COMPOSERS: Liszt/Rubinstein
LABELS: RCA Gold Seal
WORKS: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12; Mephisto Waltz No. 1; Funérailles; Liebestraum No. 3; Barcarolle No. 3; Barcarolle No. 4; Valse-caprice
PERFORMER: Artur Rubinstein (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: 09026 61860 2 ADD mono (1950/53/55)
Typically aristocratic accounts of eight celebrated Liszt compositions, all staples of Rubinstein’s repertoire throughout virtually his entire career. Exquisite phrasing and fearless virtuosity vouchsafe the familiar Rubinstein frisson of drama and poetic incident; drier palates may prefer something rather less flamboyant! The Anton Rubinstein (no relation, incidentally) works were issued on a single 45-rpm LP in 1953. Their reappearance some 40 years later is welcome enough, though the salonesque idiom of these novelties hardly makes for demanding listening. The mono CD transfers are excellent. Michael Jameson
Liszt/Rubinstein
Typically aristocratic accounts of eight celebrated Liszt compositions, all staples of Rubinstein’s repertoire throughout virtually his entire career. Exquisite phrasing and fearless virtuosity vouchsafe the familiar Rubinstein frisson of drama and poetic incident; drier palates may prefer something rather less flamboyant! The Anton Rubinstein (no relation, incidentally) works were issued on a single 45-rpm LP in 1953. Their reappearance some 40 years later is welcome enough, though the salonesque idiom of these novelties hardly makes for demanding listening.
Our rating
4
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:32 pm