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Best Rubinstein 2nd Concerto

SwissDave | Switzerland | 03/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even though I am a perfectionist audiophile when it comes to picking or building the finest hardware to play back records, I use it to listen to the most refreshing, searching, enlightening, heartfelt and soul-warming performances, regardless of their sound quality.

I sincerely hope this recording does not get overlooked vis a vis Rubinstein's studio recordings of Chopin's 2nd (actually it was his first) Concerto. Yes, it is mono, which is a pity given the concert was given in 1961, but highly natural-sounding mono. Yes, the transparency of the sound is such that you can occasionally hear someone cough etc. (the BBC's high resolution remasterings are state of the art throughout, useless to blame them for the variable quality of the master tapes in their archives). But then, this recording boasts pure joie de vivre in front of an audience, and fully brings across Rubinstein's legendary, full-bodied, rock-solid yet singing tone, unlike my second favourite among his renditions of the 2nd Concerto, the studio recording with Ormandy from 1968 (a more deeply searching interpretation I prefer to the more widely available earlier one with Wallenstein from 1958), in which both the piano and the orchestra sound comparatively thin and worn out. Giulini, by the way, provides great support throughout. If it has to be Rubinstein, make it this one. If you absolutely must have a stereo recording, consider Cherkassky/Kempe 1965 and Haskil/Markevitch 1960 (both musically lightyears ahead of Argerich/Dutoit...).

The above-mentioned virtues apply to the 1959 recital of Chopin solo pieces as well, in my humble opinion Rubinstein's finest on disc next to his legendary 1964 recital in Moscow. Everything on the long playing BBC disc (almost 78 minutes) sparkles with spontaneity and good taste, providing a perfect marriage of architecture and passion. In fact, listening to these live recordings also made me appreciate Rubinstein's studio efforts more. Truly worth the extra dimes and nickles!



Greetings from Switzerland, David.



P.S. As to this Legends series as a whole, I have mixed feelings regarding a number of the live performances the BBC unearthed (although in principle we should be grateful for the effort). Some of these recordings not only do not shed extra light on beloved artists, but seem harmful to their reputations.

My current short list of absolute must have BBC discs, apart from this Chopin/Rubinstein one, includes just half a dozen or so more: Grieg & Debussy/Michelangeli, Bach, Beethoven & Schubert/Kempff and the second, 1964 mono Verdi/Giulini Requiem (with Ligabue, Bumbry, Konya, Arie). Michelangeli's 1959 London Gaspard de la Nuit is as much of a must-have as 1960 Prague version on Music & Arts if not more, if coupled to Beethoven that even ABM's fans tend to find debatable (I must admit I love his rendition of the Sonata No. 4, in particular live). Although Tennstedt's Beethoven Ninth is not the finest, let alone the only great live performance, it shares Furtwanglerian traits and boasts good sound unlike most of the legendary historic recordings - and since the Ninth thrives on great sound (sound quality is approximately on the level of, say, Peter Maag's live, but below Rene Leibowitz's studio recording), on balance it's as good a choice as any. Despite inferior sound quality to interpretatively more similar than dissimilar studio versions, my guess is no Bruckner addict will want to be without Giulini's live versions. Sviatoslav Richter aficionados will want to look at his Beethoven Hammerklavier, Debussy (especially so, since the repertoire there is partly unique in his discography) and Schubert recitals. Baker fans will want to hear her Berlioz Nuits d'Ete and Stokowski mavens his Mahler Second, although neither can make me forget Crespin/Ansermet and Bruno Walter, respectively. The same is true of Svetlanov's Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade vis a vis Fritz Reiner's irreplaceable studio recording. Fans of the pianist may also want to listen to Annie Fischer's recital of music by Bartok, Brahms, Dohnanyi, Liszt. Last but not least, I love Stokowski's 1964 De Falla Amor Brujo, but would not go so far as to claim it makes for more essential (i.e. idiomatic) listening than Fruhbeck de Burgos (now also available as JVC K2 HD), Ansermet, Argenta or even Maazel."

Another great live-recording of Artur Rubinstein

Q. Huisman | Soest, The Netherlands | 05/07/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The main attraction for me is the Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise. Here we find Rubinstein at his most virtuosic. The finale of the Polonaise is powerfull and stunning. Compared to his studio recordings, this is by far a more attractive performance, despite some wrong notes you may hear sometimes.
The Concerto suffers from the usual cut in the First movement, but Rubinsteins playing is beautifull, and the orchestra's playing is very distinguised. As in his studio-recordings of this concerto, the violins do not play "con legno" as Chopin indicated.
The other solo-pieces are well-played, and it makes you look forward to more new issues of live-recordings of Rubinstein."

Sublime & Highly Inspired Performances!

Scriabinmahler | UK | 11/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Almost stereo-like mono recording, but due to Royal Festival Hall's cavernous acoustics, the concerto requires attentive listening to appreciate the brilliance of Rubinstein's playing, especially in faster passages. Slow movement of the concerto is more vividly captured, and what a sublime and delicate playing! Solo works are better recorded and presents Rubinstein at his best as supreme Chopin interpretor. Andante spinato is one of the finest recordings made by the pianist."