Heifetz, Primrose, and Feuermann

Despite the tens of thousands of recordings made over the past century plus, there are comparatively few Great Classics. Some are well known; Callas in Tosca (1953), Furtwängler conducting Tristan & Isolde (1952), Cortot, Thibaud & Casals in Schubert's D 898 piano trio (1926), Edwin Fischer playing the Bach 48 (1933-36), the Adolf Busch Beethoven recordings of the 1930s. And a few others.

On rare occasions, virtuosi get together to play and record music. I've been listening to Heifetz, Primrose and Feuermann playing Mozart's Divertimento K 563 (1941). This is another Great Classic as these three echt virtuosi soar and dive and complement each other. Heifetz does not dominate, but is a true chamber music partner. I've never been a fan of William Primrose, who has always struck me as an ex-violinist playing on a slightly larger violin tuned 1/5 lower so as to resemble a viola. However, he was a terrific player and is a worthy member of this string trio. In this recording, one just sits back and basks at three heavenly voices playing heavenly music. The recording transfer gives quite acceptable sound.