Johannes Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 1 (Arthur Rubinstein)

Information

Composer: Johannes Brahms

• Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15

Arthur Rubinstein, piano

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Fritz Reiner, conductor

Date: 1954 / 2005

Label: RCA

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Review

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

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Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer and pianist. In his lifetime, Brahms's popularity and influence were considerable. Brahms composed for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, piano, organ, and voice and chorus. Many of his works have become staples of the modern concert repertoire. An uncompromising perfectionist, Brahms destroyed some of his works and left others unpublished. Brahms is often considered both a traditionalist and an innovator. His music is firmly rooted in the structures and compositional techniques of the Classical masters, with a highly romantic nature embedded within.

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Arthur Rubinstein (28 January 1887 – 20 December 1982) was a Polish-American pianist. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time, he received international acclaim for his performances of the music written by a variety of composers and many regard him as one of the greatest Chopin interpreters of his time. Although best known as a recitalist and concerto soloist, Rubinstein was also considered an outstanding chamber musician. He played in public for eight decades and recorded much of the core piano repertoire. All of his RCA Victor recordings have been reissued and amount to about 107 hours of music.

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