| Code | DS/UK/193 |
| Name | Heifetz; Jascha (2 February 1901-10 December 1987); Russian-born American violinist |
| Dates | 2 February 1901-10 December 1987 |
| Gender | Male |
| Place of Birth/Origin | Vilna, Lithuania (born - then part of Russian Empire) |
| Relationships | Son of Reuven Heifetz (violin teacher). Born into a Russian-Jewish family.
Former husband of Florence Vidor (actress). They married in 1928 and divorced in 1945.
Former husband of Frances Spielberger Spiegelberg. They married in 1947 and divorced in 1962. |
| Biography | Jascha Heifetz was a Russian-American violinist. Many consider him the greatest violinist of the 20th century. Born in Vilna, he moved as a teenager to the United States, where his Carnegie Hall debut was rapturously received. He was a virtuoso since childhood—Fritz Kreisler, another leading violinist of the twentieth century, said on hearing Heifetz's debut, "We might as well take our fiddles and break them across our knees.
He had a long and successful performing career. However, after an injury to his arm, he switched his focus to teaching. Late in life, Heifetz became a dedicated teacher and a champion of socio-political causes. |