Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1/2 / Trois nouvelles etudes (Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 44) [Original recording remastered]

Frederic Chopin (Composer), Alfred Wallenstein (Conductor), Stanislaw Skrowaczewski (Conductor), New Symphony Orchestra of London (Orchestra), Symphony of the Air (Orchestra), Artur Rubinstein (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Artur Rubinstein
• Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra of London, Symphony of the Air
• Conductor: Alfred Wallenstein, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
• Composer: Frederic Chopin
• Audio CD (October 10, 2000)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000031WBT
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,565 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine Chopin Playing in these Early Stereo Recordings, January 9, 2001

By 

Hank Drake (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1/2 / Trois nouvelles etudes (Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 44) (Audio CD)

Rubinstein recorded the Chopin Concertos numerous times. This version of Chopin's first Concerto is the most successful of Rubinstein's several versions, partly thanks to the sensitive accompaniment of the New London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Stanislaw Skrowaczewski. Tempos are well-judged, phrasing is supple and natural, virtuosity is there, but not for its own sake. The sound on the original LP and the first CD issue, was plagued by dropouts at the beginning of the Concerto--these have been smoothed over remarkably, but not entirely eliminated. Balance between orchestra and piano has also been improved.

The Second Concerto is somewhat less successful. Here, Rubinstein is partnered by Alfred Wallenstein, his favored accompanist during the 1950s and early 1960s. Wallenstein secures reasonable playing from the Symphony of the Air, then long past its earlier glory as the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Rubinstein's playing is fine, but the overall enjoyment of the performance is hampered by the sonic picture, which remains synthetic and dryish--despite the best efforts of the remastering team. Purists should be warned that, at Rubinstein's insistence, the violins do not play "con legno" as Chopin indicated.

The Three New Etudes, recorded in 1962, are similar to - if less fleet fingered than - Rubinstein's earlier stereo version from 1958.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rubinstein the artist, July 18, 2009

By 

music lover, professional concert pianist (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1/2 / Trois nouvelles etudes (Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 44) (Audio CD)

Since Rubinstein's recordings are made so long ago, the recording quality certainly will not be as sophisticated as the present but if we can concentrate on his musicality, his beautiful tone color, performances that has virtuosity but the most important thing brought forward is making music, it is a joy and inspiring to listen to him being an artist and not simply a mechanic. There is no one "correct" way to interpret any piece of music, you just have to find the performance that you like the most but Rubinstein's performances certainly rank right up there for many people. You don't have to be musically educated to enjoy art, just listen, look, and react the way you feel. Enjoy!