The Rubinstein Collection Volume 53 - Piano Concertos Schumann, Liszt, Saint-Saens

Performers:

Arthur Rubinstein (piano)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini (Schumann)
RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra (Liszt)
Symphony of the Air (Saint-Saëns)
Alfred Wallenstein (Lizt, Saint-Saëns)

Tracklist:

1. (00:16:27) Robert Schumann - Concerto for Piano & Orchestra in A minor, op. 54: I. Allegro affetuoso
2. (00:05:31) Robert Schumann - Concerto for Piano & Orchestra in A minor, op. 54: II. Intermezzo: Andantino - attacca
3. (00:11:02) Robert Schumann - Concerto for Piano & Orchestra in A minor, op. 54: III. Allegro vivace
4. (00:05:08) Franz Liszt - Concerto for Piano & Orchestra No. 1 in E-flat, S 124: I. Allegro maestoso
5. (00:04:18) Franz Liszt - Concerto for Piano & Orchestra No. 1 in E-flat, S 124: II. Quasi adagio
6. (00:03:48) Franz Liszt - Concerto for Piano & Orchestra No. 1 in E-flat, S 124: III. Allegretto vivace - Allegro animato
7. (00:04:11) Franz Liszt - Concerto for Piano & Orchestra No. 1 in E-flat, S 124: IV. Allegro marziale animato
8. (00:11:05) Camille Saint-Saëns - Concerto for Piano & Orchestra No. 2 in G minor, op. 22: I. Andante sostenuto
9. (00:05:56) Camille Saint-Saëns - Concerto for Piano & Orchestra No. 2 in G minor, op. 22: II. Allegro scherzando
10. (00:06:15) Camille Saint-Saëns - Concerto for Piano & Orchestra No. 2 in G minor, op. 22: III. Presto

Review:

This volume of RCA's complete Arthur Rubinstein Collection features the pianist in three Concertos from the high romantic period.

This was the last of Rubinstein's three recordings of the Schumann Concerto. This 1967 performance is slightly mellower than his previous versions, but with plenty of virtuosity where the music calls for it and overall Rubinstein's technique is cleaner here than in earlier versions. What also makes this the first choice among Rubinstein's Schumann Concertos is the fine accompaniment by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Carlo Maria Giulini. The Italian maestro is exceptionally sensitive to Rubinstein's phrasing and approach to the music, and they achieve a unified conception. The sound is full bodied and well-balanced here, with Rubinstein's legendary sonority faithfully recreated.

The Liszt is less successful. I don't think Rubinstein ever loved Liszt the way he loved Chopin and Brahms, and as he grew older Liszt's music gradually began dropping out of his repertoire. (Rubinstein made no Liszt recordings after 1965.) Both of Rubinstein's recordings of the Liszt Concerto suffer from a great deal of technical bluffing and general sloppiness. Adding to the problem here is some crude microphone placement, with the infamous triangle passages spotlit beyond all reason. The remastering has not been able to solve this problem and the sound remains excessively dry, although the piano sound is more natural than in previous issues. Alfred Wallenstein and the RCA Victor Symphony (mostly made of members of the New York Philharmonic) do a reasonable job of accompaniment.

The Saint-Saëns Second Concerto was a great favorite of Rubinstein's. He made his American debut with this piece back in 1906! This version was made for RCA's Living Stereo series in 1958 in collaboration with the Symphony of the Air (formerly the NBC Symphony) under Alfred Wallenstein. There is slightly more forward motion here than in the 1969 version with Ormandy, and even more stunning virtuosity in the finale. However, the recording with Ormandy has the advantage of better orchestral playing, so the two versions balance each other out as my favorites. There is also an excellent filmed version, with Andre Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra, made in 1975. Despite the age of the recording, the sound is fine.

Recommended, but for the Liszt Sviatoslav Richter still reigns supreme. (Hank Drake on amazon.com