Search - Cesar Franck, Franz Liszt, Camille Saint-Saens :: Saint-Saëns: Concerto No. 2 / Franck: Symphonic Variations / Liszt: Concerto No. 1

Rubinstein at his Best

T. Schmalz | New Jersey | 07/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Arthur Rubinstein had performed Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 many times throughout his concert career; in fact, this was one of the pieces on the program of his first public concert given in 1900. The style in which he plays it is simply captivating. It's not a serious concerto in the German-school, but rather a light-hearted and somewhat amusing concerto. This is probably the most famous recording of the composition, and it's no wonder why.



The Symphonic Variations of Cesar Franck are fantastic, full of energy, vitality and French-Romantic beauty.



Franz Liszt's First Piano Concerto is very well performed here by Rubinstein. I really cannot complain about it.



The reason I give this recording only four (4) stars is because of the sound. Having heard most of the recordings in RCA's newly released and remastered Living Stereo Hybrid-SACD collection, I can conclude that this has rather poor quality sound when compared to the others in the library. It is most noticeable in the Saint-Saens, just a background "hiss" that reminds the listener of just how old the recording is; not the intentions of the remasterers!



Overall, a great recording and well worth your money."

Ruby Does it Again

Hank Drake | Cleveland, OH United States | 07/21/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sony/BMG continues their Living Stereo SACD reissue series with three Concerto recordings from the 1950s featuring pianist Arthur Rubinstein.



The Saint-Saëns Second Concerto was a great favorite of Rubinstein's. He made his American debut with this piece back in 1906. This recording was made in 1958 in collaboration with the Symphony of the Air (formerly the NBC Symphony Orchestra) under Alfred Wallenstein. There is slightly more forward motion here than in the 1969 version with Ormandy, and even more stunning virtuosity in the finale. However, the recording with Ormandy has the advantage of better orchestral playing, so the two versions balance each other out as my favorites. There is also an excellent filmed version on a Deutsche Grammophon DVD, with Andre Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra, made in 1975.



Rubinstein learned Cesar Frank's Symphonic Variations while traveling by train to a concert in Spain, practicing the passages in his lap. The man had an amazing memory. Here again, he is in top form, giving a performance of brio and élan, with Wallenstein and the orchestra providing a fine accompaniment.



The Liszt is less successful. I don't think Rubinstein ever loved Liszt the way he loved Chopin and Brahms, and as he grew older Liszt's music gradually began dropping out of his repertoire. (Rubinstein made no Liszt recordings after 1965.) Both of Rubinstein's recordings of the Liszt Concerto suffer from a great deal of technical bluffing and general sloppiness. Adding to the problem here is some crude microphone placement, with the infamous triangle passages spotlit beyond all reason. The remastering has not been able to solve this problem and the sound remains excessively dry, although the piano sound is more natural than in previous issues. Wallenstein and the RCA Victor Symphony (mostly made of members of the New York Philharmonic) do a reasonable job of accompaniment.



The Saint-Saëns and Franck are in three channel sound, which is much more dimensional and dynamic than the previous issues. The Liszt is in standard two channel stereo.

"

Lesser Rubinstein

Virginia Opera Fan | Falls Church, VA USA | 01/31/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have never considered Rubinstein's RCA Saint-Saens #2 as one of the better efforts in his discography. The passagework in the second movement isn't very accurate. Yes, he had an affinity for French music and the joie de vivre is certainly there. It's just that this not one of his better achievements as a technician. The Franck and Liszt pieces are definitely better played. Wallenstein and the pick-up bands provide good accompaniments.



Rubinstein always wanted the solo piano spotlighted in his concerto recordings. Unfortunately, the piano sound in the Saint-Saens is not only prominent but boxy and constricted with limited high frequency content. The other pieces have much better sound.



This is one of Rubinstein's (and Living Stereo's) lesser achievements. If you already own the older Living Stereo redbook CD (same program) you need not replace it. The gains from the SACD refurbishment are minimal at best."