Videos

Fritz Kreisler plays Thaïs-Meditation

Here is Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) playing his arrangement of the Meditation from Thaïs by Jules Massenet (1842-1912). The piece was originally scored for solo violin and orchestra as part of an entr’acte in the second act of Massenet’s 1894 opera Thaïs. Since then, it has been arranged for a variety of instrumentations and ensembles. This recording was made in RCA Victor’s studios in Camden, New Jersey in late 1928. Kreisler’s usual American accompanist, Carl Lamson, is at the piano.