cello
Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.05.2022

J.S. Bach: Little Prelude No. 2 in C minor, BWV 934 [excerpt]
Peter Blanchette, archguitar | Mané Lareggla, archguitar
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 03.19.2022

Beethoven, arr. Nicholas Kitchen:  Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92
II. Allegretto
IV. Allegro con brio
Nicholas Kitchen, violin |  | Hannah Cho, violin | Emily Liu, viola | Isabella Bignasca, viola | Yeesun Kim, cello
Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA
Heifetz Institute Recording | 07.16.2017

Go Deeper

• Heifetz Artistic Director Nicholas Kitchen has become increasingly well-know for his fascinating insights into the music of Ludwig von Beethoven.  Register online to view his May 22 talk, “Nicholas Kitchen Rediscovers Beethoven,” presented by the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
• “A pop song about the prominent violinists of the day? It seems hard to imagine now. But around 1921 George and Ira Gershwin wrote Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha, a lighthearted ditty about four great Jewish Russian violinists who were well known at the time: Mischa Elman, Jascha Heifetz, Toscha Seidel, and Sascha Jacobsen…”  Explore more about the Jascha Heifetz – Gershwin connection in this excellent post from “The Listener’s Club” by Timothy Judd.
• “His transcriptions, arrangements and commissioned works have helped shaped the modern cello repertoire. His artistic flare created a rare musical excitement which left an indelible impression on all those who heard him.”  Discover more about the remarkable life and career of the Ukrainian-born cellist (and frequent Jascha Heifetz collaborator!) Gregor Piatagorsky, whose arrangement of Manuel De Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance is featured in this episode

More at heifetzinstitute.org