Jascha Heifetz was a Russian-American violinist widely celebrated as one of the greatest of all time. Born in Vilnius in 1901, he was recognized early as a child prodigy and trained in St. Petersburg in the Russian classical tradition. He emigrated to the United States as a teenager, escaping the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. His debut at Carnegie Hall made an immediate sensation, prompting fellow violinist Fritz Kreisler to praise his extraordinary talent. By 18, Heifetz was the world’s highest-paid violinist and enjoyed a long international career, including performances for troops during wartime. After an arm injury in 1972, he devoted his later years to teaching.