The Violin Channel recently caught up with violin and viola virtuoso Pinchas Zukerman - for a fun game of VC Desert Island Downloads.
We sat him down to pick his brain on which 5 CD recordings he would take with him to a deserted island - and how the tracks have helped shape him as a musician.
1. Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto - Performed by Jascha Heifetz, Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
"There's a reason this is number one ... I think no violinist who came of age in the 20th century can hear the name Heifetz without remembering 'that Heifetz moment' that inspired them"
Brahms/Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos |CD|
Jascha Heifetz
Fritz Reiner & Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Release Date: July 26, 2005
Sony Classical
2. Kabalevsky Violin Concerto - Performed by David Oistrakh, Dmitri Kabalevsky and the State Symphony Orchestra of Russia
"As a young man this was a revelation ... and the 45' preserved the sound so organically"
Glazunov/Kabalevsky: Violin Concertos |CD|
David Oistrakh
Kirill Kondrashin and Dmitri Kabalevsky
State Symphony Orchestra of Russia
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Omega Vanguard
3. Mendelssohn Violin Concerto - Performed by Isaac Stern, Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra
"Stern was my personal mentor ... and always a favorite to listen to"
Mendelssohn/Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos |CD|
Isaac Stern
Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra
Release Date: May 13, 1986
CBS Records
4. The Complete Beethoven String Quartets - Performed by the Budapest String Quartet
"These were some of the best listening hours of my life"
The Complete Beethoven String Quartets |BOX SET|
Budapest String Quartet
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Sony Classical
5. Chopin Polonaises - Performed by Arthur Rubinstein
"Just a pure delight ..."
The Chopin Collection: 7 Polonaises |CD|
Arthur Rubinstein
Release Date: October 25, 1990
RCA Red Seal