Grieg, Chopin & Saint-Saens - Piano Concertos / Rubinstein, Previn, London Symphony Orchestra

These performances were probably among Arthur Rubenstein's last concerto performances, for he was clearly "up in years". The interviews included on the disc noted that he was 90 y/o at the time of the interviews. If you're a fan of Rubenstein it's well worth acquiring this disc, not just for the fine performances, but because of the interviews as well. When asked about his philosophy of interpreting music, he noted that some (younger) pianists may be very technically proficient, but don't put "feeling" into their performances. He advised them to "play music" with feeling. He expressed this concept much better than I have here. I consider the Grieg concerto to be one of the truly great piano concertos of the late 19th century, if not of the entire 19th century.

Artur Rubinstein, at age 88, recorded these concertos in the Croydon Fairfield Hall in 1975 with André Previn, then music director of the London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world's best ensembles. There is no audience, and in effect these are studio recordings in full dress. The video is good for its vintage (despite some gimmicky filming), the audio quite fine. As was customary at the time, the piano is over-miked in relation to the orchestra, but this is less noticeable in the "stereo" setting than in DTS 5.1. Rubinstein is amazingly strong and nimble-fingered and his interpretations, regardless of his impenetrable facial expression and consistently straightforward approach to the scores, are at times moving and always musical. Tempi are deliberate for the most part, but not excessively so. There are no surprising new insights into these scores. To the credit of the producers, a few audible glitches have not been edited. The Grieg is played stately with the appropriate grandeur, and the Chopin sparkles. In the Saint-Saëns, the comparative lightweight among the concertos, Rubinstein pulls all the stops to make up in sheer virtuosity for the thin musical substance. Previn is a considerate but forceful presence on the podium, a pianist himself who knows when to step back in favor of the soloist. The bonus interview "Rubinstein at 90" is a precious document, although the skillful interviewer rarely manages to penetrate the poised and elegant façade of the man and the artist.

If you are a lover of classical music, then you will truly love this album of maestro Rubinstein playing these beautiful concertos. He is incredible, and he always was. I remember my Mother and Father used to take me to his concerts,everytime they could - and the concert halls were always packed. Rubinstein had this gift of being able to project the feelings of the music he was playing. He was far superior,in my mind to the playing of Vladimir Horowitz. Horowitz's playing was perhaps more mechanically perfect, but it did not have the feeling in it that maestro Artur Rubinstein was able to put into his playing and his music. You will really enjoy listening to this. And then, if you want to listen to something extra special, get a recording of him playing Rachmanninoff's Concerto #3, for piano and orchestra. It is so incredible, it is beyond words. It is rarely played now on the concert stage, because it is so difficult a piece,for both the soloist and the orchestra, and so very long, longer than some symphony's, a little over 50 minutes, uncut. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy, everybody.

Just a few comments on this amazing performance.1. The technical quality is outstanding. The picture is crystal clear and there is no static....you could hear a pin drop during the silences.2. There is a section in this DVD where Rubinstein is listening to and feeling the orchestra's music (when he is not playing). He is joyously engulfed in the sound. Seldom do we see this part of Rubinstein because his playing always looks so effortless and his body is so amazingly still except for the movement of his hands. This footage alone is worth the cost of the DVD.3. The camera angles are wonderfully creative in a way that draws you into the drama. I don't think I've ever felt so present in a DVD symphony. I did not, however, feel this until after Grieg's concerto. In my opinion, this is when all the musicians go beyond the technical into a very emotional interpretation.4. If nothing else you can rent this DVD from NetFlix; just don't miss it. It is a valuable piece of history for all music lovers.

Rubinstein's technique and use of himself is simply astonishing, especially at the age he was at this performance! I think he continually improved throughout his life. The interview with him included on the disk was delightful and had interesting information about the pieces.If you like the Grieg piano concerto, this is a very fine performance. I don't necessarily agree with all of the maestro's and conductor's choices of expressions, but these disagreements are few so the performance was still quite moving. The Saint Saens piano concerto is also quite moving. The difference of the sound-milieus of the metropolitan Parisian and the Bergen native can be distinctly heard.The sound was excellent and the way the cameras were set, one feels as if in a small audience sitting right at the sweet spot. So good work on this. There are times that the cameramen missed opportunities to reveal the maestro's handiwork at challenging passages, but overall the choreography of the camera angles is satisfying.Definitely worth the buy, especially if you are looking for a master technique to emulate.

自分がクラッシック音楽を知り、LPを聞き始めた時にルービンシュタインは、かなり聞いてその演奏様式が、耳に今でも鮮烈に残っております。当時は、今のように海外に演奏会に行くこともままならず、来日演奏家のコンサートすらもチケットを買うのに苦労したものです。今回、DVD化によって、その演奏がより身近に、感じるようになりました。事態の進化はありがたいことです。

アルトゥール・ルービンシュタイン（1887-1982）88歳のときの演奏。共演はアンドレ・プレヴィンとロンドン交響楽団、1975年4月、クロイドン（ロンドン南部）のフェアフィールド・ホールで収録。プレヴィンの伴奏はゆったりと呼吸を深くとりながら、朗々とした音で男性的によく歌うソリストの演奏にあわせ、すみずみまで丁寧でとても誠実。収録曲は、グリーグとショパン（2番）とサン＝サーンス（2番）というコンチェルト3曲。聴衆の気配がなく、いわゆるライブ録音ではないと思われるが、ルービンシュタインの演奏スタイルからしてテイクを何度も重ねてのレコーディングをするとは考えにくいので、3曲の収録にどれだけの日数をかけたかはわからないが、非公開でライブに近い条件の収録だったにちがいない。3曲とも、ルービンシュタインがその長い演奏活動のあいだ、ほぼつねにレパートリーとして愛情をこめて弾きつづけた曲である。70年代のカメラワークはいま見ると少し古くさいが、冷戦下のソ連の演奏家たちの映像が（演奏そのものは凄いにせよ）えらく時代がかっていることを思うと、映像つきでこの巨匠の演奏を鑑賞できるのだから、無条件にありがたい。11度届く柔軟な手で、指先の感触を大切にする（ホロヴィッツの寝かせた指によるタッチとある意味では対照的）奏法も、美しい姿勢のまま、ほとんど頭の位置を動かさず、したがってルービンシュタインがそのきわだった長所の1つである鋭敏な聴力を遺憾なく発揮していることも映像で確認できる。この演奏の2年後、視覚障害を理由に引退するのだが、いわゆる衰えというものはほとんど感じさせず、ひたすら、年齢とともに滋味とふところの深さを増している輝かしい演奏だ。あえて指摘するなら、特に左の手のひらを広げたり伸ばしたりするときの動きがじゃっかんぎこちなく、技巧的な和音の細かい切り替えで思いどおりにいかず、わずかに顔をしかめるところまで映像だとわかってしまうというくらい。ちなみに私は、だんぜん（ホロヴィッツではなく）ルービンシュタインのファンである。人生を愛し、“神から愛されたピアニスト”と呼ばれながら、どんな悲しみも受け流し飲みこんできた、そのすべてが楽天的な演奏に年輪として刻まれている。特典映像では彼が晩年を過ごしたパリのアパルトマンが映っているのもとても嬉しい。

I purchased this for a dear friend and he is delighted. May even buy one for myself.

The very finest of performances of the Grieg by a true genius. Played with wonderful poise i.e at the correct tempo, making every note audible.

Ho avuto la misura della grandezza di Arthur Rubinstein vedendo il filmato del concerto di Grieg sul canale SKY Classical. La reazione di mia moglie è stata inconsapevolmente analoga a quella di un altro recensore: ha la stessa autorevolezza di Karayan, naturalmente trasferita al pianoforte.Alcuni forse considerano le sue interpretazione datate, di vecchia scuola, ma mi viene da sorridere pensando all'agitazione frenetica ed alquanto ridicola di molti interpreti solisti del pianoforte: la compostezza e ieraticità del grande Rubinstein fa pari con il suo suono cristallino, nitido, pulito, fin troppo perfetto. Forse, la direzione Previn, peraltro anche lui eccellente pianista, non è all'altezza, ma ha il merito di aver promosso queste ultime incisioni del grande maestro, per di più con una ripresa tecnicamente adeguata. Assolutamente da non mancare!