The Rubinstein Collection Volume 55 - Beethoven & Schubert
The Rubinstein Collection Volume 55 - Sonatas by Beethoven & Schubert (1963 & 1969 recordings)
Genre: Classical Piano Sonatas | 1CD | FLAC (CUE+LOG) | Covers & Booklet (PDF) | 280 MB
1999 release | Publisher: RCA Red Seal 09026 63055-2
Genre: Classical Piano Sonatas | 1CD | FLAC (CUE+LOG) | Covers & Booklet (PDF) | 280 MB
1999 release | Publisher: RCA Red Seal 09026 63055-2
Performers:
Arthur Rubinstein (piano)
Tracklist:
1. (00:10:31) Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata for Piano No. 3, op. 2, No. 3: I. Allegro con brio
2. (00:07:50) Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata for Piano No. 3, op. 2, No. 3: II. Adagio
3. (00:03:43) Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata for Piano No. 3, op. 2, No. 3: III. Scherzo: Allegro
4. (00:05:02) Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata for Piano No. 3, op. 2, No. 3: IV. Allegro assai
5. (00:15:34) Franz Schubert - Sonata for Piano No. 21 in B-flat, D 960: I. Molto moderato
6. (00:10:36) Franz Schubert - Sonata for Piano No. 21 in B-flat, D 960: II. Andante sostenuto
7. (00:04:25) Franz Schubert - Sonata for Piano No. 21 in B-flat, D 960: III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace con delicatezza
8. (00:08:02) Franz Schubert - Sonata for Piano No. 21 in B-flat, D 960: IV. Allegro ma non troppo
Review:
William Hupfer, for many years Steinway's chief piano tuner, liked to use baseball analogies when talking about pianists. Vladimir Horowitz, said Hupfer, was like Babe Ruth, hitting a home run. Arthur Rubinstein, on the other hand, was more like Lou Gehrig, always dependable, playing every day he was scheduled. Rubinstein's "batting-average" as a pianist was extraordinarily high–he seemed suited to a very wide range of music. Although he is successful in the works of Beethoven and Schubert elsewhere in this collection, this disc represents his occasional shortcomings.
The Beethoven Sonata, Op. 2, No. 3 is lacking two elements crucial to this early work–charm and humor. Rubinstein's playing throughout is rather bogged-down, ponderous, and lacking in imagination. The wit of Kempff's version (on DG) is sorely missing. Rubinstein seldom played this Sonata in public (he much preferred the Appassionata, which was better suited to him) and listening to this recording one can imagine why.
Rubinstein had a troubled relationship with Schubert's final Piano Sonata. He attempted a recording in the Autumn of 1963, just before embarking on a concert tour which featured the work. His conception of the work changed during the tour, and in the spring on 1964, he tried again in Carnegie Hall. But Rubinstein and his producer, Max Wilcox, were dissatisfied with the recorded sound. A third recording, made at RCA's Italiana Studios in Rome in 1965 satisfied pianist and producer, but was held back because Rubinstein wished to add more music to the LP. Finally, in 1969, Rubinstein tried again. However, the morning of the session, the pianist had a very upsetting telephone conversation with his oldest son, Paul, which preceded an estrangement which lasted until the pianist's death in 1982. It is hard to blame Rubinstein, then, for sounding distracted in this version. The phrasing does not flow, rubato seems contrived, and the performance as a whole fails to cohere. While preparing Rubinstein's recordings for their first CD release in 1986, Max Wilcox pulled the tape of the 1965 version and immediately realized it was a far better performance. That was the performance released, with the permission of Rubinstein's widow, on CD in 1987. The 1965 version is available as Volume 54 of the Rubinstein Collection.
No complaints about the sound, but due to the aforementioned performance issues, this CD is for Rubinstein completists only. (Hank Drake)