Customer Reviews

Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 50, Frederic Chopin, 51 Mazurkas

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While his recordings of other composers is somewhat uneven, Rubinstein is the absolute master of Chopin. Noone else captures the beauty, nuance, depth, poetry, and feel of his music in quite the same way, and the Mazurkas (which by the way sound wonderful in their new remastering) are no exception. Even the very familiar ones sound fresh in Rubinstein's hands, and whether you listen to these a few at a time (as I usually do) or straight through, I highly recommend this recording as well as the other reissues in this series.

Arthur Rubinstein made three recordings of Chopin's 51 Mazurkas, this final set being made in 1965-1966. As with most everything he made multiple recordings of, the three sets of Mazurkas (along with three Mazurkas he recorded separately in 1932) make for fascinating comparisons. There is a gradual metamorphosis from the more exciting, brilliant, and episodic performances of the 1930s toward the more sober, reflective, structurally cohesive approach of the 1960s recordings.

Rubinstein considered this version one of the finest recordings he had ever made, but in my opinion, his earlier versions are superior. In the 1930s set (volume 6), he more effectively captures the "swing" of this Polish peasant dance, where the 1960s version tends to sound metrically stricter and, at times, wanting in spontaneity. The 1950s version (Volume 27) melds the youthful and mature approaches, but I prefer the first set.

Still, this is the only Mazurka set Rubinstein recorded in stereo, and Rubinstein enthusiasts will not want to be without it. There are many valid approaches to these elusive gems. In addition to this set, collectors would do well to aquire the 29 Mazurkas William Kapell recorded before his early death, and the scattered Mazurkas recorded by Horowitz.

The recorded sound, which was pretty good to begin with, has been excellently remastered.

The other reviewers have done a fine job of explaining the merits of these recordings. I'm simply writing to let you know you can purchase these recordings as part of Rubinstein's 11 CD RCA Chopin box set for the same price right here at amazon.com Includes liner notes, and CDs are in jewel cases. Not to be missed.

Chopin. Rubinstein. Mazurkas. Perfection. The impeccable Rubinstein rubato shines most when he plays the works which invite overindulgence, like the dance forms, or the easily sentimentalized nocturnes. Especially in these mazurkas where his rhythmic restraint is admirable. These recordings are quirky yet authoritative enough to make me wonder whether only a fellow Pole can play Chopin with such multifariousness (16 letters!) of movement within the staff. I've heard other recordings of the mazurkas, mainly Ashkenazy (boring... where's the life?) and individual performance pieces in compiliations, but none sparkle like the way Rubinstein makes them sparkle. Sublime.

Any mention of Chopin must bring to mind the impeccable Polish pianist, Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982) who after WWII largely redefined a purer Chopin devoid of the salon-sappiness that crept in over the years. Few pianists had more of a natural affinity and ease with the artistic world of Chopin.

This is Rubinstein's last, 60's-heritage recording, remastered to give improved sound quality. First, for those concerned about such an old recording sounding bad ... it doesn't and the immediacy and sound acoustics are satisfying enough where its not a 'show-stopper.' While the miking is fairly close without total room to "breath," the sound was much better than I expected.

Usually one starts with Chopin with the easily recognizable Waltzes or Nocturnes. But, when one expands the exploration to the dozens of Mazurkas, one finds a special field of gold. Anyone with even a basic sense of musical affinity will see Chopin's compositional genius and poetic brilliance in these miniature pieces that he composed throughout his life. So was his love and resonance with this native dance form of Poland, that even his last composition was a Mazurka written close to his death (Op. 68 no 4 in f minor).

I recently revisited this entire two-CD set on a rainy Sunday and heard a new depth, revelation I did not hear prior. A gentle, compassionate, whistful nostalgia can be heard here in the most personal utterances of Chopin embued in the slower Mazurkas. Its a more introspective take than Rubinstein's earlier recordings. In it few surpass Rubinstein's depth of Polish spirit that Chopin sought to create when he frequently marked the score "con anima" (with soulfulness). True, there are many uplifting, happy, elegant movements Rubinstein gives us ... but to me its a cheerfulness viewed through a different prism.

Many consider Rubinstein's first series the finest. Well, you be the judge as each has its historic place. Perhaps a fitting comparison of how two divergent recordings from the same pianist can have an equal but distinctly different voice is Glenn Gould's Goldberg Variations recordings of 1955 and 1981. Gould brought something totally new to the hyper-kinetic 1955 version which the music world took notice. Yet, later in life, his approach to the same music had evolved - more tempered, introspective and ... well, quite slower. To Gould fans at least, both have a special place. So, perhaps the same is true of Rubinstein's first and last recordings of the Mazurkas here - each has a fitting place in history. Compositions - 5 stars; Performances - 5 stars; Sound quality - 3.5 stars (relative the finest modern recordings).

As the liner notes to this two-disc set tell us, this was Arthur Rubinstein's third complete recording of the 51 Chopin mazurkas, made in 1965-66 when he was nearly eighty. I have not heard the other two versions (recorded in 1938 and 1952), so I cannot compare them with this version. All I know is that when I heard Rubinstein's 1966 recording of the Op. 17 mazurkas on satellite radio, I knew I had to have the entire set.

As the reviews here make obvious, there are listeners who revere Rubinstein, and listeners who revile him. I concede that Rubinstein may not have had the greatest technique among pianists, but his unerring musicality, his exquisite use of rubato and his obvious love for Chopin's music for me obliterates any technical quibbles. These are loving and lovely performances of the Chopin mazurkas, and if you like Rubinstein, you will like this CD set.

This is a very "classical" interpretation of the mazurkas. Very correct, fluid technique, all's good here. This is my personal taste, I prefer a little more joy and "dancing" in my mazurkas.

Chopin's Mazurkas have always been my favorite piano music. Many great CD's only offer part of the entire mazurkas. Kapell's CD is excellent but there are a couple of my favorites missing. Rubenstein's is the best. The entire 51 mazurkas are all here and performed with a delicate pensive beauty from one of the great masters of the piano. A keeper for life. There is no doubt that Rubenstein was one of the giants of all time!

This would be the greatest of all Rubinstein Chopin recordings except...there are the Polonaises (Volumte 28!), and the Nocturnes (Volume 46!). Count this one tied for 3rd, with the Ballades, the Waltzes, the.... Hey, wait -- you might as well get them all.

My only problem with this recording is that the repeat button on my CD player isn't working. I listen to one and say, "That's gotta be the best Rubinstein/Chopin Mazurka there could possibly be," but no sooner than I think that, that another one comes on, EVEN BETTER.

Okay, I have my fav. The great B Minor Opus 33 Number 4. This is mid-period Chopin at his finest, and Rubinstein at his finest, and we are privileged to be alive so that we can rehear it.

Fabulous! Polish music at its best!