Johannes Brahms Fritz Reiner Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Rubinstein Collection Vol 34 (6 tracks) +Album Reviews

Wow

08/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was doubtful of this CD because of the age of this recording. No need to fear, no hissing or crackling, Rubinstein plays great Brahms in astonishing richness and clarity (for its age). Sounds more like 1984 than 1954! This is Brahms as I like it; a little uptempo, not a long boring trial for the listener. This performance is supremely satisfying. Truly a legendary, landmark recording. A must have. PERIOD."

Greatest Brahms 1 ever?

Clement | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 03/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Intense. Expressive. Impressive. Just about any superlative can describe this performance of the Brahms first piano concerto. Truly magical and majestic performance. Though it is quicker than most, it never sounds rushed. The first movement has a spellbinding quality that comes both from the technical mastery and the truly innate musicality that Rubinstein shows is nothing short of magical. The last movement is absolutely amazing but musically it is impossible to fault. Better than the Brendel/Abbado version. A must get, other Brahms miniatures are gems."

Hard to Beat!

A. Lukas | Spokane, WA | 10/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the world of great pianists, the name Arthur Rubinstein is synonymous with the masterpieces of Chopin. He recorded every single piece by Chopin and his performances of these are classics, but another composer with whom Rubinstein associates with is Johannes Brahms. Here in the First Piano Concerto by Brahms, Rubinstein meets the titanic challenges of this work with remarkable ease. The playing is crystal clear. The singing voice so well known from his Chopin recordings is alive and well in the Adagio and the finale leaves one breathless. With Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra accompanying, this recording leaves no stone unturned. Rubinstein does not tinker with the details as so many others have and have, in due course, turned the piece into an unimaginable near 50 minute bore. Rather, he plays the work as one cohesive whole.
His performances of the miniatures from his latter years are also wonderful and beautiful with Rubinstein showing that he can still play at the age of 83 with the same joie de vivre that characterizes all of his playing. A highly recommended recording from a legendary pianist."

Critically acclaimed concerto, but not the best

jsa | San Diego, CA United States | 03/02/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I remember when RCA finally issued this 1954 Rubinstein/Reiner recording in the 1970's, which I believe was the first stereo recording ever made of the Brahms first concerto, and the critical acclaim it received. I very much admire Rubinstein's Brahms, but even after more than thirty years of familiarity, I still don't hear the revelations that others do in this reading. It has a certain nobility to it, yet it seems flat in many places, lacking tension and drama, with the lack of forward momentum being especially noticeable in the finale. While it's far from lifeless, the majesty and excitement that Serkin (Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1; Schumann: Introduction & Allegro) or Fleisher (Leon Fleisher Plays Brahms) deliver in their classic recordings with Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra are missing here. Rubinstein's Brahm's 1st to some degree shares Claudio Arrau's ultra-expansive approach, although he doesn't take things nearly to Arrau's extremes. Readers of my reviews will know that I am a great admirer of Arrau, and while I think at least one of his recordings of the Brahms 2nd is definitive (Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2; Schubert: Three Piano Pieces, D946), his interpretation of the 1st is sprawling, if not elephantine. Rubinstein is certainly preferable to Arrau, but there are other readings, as mentioned above, that are preferable to both.

For me, the best reason to have this disc is for the solo filler pieces which accompany the concerto and which originally appeared on a Rubinstein LP, "The Brahms I Love." Unlike the "best of Chopin" anthologies that RCA assembled from a variety of recording sessions and issued as "The Chopin I Love," Rubinstein selected the program for "The Brahms I Love," recording the LP in Rome in 1970. It was a real gem. Unfortunately, rather than reissuing "The Brahms I Love" in the format of its original release, RCA scattered its various tracks over three cd's in the Rubinstein Collection: the four Ballades are from Vol. 63, and the Rhapsodies and shorter pieces can be found on Vols. 34 & 38. Now that I have all three volumes, I have reassembled "The Brahms I Love" as it was originally conceived, a gorgeous assortment of Rubinstein's Brahms in all of its autumnal glow. Perhaps some day, RCA will reissue this disc on a stand-alone basis, for it's a true masterpiece."

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CD Details

CD Reviews

	Johannes Brahms, Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 34 Genre: Classical Track Listings (6) - Disc #1 Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15: Maestoso Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15: Adagio Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15: Rondo: Allegro non troppo Capriccio, Op. 76, No. 2 Intermezzo, Op. 118, No.6 Rhapsody, Op. 79, No.1
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