Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: Moderato; Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: Adagio sostenuto
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: Allegro scherzando
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Introduction and 24 Variations), for piano & orchestra in A minor, Op. 43
This is one of the great Rachmaninoff CDs. In fact, it may be the best performance ever of the Paganini Rhapsody, not just because of Arthur Rubinstein's delicious playing of the solo part, but also because of the steel... more »y brilliance of Fritz Reiner's accompaniments. Famous for its lushly romantic "18th Variation" (which is nothing but the main tune played upside down!), the piece is actually the only one I know in which the composer shows a real sense of humor. The ending is one of the most hilarious anticlimaxes in all of music. Add to this a super performance of the eternally popular Second Piano Concerto, and the result is irresistible. --David Hurwitz« less
This is one of the great Rachmaninoff CDs. In fact, it may be the best performance ever of the Paganini Rhapsody, not just because of Arthur Rubinstein's delicious playing of the solo part, but also because of the steely brilliance of Fritz Reiner's accompaniments. Famous for its lushly romantic "18th Variation" (which is nothing but the main tune played upside down!), the piece is actually the only one I know in which the composer shows a real sense of humor. The ending is one of the most hilarious anticlimaxes in all of music. Add to this a super performance of the eternally popular Second Piano Concerto, and the result is irresistible. --David Hurwitz
"While the only other review covers that Paganini Variations - a great performance in itself that is included in this set - it is the 2nd Piano Concerto that deserves attention. Arthur Rubenstein was starting to reach his peak. The Rachmoninoff was one of those standards that he performed and performed quite well. All though the recording is rather old chronologically it is still one of the best in what appears to be a multitude of selections in the catalogues. And as in most recordings with the CSO during this period, do not be fooled by the age of the performance. The sound will amaze you.This is the kind of work that Rubinstein was able to show his musicianship and technique to full advantage. There is never any over-emotionalism in the work either. The rapport would appear to be great between conductor and soloist.Alas, that was not the case during the recording session. It appears that Rubinstein dropped a few notes in the last movement and wanted to do a re-make. Reiner refused. A rather heated discussion followed with Rubinstein asking Reiner if the orchestra made mistakes would (Reiner) re-make that portion.Reiner's answer was "my orchestra never makes mistakes". At that point - I am told - the pianist stormed off the stage. RCA did manage to get the two together to patch those parts in question but Rubinstein would never make another recording with Reiner. Also as a result Heifitz joined the "boycott". Subsequently in the 1960's he did return and recorded the Schumann Concerto with Giulini for RCA.A pity as both Rachmoninoff works are well played. Reiner does allow Rubinstein some latitude but the orchestral playing is just as brilliant as the pianist's. This still remains as one of my favorite performances of the both works. Because of the popularity of the works as well as the performance itself we can hope that RCA (BMG) will continue to list these performances in their catalog."
Fit for a Tsar
Barry J. Wythoff | Newburyport, MA USA | 04/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Regarding an earlier reviewer's dismissmal of Rachmaninoff as "drivel", I couldn't disagree more. Rachmaninoff's works do tend to be embodied with a great deal of passion and emotion, and in some cases, romance, however, why this should render them worthy of scorn is baffling to me. It's a bit like stating categorically that a Frank Lloyd Wright architectural composition is inherently superior to a work by Richard Morris Hunt or McKim, Mead & White - because a Wright design uses a simpler, more straightforward and less emotive style of expression. Is Chopin "drivel" because he is playful? One thing is for certain - if you like classical music as "background music", you will not appreciate Rachmaninoff.
Beyond a rich fabric of passions, Rachmaninoff's works offer great power, complexity, dignity and majesty, and if you enjoy technical sophistication in your music, neither will you be dissappointed there.
For lovers of Russian culture, Rachmaninoff's works also have that mysterious quality - they sound 'Russian' - that is, like other great Russian works of culture, they are embued with essential qualities of complexity, romance, dark and brooding melancholy, passion, and strength, both raw and sophisticated... and are expressed in a manner that is, for lack of a better term, Slavic.
Rachmaninoff's works are decidely masculine and also aristocratic in bearing, and while they were written during the sunset of the era of the Russian Tsars, they are most certainly, fit for a Tsar.
For those who like his piano concertos, I can suggest at the least that you also investigate his "Vespers" choral composition(All Night Vigil), and "Music for Two Pianos", to see a bit more of the range of Rachmaninoff's remarkable works.
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Beyond Breathtaking!
P. McKenna | Atlanta GA | 10/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Do piano concerto recordings get any better than this?
Artur Rubenstein's reading of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #2 STILL sends shivers up my spine years later. My first memory of this is hearing this particular recording at age 4 or so and being absolutely spellbound, from those haunting opening piano chords and the rumbling low-register "chimes" leading into that loping low register figure upon which that wonderful Chicago Symphony makes its grand entrance. Fritz Reiner was THE MASTER with pieces like this (check out the recording he made with Van Cliburn of Brahms Concerto #2 for more displays of his interpretive genius).
The "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganinni" is no less compelling, Rubenstein was so adept at innterpreting a wode range of classical literature and doing what so few could do, truly make it his own.
Absolutely ESSENTIAL for anyone who even slightly enjoys classical music."
One of the best piano concertos
E. Moeckel | St. Paul, MN | 02/13/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Rachmaninoff is over the top romantic music, but it is definitely not fluff. This music has emotional depth.
I think this is one of the best piano concertos out there, certainly more interesting than Chopin's in my opinion. Rachmaninoff was great with the orchestra and great with the piano, and they work together in this piece better than any other piano concerto I've heard by any other composer. No joke. That's what I like about this piece, it really is purely a work of music rather than a showcase within a form with perfunctory cadenzas, such as we get in Chopin's and Tchaikovsky's. Not to knock on those guys, but this is a totally different style - it plays like a symphony.
Rubinstein is amazing. The second movement is perfect- listen to the cadenza at 6:30.
My copy is a little different, it's a reissue that has these two performances and also a prelude op.2 no.3 recorded in 1950, part of a series of reissued Rubinstein by BMG. Anyone else have that? The recording quality on that prelude is strange but really cool- the higher registers almost sound as if they have dampers on them and are not sustaining. I've never heard a piano sound like that before. It's scary as hell."
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1
