Customer Reviews

Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 40

5 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Arthur Rubinstein received his early training in a manner totally foreign to today's young students. His early teachers were Joseph Joachim (a close friend of Johannes Brahms) and Heinrich Barth. He was permitted by his teachers to give only occasional perfomances, required to attend numerous concerts, and played through the chamber repertoire with his fellow pupils. This is in contrast to the current generation which is consigned to the practice rooms of crowded conservatories (virtuoso factories, really) and bred to win competitions, often at the expense of true musical developement. As a result, Rubinstein was able to make the crossover between stunning virtuoso performances, and more intimate chamber music appearances.

Henryk Szeryng first performed with Rubinstein in the 1950s. Immediately, their musical chemistry evolved into friendship, and it is this atmosphere which suffuses all of their recorded performances. There is a give-and-take in these performances which recalls the great chamber music recordings by Kreisler and Rachmaninoff. One never gets the sense that Rubinstein and Szeryng are trying "one-up" each other, yet there is a greater virtuosity than one usually hears in these pieces. A special highlight is the Scherzo movement of the "Spring" Sonata, where Rubinstein and Szeryng handle the tricky syncopation with infectious aplomb.

The remastered sound is excellent in every respect, fully meeting the standards of the latest recordings.

Henryk Szeryng was one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. But his budding career was interupted by WW II and for several years after that war he disappeared from the international concert scene and instead taught violin in Mexico City. Fortunately, he was discovered there by Rubinstein during one of his concert tours. After hearing Szeryng play, Rubinstein pronounced him to be one of the greatest violinists in the world (a highly accurate assessment) and arranged with RCA to record this set of sonatas to enable Szeryng to gain the exposure he so richly deserved. Quite frankly I have never been an ardent fan of Rubibstein's playing, but I am deeply grateful to him for having rescued this great violinist from undeserved obscurity. Apart from serving as Szeryng's recording debut on a major label, these performances are outstanding. On these performances, I am a Rubinstein fan; the collaboration between Szeryng and Rubinstein is almost intuitive and quite wonderful to hear. No matter what other recordings you may have of these sonatas, please treat yourself to these.

The noble beauty and artistic polish of Rubinstein's playing makes this recording far superior to the over-rated Perlman/Ashkenzazy Decca recording of these sonatas, Perlman too self-concious and Ashkenazy such a inspirationless pianist.

Very good stereo sound, beautifully remastered using latest technology. Highly recommendable alongside Oistrakh/Richter Philips recording.

The sound quality is not good, especially of the violin.
It's the worst RCA album I ever bought.
Maybe because it's an EMI bounus CD.