Customer Reviews

Artur Rubinstein - The Chopin Collection: The Nocturnes

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've heard chopin nocturnes played by barenboim, pollini, ashkenazy, arrau, serkin etc..This recording is simply the greatest ever. period. you don't have to know rubinstein to appreciate his artistry and poetry in playing this chopin masterpiece. you will enjoy rubinstein's mastery that made him world-famous. no one ever have or will play nocturnes better or with more feelings than the late maestro. rubinstein is the chopinist of our lifetime and left us legacy to be followed.

My favorite piano album of all time. I moved a few years ago and lost all my CD's, and because of financial problems have only recently begun to repurchase many recordings. When I bought this again and listened to it after a few years away, I could have cried. It was like meeting an old love, and none of the thrill was gone. She was as beautiful as ever. Rubinstein's sense of rubato is perfect; affective and full of rhythm within rhythm, yet only consciously noticeable when you carefully examine the playing. Totally natural. Like Liszt said of Chopin's rubato, "See that tree? See how the leaves move yet the shape stays the same?" The tone is bold and sharp, proving that Chopin's music was not to be maudlinly caressed as the stereotype of a weak, tubercular genius has perpetuated. This is music to lay in the dark with, not to fall asleep to, but to ride the night blanket away in.

Rubinstein's playing, as always, is wonderful, and the quality of the recording is excellent. I have been listening to Chopin's nocturnes for 50 years and I am delighted with this edition. I highly recommend it.

Consistency and sanity are the key words here. Although Rubinstein might not capture the bewitching lyricism of Ignaz Friedman (as in op.55 No.2) or the heartfelt tenderness of Ivan Moravec (listen to his op.9 no.2), Rubinstein's authority in these signature pieces by his fellow country man is undeniable. Op.27 no.2 and the two Op. 48 nocturnes showcase Rubinstein's wonderful warmth, keen sense of drama, and delicate singing touch. Highly recommended.

The greatest Chopin recordings of the world's greatest Chopin player. Rubinstein is really untouchable here. His sense of nuance, color, rhythmic freedom and rhythmic precision, his absolute emotional rightness beggar description.

I've been listening to and playing the Chopin Nocturnes since I was a child and in all my experience with these jewels of the classical repetoir I have never heard a more perfect rendition. This collection is the standard by which all others must be judged. But more than a "standard" these performaces live. From the first haunting trickle of notes on the 1st CD (Op.9 no.1) you will be fully engaged by this recording.

Chopin

Artur Rubinstein

The Nocturnes

(RCA - ADD analog performances - remastered edition)

Every music lover should have Chopin's Seven Polonaises and The Nocturnes. No one has performed these pieces as well as Rubinstein. This CD contains his performances of The Nocturnes and it deserves a Sixth Star.

Wonderful interpretation of simply exquisite music. Reading some of the ill-informed reviews here made me wonder if they had even heard it, or just wanted to sound clever. How strange that we live in an age that values the critic above the creator.

Four criteria apply when one evalutes a keyboard cd: a) the substance of the music, b) the performer's reading of the music, c) the tone and tuning of the instrument, and d) the recording engineer's performance. When these criteria are considered jointly in this recording, one finds oneself lost in amazement.

No other pianist has a more natural flow of rubato for the Chopin nocturnes as Rubinstein. Ivan Moravec doesn't even come close.