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Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor Op.15 Arthur Rubinstein (piano) Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner Recorded at Orchestra Hall, April 17th 1954 RCA RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SUPER AUDIO CD 82876 66378 2 [46.20]

This famous recording will be very familiar. It has been serially re-released and owners of RCA 09026 61263-2 (about a decade old now) and RD85668 (somewhat older still) will pause only to note that it now comes under the aegis of SACD, though I’ve as yet only been able to listen on an ordinary set-up. The old deficiencies of the original studio recording still remain. In the tradition of pianistic and violinistic lions Rubinstein was heroically over recorded. In his later, very frail recording in Israel with Mehta the over recording was such as to decimate orchestral themes under a welter of (fallible – he was then eighty-nine) piano passagework. Here things are very much better but the imbalance should be noted even though it was quite deliberate. Reiner’s accompaniment has stood the wither of historical scrutiny. His delineation of separate choirs is magisterial, his breadth and implacable rhythm never harden or congeal. In matters of rhythm indeed he is a master. Rubinstein’s pianism is noble and dignified, powerfully sensitive and without exaggeration. Lyricism flows but is held in proper balance and the warmth of the slow movement never cloys. Here one feels a certain refinement of spirit and sensibility even though the close up RCA sound makes a true pianissimo difficult. And it’s this, in the end, that marginally relegates this recording, despite the beauty of tone and the capricious and wittily pointed finale. And despite a finale in which Rubinstein never uses too much pedal – he makes his points with magical refinement. As with an earlier release (RD85668) the Concerto comes without any coupling. RCA 09026 61263-2 included some solo Brahms, pieces from Opp. 76, 79 and 118 but this SACD has reverted to the earlier model, which I find a pity. Still, the performance is profoundly impressive, and constitutes Rubinstein’s greatest recording of this Concerto. Jonathan Woolf   Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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