Arthur Rubinstein - Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2 II(1/2)

[JoeTownley]

Read the story of Rubinstein's squabbling with Reiner during the recording of this. Once Rubinstein said, "Fritz, I want to do it again to clear up some mistakes." Reiner looked up to heaven and said, "Oh, Arthur, if we stayed to clear up all your mistakes we'd be here for a week." Whereupon Rubinstein stormed out of the rehearsal. They never worked together again after that.

[sevelatula]

Most beautiful movement of any concerto, and best version ever in my opinion is the first movement of this played by Rubinstein

[sk8ergirl1995]

this really is a beautiful piece...

[ineedafan]

1:50 - 2:00 stolen by "all by myself"

[ppaolo2000]

amazing

[PrincessUnicorn69]

If God ever were to sing to us, it would surely sound like this.

[billyguns2]

I think this is the recording made with Reiner in the '50s, not the one with Golschmann or the one with Ormandy.

[libetta]

Rubinstein looked at women from the stage, he did this to find a certain 'connection' to find someone truly special and he thinks listens to him better than any other. no wonder women melt in Rubinstein's playing. and what better way to do it than with this movement of Rachmaninoff!

[ijustretired]

I had a RCA recording on LP which I have never been able to reproduce on CD or the new technologies. Unfortunately I will have to live with a past memory.

[billyguns2]

I'm so glad you said that; I have exactly the some memory of RCA LSC-2068, in stunning "you are there" sound. I had two copies: one featured just the Rachmaninoff, and the other included the Liszt Eb Concerto; none of the Cd incarnations come close to what RCA gave us on disc.

[Billups576]

Could be Fritz Reiner or Eugene Ormandy. I think Rubenstein had his way with the conductors. They did it his way. What a gift to see this great man play Rachy 2 in his own way.

[Billups576]

I was brought up listening to this., And I gave it to my children too. I hope now that my grandchildren will appreciate it as much as I did, when I was growing up.

[Billups576]

@Billups576

Two years later, I have 3 grandchildren. The oldest one, almost 4 years old, loves this music. Soon we will have a new grandchild. She will be brought up to love this music.

[alpha3327]

I had a version by Rubinstein recorded in the 40s. It was amazing! It is too bad we cannot have all three movements to hear. To me, this is the finest piano concerto and Rubinstein does it best. There is a combination of sweetness and majesty of sound that is compelling and beautiful.This piece touches all my senses and leaves my heart soaring.

[mirrors1]

I quote you...

[alpha3327]

You honor me, mirrors1. I thank you.

Larry

[verorodriz]

me imagino lo que debe ser escucharlo en vivo, interpretado por el mismo Rachmaninov..... =)

[PhilipLu3]

I can't imagine what that must be heard live, played by Rachmaninov himself!

[PhilipLu3]

Very good, I heard this in CD form before...

[bossanova3255]

My mother owns this very performance, its on a set of 78's that must weigh close to 10lbs! I used to listen to this as a child on our old "Zenith" hi-fi.Alas I'm unable to listen to it anymores,much less convert it to a CD/cassett tape for my mother.Try to find ANY kind of turntable nowadays, much less one that has more options than 331/3 or 45rpm...,but as I remember, the warmth, fidelity, and depth of this fantastic performance came through in spite of the quaint technology!

[Billups576]

There are turntables now than can convert your old LPS or 78s to CD. I see them when I get a gasoline card bill. They are a little expensive, but...the memories you will save are Priceless.

[billyguns2]

Is this the performance with Golschmann, Stokowski, Reiner, or Ormandy, or someone else?

[yoyobags]

1956, conducted by Fritz Reiner with the Chicago Symphony

[Billups576]

@billyguns2

I have an LP with Rubenstein and Ormandy and I think it is the best of the best. Oh how I wish it were available on CD or DVD now.