There are few superstars left in the world of classical music. Thankfully, Itzhak Perlman is still hale at 75. The bowing arm may not be what it used to be, but in his prime, he was one of the best. In particular, I always appreciated the warmth and commitment he brought to those composers of the so-called “second tier,” once championed by Heifetz. But I also love his Tchaikovsky concerto (particularly the first recording he made, with Alfred Wallenstein) and his Brahms sonatas (with Barenboim, even though the album with Ashkenazy seems to get all the raves). Happy birthday, Itzhak Perlman!

Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 1

Perlman’s first recording of the Tchaikovsky Concerto

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Violin Concerto No. 2 “The Prophets”

Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D