Customer Reviews

Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 45

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Rubinstein was in his prime when these versions of the Chopin Ballades and Scherzos were recorded in 1959. Curiously, although this was to be his third version of the Scherzos, he had never recorded the Ballades before.

Rubinstein was temperamentally well suited to these works, moreso than in the Mazurkas and Preludes. The narrative aspect of the Ballades suited his intuitive sense of structure well. At this point in his career, Rubinstein had known these pieces for six decades. It is no wonder, therefore, that he performs them more convincingly than, say, Kissin does on his recent recording.

The Scherzos are outright virtuoso works. Rubinstein would occasionally perform all four in concert, back-to-back. Any other pianist would have been exhasted by the effort. Not Rubinstein, who posessed a seemingly inexaustable reserve of energy. The pianist is just as on top of these pieces, technically, as any of his colleagues, and much more attuned to them musically.

The Tarantella is an effective encore here, if lacking in the final degree of "bite" (pun intended) this crazed dance piece requires.

The sound, made from original recordings produced by RCA's legendary Jack Pfeiffer, is spectacular--sounding every bit as lifelike as the best of today's digital recordings.

This is the one to get!

I heard several different recordings of the ballades before I listened to Rubinstein play them, and still loved them. However, after listening to this recording, I cannot go back to them anymore. This is the most fulfilling performance of the ballades I have heard-- completely poetic, completely sensible.

One could honestly remark that 95% of Rubinstein's musical fame came from his intepretation of Chopin. Take Rubinstein at any age, whether at 27 or 72, and he will give you impecable performance of any Chopin work.

This CD contains truly some of Chopin's best works (the Ballades and the Scherzi) played by Rubinstein at his career height. Listen for the "Rubinsteinian pulse" as he takes you through the magnificant Ballade Nr.1, with its herald-like introduction, a menacing first theme, a warmer and more intimiate second theme and the fantasia-like episode that begins lightheartedly and then wells up into a dramtic ending. This is definitely Chopin at its best, and Rubinstein's performance will leave you breathless.

All four ballades are played brilliantly, with a very romantic articulation (but nevertheless sharp), and filled with a great range of emotions. The scherzi are no joke (though the name implies joke). The first one is frenzied, the second one heoric, the third brooding and the fourth lighthearted and warm. However, I could recommand a better recording of the 1st scherzi by Horowitz (RCA Artist of the Century: Horowitz the Indispensable). Rubinstein creates a dreamy-like mood while Horowitz maintains a sharp, clear sound. This is totally up to the listener's perferences, just that I like the crisp sound better.

All in all, should you buy this CD then? Of course. This is possibily Rubinstein at its best playing Chopin at its best. Buy this CD to introduce yourself to Rubinstein's genius or to reaffrim the idea.

I got this CD for my birthday and I am very happy with it. Rubenstein has been one of my favorite pianists, and I really enjoyed his interpetations of the four ballades and the scherzos. They were exciting, when the sections got fast and climatic, and beautiful when the sections slowed down and called for more feeling. I own these pieces performed by several artists, and this is one of my favorites. I would really reccomend this CD to anybody who enjoys Chopin, or just music in general.

The Ballades and Scherzi of Chopin are amazing piano pieces- and of all the solo piano music i have heard, they are the greatest.
Chopin nocturnes, etudes, etc etc- they are all wonderful- but Chopin is at his greatest with these Ballades and Scherzi.
The first recording i had of these Ballades and Scherzi was by a young Vladimir Ashkenazy. I really liked Ashkenazy (and prefer his version of the 3rd Scherzo), but Rubinstein's music is much more alive.
And i recently got a recording of Evgeny Kissin playing the Ballades. Kissin's phrasing is just plain ugly at some moments, and he screws around with the tempo too much. Kissin also smears some runs with the pedal, which I dont like either.
After hearing Kissins versions, i appreciated Rubinstein's even more. He delivers Chopin's message in a crystal clear way.
And lets admit, Chopin has one heck of an awesome message!!!
Get this CD. Get this CD. Get this CD.
You will never own a better solo piano CD.

This is my personal fav of the Chopin Ballades. It has definately ruined my attitude toward other recordings. I own the Kissin, Ashkenazy, Emanuel Ax, etc versions, yet everytime I listen, I think..."it's just not as good as Rubinstein's.." I cn't describe it buy it and listen to the first ballad. there 's no going back after that..what I would give to hear it for the first time again..

If someone wished to make a case for Rubinstein's genius not only as a Chopin interpreter, but as a pianist of the first rank, they'd need do little more than offer this one recording as evidence. The control of melodic line, lift, chordal technique, brilliance in ornamentation and fioriture - all of them are at the service of Chopin's conception, but come together with a sound that can only have been made by Rubinstein. Perhaps most moving is the first ballade; the grandeur of the main E major theme has never been brought out so compellingly, and the closing Gm section is nothing short of demonic. I've listened to this recording well over a thousand times, and have explored every other commercially-available recording of the ballades. Nothing quite compares. If I had only one piano record, perhaps even only one record of any kind, to choose for the proverbial desert island, this one would be it.

This is a must get CD of the Scherzi and Ballades of Chopin. Except for the Scherzo no. 1, which I rate this as second only to Horowitz's recording , there is no comparison to Rubinstein's technically brilliant and musically profound interpretations.

Chopin's Ballades, Scherzoes and 19 Nocturnes are the pinnacle of classical piano. Rubinstein Collection Vol. 45 and 49 are the reference recordings for these pieces. His interpretation of Ballades is muscular. In contrast, he is as soft as feather in the dreamy Nocturnes.

I bought this CD with the full knowledge of Rubinstein's ability to mesmerize worlds of people with his Chopin. His Ballades and Scherzi are no exception. Some pieces are not to my exact tastes but are very mature interpretations which one should expect from such a maestro of the piano. Great composer, great performer, great music.