Violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky has never played Bruch's "Scottish Fantasy," and not because the piece is overwhelmingly challenging.
It's haunted by the ghost of its most celebrated interpreter, legendary violinist Jascha Heifetz.
"It was always a piece that I wanted to play because it's so beautiful. But at the same time, I really was wary because I noticed not so many violinists play it. And I think it's because it has such a strong stamp put on it by Heifetz," Sitkovetsky said last week in a phone call from his home in London. "It's quite daunting to learn it yourself."
This weekend, for the first time in his career, the Moscow-born, London-raised Sitkovetsky will perform Bruch's piece. He'll be doing it with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in concerts tonight and Sunday.
"I'm very excited to be doing it," said the 27-year-old Sitkovetsky, whose TSO appearance marks his Arizona debut. "It's a piece which I have grown up with a lot, as every young violinist."
But like many violinists of his age, he was never brave enough to learn the piece because of the stamp Heifetz placed on it.
"Once you get to know about Heifetz, he kind of stays with you forever," he said. " 'Scottish Fantasy' was one of Heifetz's biggest signature pieces. I've listened to that piece hundreds of times before I ever thought of playing it."
His apprehension is interesting, given Sitkovetsky's early career. When it came to brushes with greatness, Sitkovetsky seemed fearless. He was among the last students at the famed Yehudi Menuhin School to study with Menuhin, and he even shared a stage with the legendary violinist.
Sitkovetsky performed with Menuhin three times - the first time at age 9 and again a year later, when he and Menuhin performed the Bach Double Violin Concerto. When he was 13, Menuhin conducted Sitkovetsky in the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto.
"He came to the school one week before he died (in 1999)," Sitkovetsky recalled of his mentor. "He was in wonderful physical shape, and he was in a good mood. We worked with him on a concerto written for him, . . . and I was asked to do it for the school. He came to conduct that piece with me in the rehearsal. He was in very good spirits, and he talked to me about my future, because I was 15 years old. And then, just one week later, he caught pneumonia. It was very unexpected."
Sitkovetsky said the Bruch, for him, captures the spirit of the Scottish highlands of his adopted United Kingdom. The four-movement piece is a fantasy on Scottish folk melodies and tunes, opening with solemn brass notes that give way to soulful, intimate melodies. Bruch, who finished the piece in 1880, was inspired by the folk tunes "Hey Tuttie Tatie," "Auld Rob Morris," "The Dusty Miller" and "I'm Down for Lack of Johnnie."
"I love it, but I have loved it since I was 11 years old," Sitkovetsky said in an English accent heavy with his native Russian tongue. "When I knew about having the chance to do it, I knew exactly what I was in for, and I am very happy to do it."
When he's not soloing with orchestras, Sitkovetsky plays about 20 or so concerts a year with his namesake piano trio, which includes his pianist fiancée, Wu Qian.
This weekend's concerts include Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet" Fantasy Overture - you'll recognize it from its use in TV shows and movies, including "SpongeBob SquarePants," "Pushing Daisies," "Wayne's World" and "The Jazz Singer."
If You go
Tucson Symphony Orchestra: "Tchaikovsky & Friends"
• Featuring: Violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky.
• When: 8 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Sunday.
• Where: Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.
• Tickets: $23 to $78 through www.tucsonsymphony.org
• Program:
Higdon's "Blue Cathedral."
Bruch's "Scottish Fantasy" for Violin
Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet" Fantasy Overture
Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien
• Details: 882-8585.
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@azstarnet.com or 573-4642.
