Heifetz is Heifetz. There's little more to say about his playing. However, the French National Orchestra did not do a very good job staying together or with Heifetz during the Scottish Fantasy. Unfortunate, since it's such a great piece.

Just for reference, the pieces Heifetz played with his students (if you're curious, as I was) are the "Suite no. 7 in G minor HWV 432: Passacaglia" by Handel. In the end credits, he plays the "Terzetto op. 74 in C: Scherzo Vivace" by Dvorak.

The seller "Bookarama" failed to include the DVD so I only had the CD to listen to; however, it was so great I consider it the favorite violin CD in my collection. I saw him play in Salt Lake City when I was 12, and he played the Introduction and Rhondo Cappricioco (Saint Saens) that I shall never forget. I went on to study violin and have never heard his better on any recording. He was "the best", still is. Hope I get the DVD.

P. Pyper, Santa Cruz CA

Good thing is it is in color. I wish it were longer. DVD can take 2 hours or more, but only half of the capacity is used. Come on, Heifetz must have other footages that can be included. I would rather have more performance footage than the bonus CD. (CD capacity is not fully used either.

The sound and video were not out of synch on my copy either. Heifetz' comments between playing were invaluable to me. His playing was spectacular. He was the best. "Unfortunately" he may have known it. Towards the end of the thing, he said in effect that the ultimate was "to do a thing well or to know you're better than someone else..." That's a close quote if not exact. I don't know how I feel about that remark. He WAS "better than someone else," he was better than everyone else (my opinion), that's just a fact, still there's a flavor of sheer conceit and arrogance in it that bothers me. The author (forget his name now) put similar words in Mozart's mouth in "Amadeus." Apocryphal, to say the least. I like to think well of my heroes. Then I think of young Keats' dying comment, "I think I shall be among the English poets after my death." Sigh. No, I don't like Heifetz' remark. But the film was perfect, albeit too short. Heifetz' (other) comments were illuminating and interesting, good clear shots of his bowing and fingering were priceless. All the music was wonderful except that dreary Prokofiev march that every violinist thinks he has to include in his recital. I loved the DVD. I thought the CD of just the music from the movie was a bit superfluous, but now that I've played it, I'm glad it was included. Though I would gladly give it up for another hour of DVD.

I have both the DVD, and the VCD made in early 70s. I regret to say that there is indeed a split second of non-synchronization. I also regret to say that neither the sound nor the sight in the DVD has been remastered. So, for those who already have the VCD, don't bother about the DVD unless you prefer to have faster chapters selection.

Having said that, it is clear that the recorded sound of this films are on the whole better than the reproductions of the earlier BMG records. That was probably because of the different time of recording and perhaps, Heifetz had stopped to insist to have the microphone very close to the violin... In any event, we have a fuller looming sound of his violin that is comparable to his last recital (CD-RCA). Camerawork is first rate too. It is, however, not a true DVD production.

Even at this stage of Heifetz's career, with all my admirations for him, my verdict for his Bach and Mozart remains the same: here I prefer Milstein more. But it is completely another story for his Scottish Fantasy and the smaller pieces which are just magical. I'm afraid however there isn't much in the clips showing him giving lesson to his pupils.