Arthur Rubinstein - The Complete Album Collection - Box Set 142CDs

Label : RCA
Format : Flac (image + cue)
Cover : No

Arthur Rubinstein’s 82 years before the public comprised one of the longest and most fulfilling piano careers in history. He adored giving concerts, and audiences in turn responded to the communicative immediacy and emotional balance governing the pianist’s red-blooded and generous approach to music making. Rubinstein also loved to make recordings, and he left behind a considerable discography that basically began in 1928 and ended during the 89-year-old veteran’s final concert season in 1976. You consistently notice his robust, singing tone and rhythmic backbone, without any trace of artifice or exaggeration. That said, Rubinstein’s shellac and mono LP efforts often prove more vibrant and spontaneous (albeit cavalier at times) in contrast to his more carefully considered, textually conscientious, and technically polished studio sessions from the 1960s and 1970s.

To anticipate the 125th anniversary of Rubinstein’s birth in 2012, Sony/BMG has brought out The Complete Album Collection, a comprehensive edition of Rubinstein’s entire recorded output for RCA Victor. It also includes his HMV sessions (many of which were issued by RCA in the United States), the 1976 Brahms D minor concerto released by Decca, plus all of the previously unpublished and bonus material that first appeared in RCA’s similarly scaled 1999 Rubinstein Collection. As a bonus, The Complete Album Collection offers two DVDs, a 1975 Pasadena recital newly titled “The Benefit Concerto for Israel”, and “Rubinstein Remembered”, a Peter Rosen documentary, plus three CDs devoted to previously unpublished material from Rubinstein¹s historic 1961 Carnegie Hall recital series.

This collection is similar to Sony/BMG’s Heifetz Complete Album Collection in that common sense and logic govern the label’s “original jacket” program conception. Individual volumes are sequentially organized by original LP release date, packaged in facsimile jackets that replicate the original LP cover art. The first 14 CDs present all of Rubinstein¹s shellac recordings not released on LP by RCA in more-or-less chronological order. A large hardcover book contains a table of contents that provides full discographical information for each volume, along with two discographies respectively listed by composer and recording dates. In addition, the book contains many unpublished photographs, a loving and frank memoir by Rubinstein¹s musician/actor son John (the same one that appeared in the 1999 Rubinstein Edition), an essay by Rubinstein biographer Harvey Sachs, a clear and cogent overview of the collection and how it was put together written by producer Robert Russ, plus a note from Jon Samuels discussing the newly unearthed Carnegie Hall material.

According to Russ, each item’s most recently remastered edition in the Sony/BMG catalog provides the basis for the present set’s sonic upgrades. Generally speaking, the Complete Album Collection transfers’ heightened presence and definition proves more subtle than striking in relation to the 1999 Edition, and those who already own the latter need not replace it. However, Rubinstein acolytes will be curious about the previously unpublished Carnegie Hall material. In almost every case, the live selections boast greater animation, spontaneity, and verve than their relatively reigned in, note-accurate studio counterparts.

Selections otherwise unrepresented in Rubinstein’s discography will hold special interest, such as the magnificently played Debussy L’isle joyeuse and Scriabin Prelude for the Left Hand, and gorgeously projected renditions of Chopin’s Op. 25 No. 2 and Op. 10 No. 12 (“Revolutionary”) Etudes. At long last we get to hear the sole surviving account of Stravinsky’s Three Movements from Petrouchka played by its dedicatee. By all accounts, Rubinstein was reluctant to commit his interpretation to disc due to his numerous textual changes and simplifications. Moreover, his playing is far from note perfect, although the performance gains accuracy and assurance as it progresses. Yet Rubinstein’s unerring sense of character and dramatic momentum come across through perfectly judged transitions and dynamic scaling, and he truly inhabits the music.

Certain Rubinstein recordings retain reference status to this day, such as the stereo Chopin Waltzes and French Collection, Beethoven¹s Third Concerto with Erich Leinsdorf, and the stereo Brahms F minor sonata. Yet some of the collection’s finest performances have been overlooked and undervalued. For example, the 1956 Beethoven Emperor Concerto with Josef Krips abounds with virility and freshly conceived phrasings that Rubinstein’s more “stylistically aware” remakes don’t quite match, while the earlier, quicker, more conversationally conceived late Brahms traversals prove equally disarming. The live Carnegie Hall Schumann Arabesque is all heartfelt song, and easily surpasses Rubinstein’s three studio attempts.

Even in a catalog packed with great recorded Chopin Barcarolles, Rubinstein’s expansive ritards in the coda underline the music’s tenderness and harmonic tension more movingly than anyone else, especially in the live 1964 Moscow concert. The Liszt E-flat concerto with Dorati shows off Rubinstein on particularly audacious form, as does his earlier HMV rendition of his namesake Anton Rubinstein’s Valse Caprice. Although Rubinstein disparaged his 1946 Chopin Préludes as “not good enough”, I’m drawn to their angular, hard-hitting countenance, avoidance of surface charm, and lack of sentimentality.

And while Rubinstein admittedly bangs out the Beethoven Appassionata finale’s coda to the gallery in the aforementioned Israel benefit recital, what long-lined nobility and unhurried poise the 88-year-old master achieves in the Andante con moto! When the mono LP-era Chopin Mazurkas first gained reissue in 1999, I felt that they struck a happy medium between the more familiar HMV shellac set’s sprinting sparkle and the valedictory stereo remake’s breadth and repose. Still, all three versions significantly differ to the point where a clear-cut preference is difficult, even impossible to make.

In sum, Sony/BMG’s caring, meticulous, and practical production values do ample justice to Rubinstein’s recorded legacy. All serious piano collectors should consider treating themselves to this unique boxed set while it is available.

Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com

CD 1-5 THE EARLY RECORDINGS 1928–1935 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 6-10 THE EARLY RECORDINGS 1931–1939 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 11-14 THE EARLY RECORDINGS 1938–1949 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 15 RACHMANINOFF – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN • NBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • GOLSCHMANN
CD 16 GRIEG – PIANO CONCERTO • LISZT – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • RCA VICTOR S. O. • DALLAS S. O. • DORATI
CD 17 TCHAIKOVSKY – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • MINNEAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • MITROPOULOS
CD 18 CHOPIN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN • NBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • STEINBERG
CD 19 SCHUMANN – PIANO CONCERTO ~ RUBINSTEIN • RCA VICTOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • STEINBERG
CD 20 BEETHOVEN – PIANO SONATAS NO. 23 “APPASSIONATA” & NO. 18 “THE HUNT” ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 21 BEETHOVEN – PIANO SONATA NO. 8 “PATHÉTIQUE” • SCHUMANN – FANTASIESTÜCKE ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 22 FALLA – NOCHES EN LOS JARDINES DE ESPAÑA • MOZART – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 23 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 23 SCHUMANN – PIANO QUINTET ~ RUBINSTEIN • PAGANINI QUARTET
CD 24 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3 ~ RUBINSTEIN • NBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • TOSCANINI
CD 25 SCHUBERT – PIANO TRIO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • HEIFETZ • FEUERMANN
CD 26 BEETHOVEN – PIANO TRIO NO. 7 “ARCHDUKE” ~ RUBINSTEIN • HEIFETZ • FEUERMANN
CD 27 BRAHMS – PIANO TRIO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • HEIFETZ • FEUERMANN
CD 28 FAURÉ – PIANO QUARTET NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • MEMBERS OF THE PAGANINI QUARTET
CD 29 RAVEL – PIANO TRIO • MENDELSSOHN – PIANO TRIO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • HEIFETZ • PIATIGORSKY
CD 30 TCHAIKOVSKY – PIANO TRIO ~ RUBINSTEIN • HEIFETZ • PIATIGORSKY
CD 31 CHOPIN – SCHERZOS NOS. 1-4 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 32 PIANO ENCORES BY ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN
CD 33 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 4 ~ RUBINSTEIN • ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA • BEECHAM
CD 34-35 CHOPIN – THE COMPLETE NOCTURNES ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 36 CHOPIN – 24 PRÉLUDES, OP. 28 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 37 BRAHMS – PIANO SONATA NO. 3 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 38 CHOPIN – POLONAISES OPP. 26, 40, 44 & 53 “HEROIC” ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 39 CHOPIN – PIANO SONATA NO. 2 “FUNERAL MARCH” • DEBUSSY ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 40 BRAHMS – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN • BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • MUNCH
CD 41 RACHMANINOFF – RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF PAGANINI • SZYMANOWSKI – SYMPHONIE CONCERTANTE ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 42-44 CHOPIN – THE COMPLETE MAZURKAS • POLONAISE-FANTAISIE • GRANDE POLONAISE BRILLANTE ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 45 SCHUMANN – CELLO CONCERTO • BRAHMS – CELLO SONATA NO. 1 ~ PIATIGORSKY • RUBINSTEIN
CD 46 FRANCK • STRAUSS – VIOLIN SONATAS ~ RUBINSTEIN • HEIFETZ • SÁNDOR
CD 47 BRAHMS – INTERMEZZI • CAPRICCIO • RHAPSODIES ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 48 CHOPIN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC • WALLENSTEIN
CD 49 SCHUMANN – CARNAVAL • FRANCK – PRÉLUDE, CHORAL ET FUGUE ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 50 BRAHMS – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • REINER
CD 51 RUBINSTEIN PLAYS GRIEG
CD 52 CHOPIN – WALTZES ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 53 BEETHOVEN – PIANO SONATAS NO. 23 “APPASSIONATA” & NO. 8 “PATHÉTIQUE” ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 54 RUBINSTEIN PLAYS LISZT
CD 55 FALLA • GRANADOS • ALBÉNIZ • MOMPOU ~ RUBINSTEIN • SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • JORDA
CD 56 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • SYMPHONY OF THE AIR • KRIPS
CD 57 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN – SYMPHONY OF THE AIR • KRIPS
CD 58 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3 ~ RUBINSTEIN • SYMPHONY OF THE AIR • KRIPS
CD 59 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 4 ~ RUBINSTEIN • SYMPHONY OF THE AIR • KRIPS
CD 60 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 5 “EMPEROR” ~ RUBINSTEIN • SYMPHONY OF THE AIR • KRIPS
CD 61 SAINT-SAËNS – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 • FRANCK • VARIATIONS SYMPHONIQUES ~ RUBINSTEIN • WALLENSTEIN
CD 62 RACHMANINOFF – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 • LISZT – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • REINER • WALLENSTEIN
CD 63 SCHUMANN – PIANO CONCERTO ~ RUBINSTEIN • RCA VICTOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • KRIPS
CD 64 RUBINSTEIN PLAYS CHOPIN
CD 65 BEETHOVEN – PIANO SONATAS NO. 21 “WALDSTEIN” & NO. 18 “THE HUNT” ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 66 CHOPIN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 • GRANDE POLONAISE BRILLANTE ~ RUBINSTEIN • WALLENSTEIN
CD 67 BRAHMS – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN • RCA VICTOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • KRIPS
CD 68 CHOPIN – SCHERZOS NOS. 1-4 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 69 CHOPIN – BALLADES NOS. 1-4 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 70 BEETHOVEN – VIOLIN SONATAS NO. 9 “KREUTZER” & NO. 5 “SPRING” ~ RUBINSTEIN • SZERYNG
CD 71 GRIEG – PIANO CONCERTO • LISZT – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • WALLENSTEIN
CD 72 RACHMANINOFF – RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF PAGANINI • FALLA – NIGHTS IN THE GARDENS OF SPAIN ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 73 BRAHMS – PIANO SONATA NO. 3 • INTERMEZZO OP. 116/6 • ROMANCE OP. 118/5 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 74 MOZART – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 24 • RONDO K. 511 ~ RUBINSTEIN • RCA VICTOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – KRIPS
CD 75 CHOPIN – PIANO SONATAS NO. 2 “FUNERAL MARCH” & NO. 3 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 76 CHOPIN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • NEW SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF LONDON • SKROWACZEWSKI
CD 77 GRIEG – PIANO CONCERTO • FAVORITE ENCORES ~ RUBINSTEIN • RCA VICTOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • WALLENSTEIN
CD 78 HIGHLIGHTS FROM RUBINSTEIN AT CARNEGIE HALL
CD 79 BRAHMS – VIOLIN SONATAS NO. 2 & NO. 3 ~ RUBINSTEIN • SZERYNG
CD 80 BEETHOVEN – VIOLIN SONATA NO. 8 • BRAHMS – VIOLIN SONATA NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • SZERYNG
CD 81 MOZART – PIANO CONCERTOS NO. 23 & NO. 21 ~ RUBINSTEIN • RCA VICTOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • WALLENSTEIN
CD 82 BEETHOVEN – PIANO SONATAS NO. 14 “MOONLIGHT” • NO. 26 “LES ADIEUX” • NO. 8 “PATHÉTIQUE” ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 83 SCHUMANN – CARNAVAL • FANTASIESTÜCKE ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 84 TCHAIKOVSKY – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • LEINSDORF
CD 85 MOZART – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 20 • HAYDN – ANDANTE & VARIATIONS ~ RUBINSTEIN • WALLENSTEIN
CD 86 MOZART – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 17 • SCHUBERT – IMPROMPTUS D 899/3-4 ~ RUBINSTEIN • WALLENSTEIN
CD 87 CHOPIN – WALTZES NOS. 1-14 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 88 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 5 “EMPEROR” ~ RUBINSTEIN • BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • LEINSDORF
CD 89 A FRENCH PROGRAM – RAVEL • POULENC • FAURÉ • CHABRIER ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 90 BEETHOVEN – PIANO SONATAS NO. 23 “APPASSIONATA” & NO. 3 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 91-92 CHOPIN – POLONAISES & IMPROMPTUS ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 93 LISZT – PIANO SONATA IN B MINOR • SCHUBERT – “WANDERER” FANTASY ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 94 CHOPIN – BARCAROLLE • 3 NOUVELLES ÉTUDES • BOLÉRO • FANTAISIE • BERCEUSE • TARANTELLE ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 95 BRAHMS – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • LEINSDORF
CD 96-98 CHOPIN – THE COMPLETE MAZURKAS ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 99 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3 ~ RUBINSTEIN • BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • LEINSDORF
CD 100 BRAHMS – PIANO QUINTET ~ RUBINSTEIN • GUARNERI STRING QUARTET
CD 101-102 CHOPIN – THE COMPLETE NOCTURNES ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 103 SCHUMANN – PIANO CONCERTO • NOVELETTES ~ RUBINSTEIN • CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • GIULINI
CD 104 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 4 ~ RUBINSTEIN • BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • LEINSDORF
CD 105 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • LEINSDORF
CD 106 CHOPIN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 • FANTASY OP. 13 ~ RUBINSTEIN • THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA • ORMANDY
CD 107-109 BRAHMS – THE 3 PIANO QUARTETS • SCHUMANN – PIANO QUINTET ~ RUBINSTEIN • GUARNERI STRING QUARTET
CD 110 SCHUBERT – PIANO SONATA NO. 21 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 111 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN • BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • LEINSDORF •
CD 112 SCHUMANN – KREISLERIANA • VOGEL ALS PROPHET • ARABESKE ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 113 SAINT-SAËNS – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 • FALLA – NOCHES EN LOS JARDINES DE ESPAÑA ~ RUBINSTEIN • ORMANDY
CD 114 THE BRAHMS I LOVE ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 115 DVOŘÁK – PIANO QUINTET ~ RUBINSTEIN • GUARNERI STRING QUARTET
CD 116 BRAHMS – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN • THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA • ORMANDY
CD 117 RACHMANINOFF – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN • THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA • ORMANDY
CD 118 DVOŘÁK – PIANO QUARTET ~ RUBINSTEIN • GUARNERI STRING QUARTET
CD 119-120 BRAHMS – THE 3 PIANO TRIOS • SCHUMANN – PIANO TRIO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • SZERNYG • FOURIER
CD 121 FAURÉ – PIANO QUARTET NO. 1 • STRING QUARTET ~ RUBINSTEIN • GUARNERI STRING QUARTET
CD 122-123 SCHUBERT – PIANO TRIOS NOS. 1 & 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN • SZERNYNG • FOURNIER
CD 124 BRAHMS – CELLO SONATAS NOS. 1 & 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN • PIATIGORSKY
CD 125 BEETHOVEN – PIANO SONATA NO. 18 “THE HUNT” • SCHUMANN – FANTASIESTÜCKE ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 126 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 5 “EMPEROR” ~ RUBINSTEIN • LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA • BARENBOIM
CD 127 MOZART – THE 2 PIANO QUARTETS ~ RUBINSTEIN • GUARNERI STRING QUARTET
CD 128 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 4 ~ RUBINSTEIN • LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – BARENBOIM
CD 129 BEETHOVEN • PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3 ~ RUBINSTEIN • LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA • BARENBOIM
CD 130 BACH-BUSONI – CHACONNE • MOZART – RONDO K. 511 • FRANCK – PRÉLUDE, CHORAL ET FUGUE ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 131 SCHUMANN – SYMPHONIC ETUDES • ARABESQUE • RAVEL • DEBUSSY • ALBÉNIZ ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 132 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA • BARENBOIM
CD 133 BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 • PIANO SONATA NO. 18 “THE HUNT” ~ RUBINSTEIN • BARENBOIM
CD 134 SAINT-SAËNS • DEBUSSY • GRANADOS • ALBÉNIZ • SCHUMANN • RUBINSTEIN • MOMPOU • CHOPIN ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 135 SCHUBERT – PIANO SONATA NO. 21 • SCHUMANN – FANTASY IN C • VOGEL ALS PROPHET~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 136-137 THE BENEFIT RECITAL FOR ISRAEL 1975 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 138 BRAHMS – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN • ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA • MEHTA
CD 139 INTERVIEW CD – ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN IN CONVERSATION WITH MARTIN BOOKSPAN & NATHANIEL JOHNSON
CD 140 BONUS CD – NEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM CARNEGIE HALL, VOL. 1 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 141 BONUS CD – NEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM CARNEGIE HALL, VOL. 2 ~ RUBINSTEIN
CD 142 BONUS CD – NEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM CARNEGIE HALL, VOL. 3 ~ RUBINSTEIN

Complete tracklist : Arthur Rubinstein - The Complete Album Collection