Jascha Heifetz, who was born in Vilnius in 1901 or 1899, and died in Los Angeles in 1987, holds a special position among the greatest violinists of the 20th century. His fame spread with awe-inspiring speed ever since his US-debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall in October 1917. As a six-year-old already he had been awarded a first prize in his hometown, which allowed him to make his debut with Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. Even though Jews were not allowed to live in St Petersburg, the Conservatory enabled him to study there. His outstanding technique allowed him to present a surprisingly versatile repertoire in concert halls and recording studios.

He premiered Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto in the US, Korngold, Rozsa and others dedicated their works to him. His most valuable instrument, besides a Stradivarius, was the Guarneri del Gesu, on which Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto had been performed for the very first time.

- He was the “king of the violinists” in the US

- Including the famous recordings of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas