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
Arthur Rubinstein (piano) 
RCA
RED SEAL LIVING STEREO SUPER AUDIO CD 82876 66378
2 [46.20] 
