Customer Reviews

Michael Rabin 1936-1972

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At the time I am writing this review there are 5 buyers waiting to buy this box.

I submit that no one recorded Paganini Caprices and Perpetual Motion better, no one recorded a better flight of the bumble bee, no one recorded Winiawski Concertos 1 and 2 better, no one played a better Zigeunerweisen, no one played a better Saint Saens Intro Rondo, and especially the Glazunov was never played better.

These pieces are without a doubt the most exciting of all music written for the violin and Rabin plays with such color and expression combined with rediculous virtuosity and an undeniable sence of conviction, he is basically the definition of a true prodigy and is the violinist I have been comparing all others to for over 20 years. Without a doubt he was one of the greatest soloists the world has ever known.

If anyone out there is listening, please reissue this cd box. It is an essential part of any musician or collector's library. How sad that this is terribly hard to purchase anywhere.

Michael Rabin was an incredible violinist -- equal or superior to all other violinists of the recorded era. Although Heifetz is generally regarded as the greatest violinist of the 20th century, Rabin was fully equal to him in technical prowess and surpassed him in artistry. Unfortunately, Rabin died before his 36th birthday and had stopped performing on a regular basis by his mid-twenties. Whether he would have resumed his career had he lived longer we will never know. The recordings in this collection represent virtually all of his studio recordings for EMI made over a period of only a few years. But what masterpieces they are! In only a few years of studio recording Rabin created a legacy of masterpieces that violinists whose careers spanned decades have not exceeded. If you love the violin, please get this set of CDs if it is still available. If it is no longer available, please get one of his other recording -- perhaps his legendary recording of the Paganini caprices. But, by one means or another, listen to this great artist.

This is my most favorite CD, I treat it not only as a rare CD set, but also treasures.

Michael Rabin, borned 1936 in a family of musicians, showed great talent when he was just one year ole: he was able to beat perfect time. This talent kept growing and became conspicuous when Rabin is five years old: he once attracted by the violin that hung in his doctor¡¯s clinic office and picked it up immediately, playing and refusing to returned it. What¡¯s amazing is that he was never regularly trained and he was just learning piano at that time. His father(a violinist in the New York Philharmonic) seized this chance and began to teach his son¡ªlittle Rabin to play violin. Later Rabin became student of Ivan Galamian, who also the teacher of Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman.

Rabin¡¯s playing style can be described as ¡°graceful and beautiful¡±, it is not the normal meaning, you can hear Rabin¡¯s own special ¡°grace¡± and ¡°beautiful¡±, which can not be imitated by other violinist: Heifetz¡ªno! Milstein¡ªno! Grumiaux¡ªno!

What¡¯s more attracted is that Rabin¡¯s playing mixed a feeling of innocent and artless that is lacked in any other violinist. Rabin was not sophisticate; his playing was direct and emotional, with unflagging enthusiasm.

Despite his great artistic appeal, Rabin had astounding skill on controlling violin. His playing of Paganini was a classic in violin recording archive. His skill is now disseminated to be ¡°god like¡±. After you have heard his stereo recording of Paganini¡¯s Violin Concerto No.1, you will find other violinists¡¯ playing so ¡°naive¡±, lack of enough skill and artistic talent.

It¡¯s a pity that Michael Rabin never enter the recording studio after 1960, all of his legendary recording ended at 1960, which make this EMI 6CD set so precious and rare today. Almost all of Rabin¡¯s recording gathered within EMI, and this 6CD set including all of it. Rabin was reported to be involved in chronic drug using, and has unusual neuroses, including a fear of falling off the stage. None of this affected his performance in concerts in the 1960¡¯s¡ªbut just live concerts, not any recording after 1960. Michael Rabin died at 1972, some days before his 36th birthday. The cause of his death is: Rabin slipped on the floor that day and had his head strike on a chair. A sudden death and a sudden grieve!

Though there are about half of the recordings in mono, and another in stereo, all of Rabin¡¯s EMI-Capitol (EMI¡¯s USA branch) recordings have astonishing sound quality, especially the stereo ones. Many of my friend claimed that they had never heard a violin recording had so a good sound quality. Very few recordings (Paganini No.1, Wieniawski No.2 and three encores from the original LP ¡°The Magic Bow¡±) was published by Germany local EMI in 1989 (which is only sold in Germany, not internationally). This 6CD set is considered the first choice for experiencing Rabin¡¯s playing, because it¡¯s sound quality is the best (though the Paganini, Wieniawski, three Encores¡¯ digital remastering is said to be exactly the same as 1989 , I compare it and find that actually the 1991 6CD complete version is better, in my opinion), think about that many (about 5/6 ) of Rabin¡¯s recording is the first time appear on this 6CD set! So if somebody haven¡¯t owned this 6CD set, try to find it. You will be deeply impressed and even treat this EMI 6CD set to be the ultimate violin CD in your recording collection archive.

I am a violinist studying at the Boston Conservatory, and Michael Rabin has been my role model since I was thirteen. His recording of "Banjo and Fiddle" by William Kroll really turned me on to practicing for the first time. No other violinists display Michael Rabin's ability to draw a listener into his performance, and very few communicate the same joy as he does.

His interpretations of the smaller encore pieces by Scriabin, Wienawski, Chopin, and others are unique, personal, and (expectedly) beautiful. The Concerto in f# by Henri Wienawski suits him to perfection, and the recording found in this collection is without peer. (I say this with no malice directed at Itzhak Perlman or Gil Shaham.) And I have never heard another recording of the Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Saens which was so wonderfully evocative, so magical.

This 6-CD set really needs to be re-issued, if not for the sake of enjoyment by music lovers everywhere, then for the preservation of his legacy, which should forever be accessible to his great posterity of violinists.

Before I get to that, I want to say that apart from loving Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" I have never been that gung ho on classical violin music. It was just OK. Then I watched this movie called "Rhapsody"(1954) with Elizabeth Taylor and two gorgeous, talented actors: Vittorio Gassman and John Ericson. Anyway, Gassman's violin solos in the movie are all done by Michael Rabin. I had never heard of him before. I was blown away by his renditions of various pieces by Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Debussy in the film. (You can catch the film on Turner Classic Movies.)

Here's what no one else mentioned: Rabin's rendition of "La plus que lente" by Debussy. How could other reviewers not be as moved by this as I was? I have compared his version to those of Perlman and Heifetz. Rabin's is better: more lush, softer, sweeter. Critics say because he died young, he "hadn't fully matured" on the notes accompanying the CD, but I don't see how he could have played better even had he lived longer.

Rabin's sad life story would make a great movie, I wish I had connections in the film industry. If you love classical violin, this CD set is for you!

Seeing that many others have gone over his life, I shall skip that. His recordings are simply incredible. I especially love his Bruch Scotch Fantasy. Many claim that this was Heifetz's greatest piece, but I believe that Rabin simply decimates Heifetz's recording. Rabin's tone is large and warm, and when he does the doublestop section in the first movement, one literally feels like he has been transported back to Scotland. His articulation is impeccable. Milstein was known for this, and in this category, Rabin ties him. Listen to Milstein's Bach - it's incredibly articulate, and every note is there. Michael Rabin reaches that same level of perfection of Milstein. Michael Rabin's recording of the Meditation from Thais is GORGEOUS!!! It's sensuous, dark, and has a certain mystery that many performers neglect. He truly made a masterpiece out of that piece. His Ziguenerweisen - impeccable. No one has come close to his level. It is technically perfect, and has just the right amount of gypsy flavor to make it work properly. And his 24 caprices? Legendary. I doubt anyone can hope to surpass his articulation and phrase sculpting. Ilya Kaler comes very close though. He is quite the incredible violinist himself. All in all, this set of CDs is incredible. Even if you can't get this, at least get his 24 Caprices. His recordings are essential to every violin aficcionado and classical music lover.

This is simply a stunning set of recordings. For those not familiar with Rabin's work, it introduces the listener to a genius possessing the dramatic flair of Heifetz, the care and articulation of Kreisler, and the soulfulness of David Oistrakh. Had Rabin lived, there is no question that he would be considered the pinnacle of the pantheon of great violinists. His Mendelsohn reveals a piece of music that in my view has never before been heard, and his Tchaikovsky does the same. He treats every piece of music --from the encore warhorses to relatively minor pieces like the Bruch Scottish Fantasy to the great concerti as if each were the most important composition for his instrument ever written, and as if he had only one chance to play it. The only problem with this set is that it leaves you wanting more -- wishing that he had recorded the Brahms, the Beethoven, the Dvorak, etc., but tragically there is no more. After listening to Rabin it is hard to listen to anyone else.

Rabin is spectacular!!! Just listen to his rendition of Zigeunerwiesen, he has no equal for this piece - not even close! I have been waiting for the re-release of this set for over 5 years, asking EMI if they would ever consider it. My thanks to EMI for listening. This is a re-release they wont regret. I have a collection of classical violin by many artists, but there is something very special about these recordings by Michael Rabin. His interpretations and the gusto of his playing take your breath away.

I cannot imagine any collection of classical music without this set of CDs.

I can't really add much to what has already been written below except to say that I have spent my life playing the violin and listening to all the greats, and in the end, I must confess to preferring Rabin over all others, including Heifetz. He managed to combine all the technique possible along with the most sensuous tone (the overtones make my ears hurt at times) and romantic style. He is the violinist everyone dreams about, whether they know him or not. Whenever I hear a violinist today who is reputed to be a top player, it amazes me how far the fall short of Rabin.

Among the great selections on these CDs: his first Paganini 1 (slightly more brilliant than his later stereo version), Wieniawski 1 (puts Shaham and Perlman to shame), Engel Sea Shells (trills), Chopin Nocturne (singing double stops), St. Saens Introduction & Rondo (the stereo version), Tchaikovsky concerto, Scriabin Etude (how does he play this???), most of the Paganini caprices, Hora Staccato (only violinist with a more brilliant upbow staccato than Heifetz), and many many more. He also played fabulous Bach, to answer those who say he never played the great German works, and he was one of the earliest to record solo Ysaye. I admit to not liking some of his interpretations, such as the Mendelssohn and Bruch, but to quibble would be absurd-- he was so young after all.

The cost of the set may be high, but worth every penny. It will provide many hours of enjoyment, and will never cease to amaze and move you. The only recording missing would then be the early album released from Sony/Columbia.

If you don't have these CD's get them, you won't be disappointed, especially if you love the violin as I do. If you're a Rabin fan too then this small investment is money well spent. A better set of recordings of violin classics couldn't be found anywhere. Rabin quite simply was the greatest violinist of the 20th century, rivalling, and in some ways surpassing the venerable Heifetz. He was also known for his phenomenal virtuosity and 'voluptuos' tone somewhat reminiscent of Perlman.

This boxed set includes many of the virtuoso pieces that made him famous as well as more reflective pieces like Bach. Listen to these and judge for yourselves what a truly great violinist was Rabin.