"Concerning the Chopin 4 Scherzi that Rubinstein recorded in 1932:
The 1st Scherzo is much faster and more interesting by leaps and bounds from what Hough, Wild, Horowitz, Pletnev, and many others have recorded. The others are worth hearing, but they all seem to fall in a lesser category. Rubinstein plays it for all its worth and doesn't stop to smell the roses too much.
The 2nd Scherzo recording is notable for the section between 5 and 6 minutes. Again, unbelievable. The 3rd Scherzo showcases what Rubinstein did best: keep the presentation clear but allow the music to breath naturally. You won't hear Rubinstein's octaves in the 3rd duplicated by another pianist because this is his calling card. It is the quintessential Rubinstein rubato.
The 4th Scherzo recording here is the only slightly average recording in this set. It is very good, but this recording doesn't really stand out the way the others do. It is definitely tough to interpret. Among faster renditions I tend to prefer Horowitz' recording of the 4th Scherzo in 1936 to this one. I'm not entirely sure the 4th Scherzo requires a quick, concise delivery like the first 3."