Everything was phenomenal about Rubinstein!. His personality, his supreme musicality... his concentration, his utmost respect for the music he was interpreting, his complete lack of pyrotechnics, his abandonment in performance...
Ancora oggi, dopo tanti anni, questa interpretazione di Rubinstein vive di una lunare e limpida luce interiore, con una lirica melodica e una ritmica che la fanno galleggiare nell'aria, con una soavità quasi eterea. Miracoloso !!! Quanti ragazzini e ragazzine vincitori di concorsi si gonfiano di superbia eseguendo la Barcarola op. 60. E ascoltate quanta eleganza e umiltà per la composizione di Chopin, che ha un gigante fra gli angeli e le divinità, come Arthur Rubinstein !!!!
The first time I saw Artur Rubinstein I fell in love with him. I was a mere child of 12, he was at least 70 years of age. Who can account for such things...except to say...there is a 'magic' about people like Artur. God has blessed them...
He is the only one to this day who plays this correctly and with correct phrasing and passion. Listen to the inner voicings he brings out. Horowitz came close but no cigar.
@Cavaradossi1981 Listen you twat waffle. YOU"RE a complete ass monkey fool. Sofronitsky doesn't even come close. I've seen people like you before...but I had to pay admission. LOL
@Hailstormand You again? You are a stalker. WOW. Listen fool you need to get a life. If YOU look in the mirror you won't save yourself any money but what you will see is a person who needs to apply to be the Grand Marshall for the zoo parade. LOL.
@schmitty135 I don't stalk, I have a life, and I like what I see in the mirror. You dislike what you see in the mirror so much, your only standard is someone else. A deep-seated denial is the reason for all that bitterness you spew out that you disguise as comments. I've never read anyone so bitter and scathing to other human being who tries to do his or her best. There's not a shred of decorum within you, just a thankless, shallow existence. I'm going to walk away now.
@Hailstormand You have a deep seated denial of all that is good in this world. You cannot even comprehend what good music is all about. I have no bitterness. And what exactly do you spew out? Absolutely nothing of merit. You look at every performance of classical music through your rosy glasses. I feel sorry for you, I really do. Please seek professional help. You need to get a life.
It is unfortunate that the current generation no longer values performances like this. Rubinstein played without absurd facial expressions, without distracting hand flourishes, without highly exaggerated timing. Yet this is the most beautiful performance I have found.
Rubinstein was one of the all time greats his sound was unique, beautifull and singining, virile, positve full of life and spirit and nobility,... many pianists should learn learn from the master,...
If i had a grandpa like this, we would be millionaires with the label author rights for the original archivistic footages of a jew like A.Rubinstein !!!! It pays to play Chopin, but he was not Chopin; certainly another great jew !!
why do people cough in recitals??? I never cough, I stifle, I suffer, I hold my breath and throat still until the applause.- I never cough I never allow it..and that is for lesser mortals than Rubenstein... oh well I guess it can't be any different...!
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Arthur Rubinstein is NOT a so great pianist .. for much better interpretation, listen the one by Alfred Cortot ... on youtube ... Barcarolle + Chopin + Cortot ...
others pianists are better than Rubinstein .. a lot !
Rubinstein always refers to this piece in his autobiographies as "my beloved Barcarolle". You can tell how special this piece was to him by the way he plays it. He puts in ritards and accelerandos where they're not indicated. Sometimes, depending on the recording, he will play bass notes an octave lower than written and ignore ties. The effect is wonderful.
I wonder if Chopin played this exactly the same way each time. I doubt it.
This is a beautifully poised performance, poetic and passionate in equal measure. The tempo never drags or rushes but is always flexible to the needs of the music. Given the poor quality picture, the sound is remarkably good. What is the year of the performance? Thanks for a great post.
It's worth hearing R's earlier recorded performance of this music 1928 (he made a number of later recording too) he was a pianist who could make the piano sing -he tried always to preserve the long line of the music -he saw it as a whole. Many people have remarked about how when he played it "seemed" to them, "right" even though they would play it differently. Barenboim mentioned this (Richter had admiration 4 R) see G Gould's comment on R & Guarneri quartet playing Brahms's piano quintet
I have no idea what piano he used.-I thought it worth mentioning his earlier performance because it is widely regarded as a great performance. Sachs: "the 1928 recording..(London April 18th 1928) for instance is amazing in it's mixture of quiet intimacy, melodic splendor, mounting eroticism, and dazzling explosion of joy....one of the most important etc., p 428. My CD sounds reasonable with very little hiss. And it certainly is an evocative performance -easy 2 buy cheap too. frogmanpiano
@henseltetude except for the attempted suicides here and there. But when he was playing Chopin pieces like this he probably couldn't have been any happier (just like all of us!)
Rubinstein's playing is the proof that real beauty can speak for itself. He plays it with respect for the composer's genius. I wonder why nowadays pianists (with a few exceptions) fail to see that these compositions are simply perfect and need no beautifing.
he embellishes it to extremes. he adds notes left and right. i think you have the right conclusion although no serious pianist could agree with your argument
"No serious pianist" would use such exclusive terms as "no serious pianist" when describing one of the greatest pianists--nay, musicians--of the 20th century by far.
The style of this time was so much more rubato and freedom, far less of an emphasis on pure fidelity (hello? Cortot?) and in no way can be compared to today's "norms." That is not to say the score is trashed (and it certainly is NOT) but I'd never want to lose what this time period had to offer for the sake of "correctness."
why is it that so many pianists play 6:45 to 7:15 as though it were German Marschmusik? Rubenstein does not do that. This is a great performance. Live too.
Certainly a masteful performance. It had all the trademarks of Rubinstein's Chopin; great lyricism, unrushed, rich full bodied tone, sensitive without the slightest hint of being "affected" or overdone, masculine. Too bad the recording was so poor. Even the applause at the end lacked clarity!! But still, to the person who put this on YouTube -- thank you for the rare Rubinstein moment.
huhhh,u cannot say "stiff" and its a bad joke comparing mr.rubinstein and martha argerich.she is a real domina and strikes into the keys,she has,contrary to mr. rubinstein no soul for chopin and she doesnt hit the core of chopin´s music of course such as mr. rubinstein does;))
tengo una carta a manuescrita por el...fechada en 1919 agradeciendo a mi tatarabuelo (quien era fabricante y afinador de pianos) por afinarle un piano para un concierto en Monterrey... lo cito "...ya que nunca he tocado un piano mejor afinado..." curioso no?
Well, who would've thought that a fine artist like Rubinstein (I attended one of his last concerts), leads to such reactions. Apparently this discussion thread is leading away from what YouTube is all about. Donaldcallen is right and I will look elsewhere for more value in thought.
We're fortunate to have this -- it's a film of a great man at work, playing of the highest order. I was fortunate to meet Rubinstein almost 50 years ago, when I was a piano student. He was very gracious and interested in what I and the other students I was with were studying.
I must say that I find too much of the discussion here pretty infantile. The people who don't like Rubinstein's playing are certainly entitled to say so. The bickering is childish and demeans those of you who do it.
Well quite a number of strong opinions! First of all: Rubinstein once stated that Chopin should be played in a NOBLE way (see his latest masterclass elsewhere on YouTube). And here he does. But Chopin is also about a flow of emotions and for once I'm missing this a bit with him. Maybe it is due to the rather harsh sound (that could be improved upon by post-processing), but there are some cold moments as well. With Cortot and Lipatti the flow of emotion is much more constant.
"Flow of emotions" You mean, like so much slime? Cortot was a great artist, and Lipatti not so bad. But trust me: a "flow of emotions" has nothing whatsoever to do with it. Only amateurs and the woefully naive would believe that. As any decent actor will tell you, you cannot act an emotion or an adjective, or a state of mind; but you can *act* through a verb. Much the same is true in the interpretation of music. But don't strain yourself; you'll never get it anyway.
Es sorprendente la cantidad de estupidecez que dicen aquí pseudo conocedores que lo único que evidencian es la magnitud de su ignorancia...
Limítense a disfrutar la maestría de Rubinstein, a ver si aprenden algo... que lo que menos importa es si dió la apoyatura en el tiempo o si varió o no este según "el agua"... ¡por favor!, ya qusieran muchos, incluyendo el aséptico de Pollini tener un poco del encanto que distingue a este grande del teclado!
completamente de acuerdo...Rubinstein fue un grande entre los realmente grandes...y muchos se atreven a compararlo con Pollini...dios mio! Pollini es simplemente un pianista mas que gano un concurso importante y salto a la fama...Rubinstein es Rubinstein
WOW. I'm not surprised. Several years ago, during dinner at a very nice restaurant in Santa Barbara (while my date was in the restroom), the pianist played this piece. My date returned about two-thirds through it. By then, I was wiping tears from my face. I can only imagine the emotional combustion that would ensue from a real-life association of this piece with Titanic's fateful night. Forget Celine; I now feel more genuinely connected with those Titanic passengers than ever.
Are you daft, or just genuinely ignorant? What deludes you into believing the Chopin Barcarolle, which he composed shortly before his death in 1849, some 63 years before the Titanic was even built, has anything whatsoever to do with that? Do you even know what a Barcarolle is? Look it up, and give up pop music; it only makes you stupid.
I intended only to highlight the very loose connection between different persons from different eras who happen to hear the same piece of music. This is "cool" to me in the same way I think it's cool that every person is connected who has gazed upon the same starlit sky. No thanks on the invitation to give up pop music. (F/Y/I I think Chopin listened to the pop of his day--polkas, mazurkas, military marches, etc.) Do what you will, but I prefer to stay connected to the past AND the present.
this is a hrad piece to keep focus, Pollini plays it very well, here I've heard Rubenstein play this better than here.Perhaps the live setting doesn't bring out the richness of his tone. . .
Rubenstein told a story about this piece. Horowitz had arrived on the scene, preempting Rubenstein. At a brilliant Horowitz recital, one of Rubenstein's supporters said consolingly to him, "The Barcarolle will always be yours." "You can imagine how this cut me," he wrote. The piece is still his.
This is indeed wonderful playing. However, no pianist except Arrau plays the ornaments correctly, and I have never heard Chopin's tempo indications strictly respected. Just to point out that in the greatest masterpieces there is always something to discover.
These responses don't necessarily line up with what they are responding to. I remarked that chaimgogol, who had a couple of very specific complaints about the playing was being picky. I was more or less kidding. More or less.
I agree; do you also find that almost nobody except Richter gets the right note values for the opening of the great Polonaise-Fantaisie? Rubinstein loved Chopin's Barcarolle; he recorded it several times, but the one from 1957 is transcendental: everything flows perfectly there. What a great composition!
I haven't heard Richter's performance for many years but I recall being impressed by it. As a piece it certainly ranks up there with the Barcarolle in terms of the subtlety of the notation.
Indeed. Critics: PLEASE post your responses as a performance. If nothing else, you'll be enriched for trying. I laugh when I read some of these criticisms because this piece allows for so much variation. It's about WATER, and, depending upon one's interpretation, ebbs and flows in tempo and dynamics are bound to occur--even when performed by the same artist.
Sorry, but no. BOAT = TREE. WATER = FOREST. Boat mechanics (tying of knots, sanding of wood, rowing of oars, etc.) are NOT the underlying inspiration here. Like the songs the Venetian gondoliers sang for centuries, MOVEMENT THROUGH WATER is the true lifeblood of this song--which inspires big dreams and free expression.
I'm apologize for being unclear. I used an expression that must be specific to my locale and/or my profession: that one "is not seeing the forest for the trees." This expression describes a misunderstanding (of a whole "thing") that results when a person focuses too much on some small parts of the "thing" (i.e. the trees in a painting of a forest) rather than on the whole of the "thing" itself (i.e. the forest).
Chopin had never been to Venice, but while in Nohant, he heard a description of the gondolieri and their songs from Delacroiz, recently returned. My understanding is that this was Chopin's inspiration: the swaying of the gondola, a guitar, a secret kiss beneath a bridge, warm night, shimmering brilliant reflections in the canal. Is there a piece more parlante than this?
Rubinstein is a consumate artist....let those commentors who are so critical give us their performance. Rubinstein's performace is not only flawless, it is unheard of by the pianists in the commecials scene of today!
Of course Rubinstein let us imagine the canals of Venice, a city very known by him. His left hand is a brilliant steady conductor for his free right hand.
I have always loved Rubinstein's way with this piece; it sounds so flowing, natural, and unforced, and with magical attention to harmonic changes and colors. His 1957 recording is, in my opinion, the greatest thing he ever left us, and I am also quite fond of Lipatti's superb recording. I understand that the Moisiewitsch may be the greatest of all, but I have yet to hear it.
I also prefer Rubenstein's earlier version but this is beautiful. A few spots sound hesitant he was in late 70's. Just listened to Lippati, magnificent, I think it flows more evenly and is more nuanced than this performance and the trills are better. IMO Moisiewitsch was a magnificent pianist and Chopinist who did not make enough recordings. He was on the A list.
We are on the earth for so little time? why such animos over music which should bring out the best in us.
Thanks, that was what I signed on to say. The Lipatti version of this Barcarole is one of the most perfect recordings ever created. I love Rubinstein as well, but there is something other-worldy about Lipatti. Does anyone out there in the ether have a Lipatti video? Does such a thing exist?
This is okay, but is rather boring. It's very cold and anti-climactic. He does unmusical things in spots, like for the chords at the end climax, they're very disconnected. Even though they're seperate chords, they are one long phrase. Check out Argerich's or Kissin's versions (on CD), and you will be completely moved.
The chords are detached? When Arthur Rubistein is playing this piece and many others u forget that the music comes from a music score. He created his own language... He's like improvising. Don't u realize how much more his music has compared to Kissin and Argerich?
What do you mean I forget it comes from a score. No I don't. And I'm all about freedom. But in that particular part (among others) he does it in a displeasurable way. Don't be fooled by his name; he's not above all others.
I'm not fooled by any names. U should listen somebody like Ives Nat, Dinu Lipatti on this piece. What I ment is that it seems he is not playing from the score. That's why he is above others... Seems u have been in Poland and u studied piano there, and that you know better than Rubinstein, or Hofmann, or Friedman whose blood came directly from Chopin that u know how this rallentando has to be played. The notes mean an intention we have to find!
There's no right or wrong way to play something. I just personally don't like the way he played this. If you love this performance, then great, enjoy it. I was just giving my opinion, but apparently I'm a total moron for having a different opinion than yours.
You're a not a moron for having your own opinion, but you are a total moron for believing that Rubinstein's Chopin is inferior, that's for sure. You're being stupid... He was considered (and still is) the best Chopinist in history. Hands down.
You contradicted yourself. You say I'm a moron for believing Rubinstein's Chopin is inferior, not for having my own opinion, but that is my opinion. As much as you love Rubinstein and believe he's the best at anything Chopin, you have to accept the fact that there is no best.
yea,but rather negativ:there are some certain "specialists" as to chopin among the pianists such as askenase,harasiewicz,vasary od czerny-stefanska.they mean that there re only one way of expressing the composer´s world but on the contrary they never come to the core of chopins beautiful music.because mr.rubinstein was a great virtuoso on the piano he always played chopin also among other componist with such a great mastership,therefore he might be the truest specialist who ever lived;))
Everything was phenomenal about Rubinstein!. His personality, his supreme musicality... his concentration, his utmost respect for the music he was interpreting, his complete lack of pyrotechnics, his abandonment in performance...
martinl19 1 month ago
My favorite Chopin piece by my favorite pianist.
wghornsby 2 months ago 2
One of our greatest pianists ever. Magnificent!
MarionCap 3 months ago
This stuff gives me the shivers.
gordonwilliamshaw 5 months ago
Ancora oggi, dopo tanti anni, questa interpretazione di Rubinstein vive di una lunare e limpida luce interiore, con una lirica melodica e una ritmica che la fanno galleggiare nell'aria, con una soavità quasi eterea. Miracoloso !!! Quanti ragazzini e ragazzine vincitori di concorsi si gonfiano di superbia eseguendo la Barcarola op. 60. E ascoltate quanta eleganza e umiltà per la composizione di Chopin, che ha un gigante fra gli angeli e le divinità, come Arthur Rubinstein !!!!
darkblueangel1956 6 months ago 3
couldn't help myself but to applaud along at the end
bierrollerful 8 months ago 2
taken by the first chord
penguinshin 9 months ago 2
The first time I saw Artur Rubinstein I fell in love with him. I was a mere child of 12, he was at least 70 years of age. Who can account for such things...except to say...there is a 'magic' about people like Artur. God has blessed them...
aussiechickdiana 9 months ago
Rubinstein's tone is always perfect but I prefer Dinu's playing because I feel like it can stop my brain and my heart.
jasquilaria 10 months ago
Wonderful use of his body, very economical.
Boldstrummer 11 months ago
He is the only one to this day who plays this correctly and with correct phrasing and passion. Listen to the inner voicings he brings out. Horowitz came close but no cigar.
schmitty135 11 months ago
@schmitty135 have you ever heard Sofronitsky playing this?? idiot!!!! kak idiot!!!!!! you asshole
Cavaradossi1981 11 months ago
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@Cavaradossi1981 Listen you twat waffle. YOU"RE a complete ass monkey fool. Sofronitsky doesn't even come close. I've seen people like you before...but I had to pay admission. LOL
schmitty135 11 months ago
@schmitty135 you should have just looked into the mirror. Could've saved your five bucks.
Hailstormand 11 months ago
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@Hailstormand You again? You are a stalker. WOW. Listen fool you need to get a life. If YOU look in the mirror you won't save yourself any money but what you will see is a person who needs to apply to be the Grand Marshall for the zoo parade. LOL.
schmitty135 11 months ago
@schmitty135 I don't stalk, I have a life, and I like what I see in the mirror. You dislike what you see in the mirror so much, your only standard is someone else. A deep-seated denial is the reason for all that bitterness you spew out that you disguise as comments. I've never read anyone so bitter and scathing to other human being who tries to do his or her best. There's not a shred of decorum within you, just a thankless, shallow existence. I'm going to walk away now.
Hailstormand 11 months ago
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@Hailstormand You have a deep seated denial of all that is good in this world. You cannot even comprehend what good music is all about. I have no bitterness. And what exactly do you spew out? Absolutely nothing of merit. You look at every performance of classical music through your rosy glasses. I feel sorry for you, I really do. Please seek professional help. You need to get a life.
schmitty135 11 months ago
@brahmsian1stever ... Thank - You - Very - Much!!!! I couldn't have said it better!
buddydog1956 1 year ago
It is unfortunate that the current generation no longer values performances like this. Rubinstein played without absurd facial expressions, without distracting hand flourishes, without highly exaggerated timing. Yet this is the most beautiful performance I have found.
thisismeplusyou 1 year ago
Finally how this piece SHOULD be played!!!
brahmsian1steve 1 year ago
Rubinstein was one of the all time greats his sound was unique, beautifull and singining, virile, positve full of life and spirit and nobility,... many pianists should learn learn from the master,...
arturon111 1 year ago
If i had a grandpa like this, we would be millionaires with the label author rights for the original archivistic footages of a jew like A.Rubinstein !!!! It pays to play Chopin, but he was not Chopin; certainly another great jew !!
Sylvain894 1 year ago
why do people cough in recitals??? I never cough, I stifle, I suffer, I hold my breath and throat still until the applause.- I never cough I never allow it..and that is for lesser mortals than Rubenstein... oh well I guess it can't be any different...!
zzxxyy543 1 year ago
A MASTERLY INTERPRETATION!!!
AleLisztChopin92 1 year ago
I cannot believe you have this! my father attended this performance as a college student.
Rubinstein really knew how to romance the Chopin... Two ingenious musicians.
lngrbtyd1334 1 year ago 3
FANTASTIC!!!!!
I love the sound of his right hand, especially ♥
clear, deep, bright & comfortable....♥♥♥
maikabright 1 year ago 3
@maikabright, exactly...
advisorC101 1 year ago
@maikabright ...Flawless!
buddydog1956 1 year ago
~Pretty~
7dancer10 1 year ago
it is just paradise ! Thank you for uploading !
tanskiclaudius 1 year ago
Great, I'd watched a cleaned version of this, early in this afternoon on Mezzo. Didn't know it was available on Youtube since 2006
animumaurarium 1 year ago
Great, I'd watched this early in this afternoon a cleaned edition on Mezzo, and didn't know it was on YouTube since 2006!
animumaurarium 1 year ago
my favorite pianist.....:)
jtdendy 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Arthur Rubinstein is NOT a so great pianist .. for much better interpretation, listen the one by Alfred Cortot ... on youtube ... Barcarolle + Chopin + Cortot ...
others pianists are better than Rubinstein .. a lot !
Berdjum 1 year ago
Thank you so much for posting!!!!!!
clinpsydoc 1 year ago
test
phxfreddy 1 year ago
Does anybody have the version for this piece recorded on Naxos' "The Best of Chopin"?
boukra77 1 year ago
bless you for posting!
iluvmylucky 1 year ago
i've heard this piece played by many people and this is the 2nd best to me, martha argerich wins this one in my opinion.
ibclappin 1 year ago
the perlemuter version is also very good especially the nimbus recording it is on youtube give it a try,
paulphilip1 1 year ago
@paulphilip1 thank you
ibclappin 1 year ago
really amazing
amir2980 1 year ago
Brilliance...nothing else can explain it
nikosofianos 1 year ago 3
Rubinstein's tone was always gorgeous...
fdaltrey 1 year ago 2
Rubinstein always refers to this piece in his autobiographies as "my beloved Barcarolle". You can tell how special this piece was to him by the way he plays it. He puts in ritards and accelerandos where they're not indicated. Sometimes, depending on the recording, he will play bass notes an octave lower than written and ignore ties. The effect is wonderful.
I wonder if Chopin played this exactly the same way each time. I doubt it.
erikkihss 2 years ago 6
@erikkihss Yea, I wonder too....!
but I bet anything Chopin would of been damn proud of Artur's interpretations of his music! ..don't you? :)
buddydog1956 2 years ago 2
@erikkihss silenzio, nn ci sono commenti
goldberg72 1 year ago
This is a beautifully poised performance, poetic and passionate in equal measure. The tempo never drags or rushes but is always flexible to the needs of the music. Given the poor quality picture, the sound is remarkably good. What is the year of the performance? Thanks for a great post.
paulprocopolis 2 years ago 4
1964.
GeneralKuno 2 years ago
@paulprocopolis, am also amazed at the sound quality. Crystal clear.
Hailstormand 11 months ago 3
my favorite performance on this work :D
alexilmagnifico 2 years ago
He played really well !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
88Woland 2 years ago 2
Magnífico, que dominio del tempo. Rubinstein, un de los grandes caballeros del piano...como pocos. Thanks for this rare material.
cvidalo 2 years ago
It's worth hearing R's earlier recorded performance of this music 1928 (he made a number of later recording too) he was a pianist who could make the piano sing -he tried always to preserve the long line of the music -he saw it as a whole. Many people have remarked about how when he played it "seemed" to them, "right" even though they would play it differently. Barenboim mentioned this (Richter had admiration 4 R) see G Gould's comment on R & Guarneri quartet playing Brahms's piano quintet
frogmanpiano 2 years ago
was the 1928 version the one for which he used the smaller 7' Steinway Model B?
utubuser10 2 years ago
I have no idea what piano he used.-I thought it worth mentioning his earlier performance because it is widely regarded as a great performance. Sachs: "the 1928 recording..(London April 18th 1928) for instance is amazing in it's mixture of quiet intimacy, melodic splendor, mounting eroticism, and dazzling explosion of joy....one of the most important etc., p 428. My CD sounds reasonable with very little hiss. And it certainly is an evocative performance -easy 2 buy cheap too. frogmanpiano
frogmanpiano 2 years ago
That looks like a Hamburg Steinway... round corners and all.
timfxf 2 years ago
It is, but a "D". "B"'s and "C"'s don't have the skid rails on the long side - only "D"'s
Coralwinderful 2 years ago
Rubinstein is the best pianist because he was a happy man... that s all folks...
henseltetude 2 years ago 28
@henseltetude
He was happy for most of his life, but I think he did try to commit suicide when he was in his twenties, didn't he?
Aryamanable 1 year ago
@Aryamanable Yes, he did, and according to his own testimony, the failed attempt changed his entire outlook on life and living.
rodriguezjo 1 year ago
Comment removed
TwelfthRoot2 5 months ago in playlist Rubinstein
@henseltetude except for the attempted suicides here and there. But when he was playing Chopin pieces like this he probably couldn't have been any happier (just like all of us!)
TwelfthRoot2 5 months ago in playlist Rubinstein
@TwelfthRoot2 He just made one suicide attempt but he wrote that after that he was the happiest man he ever knew =)
Chopinco 2 months ago
Wonderful.
frootlups 2 years ago
I'm happy some Polish Jews like Artur Rubistein and Wladyslaw Szpilman, the pianists made Poland famous.
robbyveggett 2 years ago 2
Thank you for this post. Undoubtedly ultimate Chopin playing
TheFilantrop7 2 years ago
One of my favorite pianists playing one of my favorite composer's work. Thanks for the post.
william8254 2 years ago 6
For me, it's my favorite pianist playing my favorite work of my favorite composer.
cis148 2 years ago 2
its my favourite video on my favourite website of my favourite pianist playing my favourite piece by my favourite composer.
stradavarius 2 years ago 3
this is so beautiful
thanks for posting
Rani9000 2 years ago 6
he is a happy man, look at him play. He has no worries. haha
xiuje87 2 years ago 10
Thank you very much twotea22...
Superb - as ever !!
Grenig 3 years ago 2
Rubinstein's playing is the proof that real beauty can speak for itself. He plays it with respect for the composer's genius. I wonder why nowadays pianists (with a few exceptions) fail to see that these compositions are simply perfect and need no beautifing.
patryzank 3 years ago 7
he embellishes it to extremes. he adds notes left and right. i think you have the right conclusion although no serious pianist could agree with your argument
mdoub 2 years ago
"No serious pianist" would use such exclusive terms as "no serious pianist" when describing one of the greatest pianists--nay, musicians--of the 20th century by far.
The style of this time was so much more rubato and freedom, far less of an emphasis on pure fidelity (hello? Cortot?) and in no way can be compared to today's "norms." That is not to say the score is trashed (and it certainly is NOT) but I'd never want to lose what this time period had to offer for the sake of "correctness."
medpiano 2 years ago 2
why is it that so many pianists play 6:45 to 7:15 as though it were German Marschmusik? Rubenstein does not do that. This is a great performance. Live too.
aardvaark069 3 years ago 3
shhh!! Listen to him! dont bark!
konzolmester 3 years ago 24
In which case - I shall give up fruit...!!
To me - Rubenstein plays Chopin as it was written,and should be played.
It's got to the point, where I can almost always identify Rubensteins playing...yes,perhaps I should get out more...
Solti - keep practising !! LOL (like me..)
Grenig 3 years ago
i wish i cud but i dont have a piano. i have no money to buy one.
solti 3 years ago
Rubenstein - exquisite touch and feel for Chopin.
IMHO he plays Chopin,as it was wrote !! No one else comes close..
Thanks to poster for this
FAO Solti - it's cos you have MY banana fingers...!! LOL
Grenig 3 years ago 4
LOL
i give it back then..
solti 3 years ago
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Krystian Zimmerman, Rafał Blechacz
4frutti 3 years ago
why doesnt it sound like this when i play this piece?
solti 3 years ago 5
.. ah, Grand Maestro .. those who hv ears .. Let them hear then .. incomparable ..
culturehorse 3 years ago 6
Certainly a masteful performance. It had all the trademarks of Rubinstein's Chopin; great lyricism, unrushed, rich full bodied tone, sensitive without the slightest hint of being "affected" or overdone, masculine. Too bad the recording was so poor. Even the applause at the end lacked clarity!! But still, to the person who put this on YouTube -- thank you for the rare Rubinstein moment.
musicformillions 3 years ago 8
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Too stiff for my taste. I agree that Argerich renders this piece a dreamy, "eery" aura, a feminine "fluff". Tnx for sharing!
deepesttime 3 years ago
huhhh,u cannot say "stiff" and its a bad joke comparing mr.rubinstein and martha argerich.she is a real domina and strikes into the keys,she has,contrary to mr. rubinstein no soul for chopin and she doesnt hit the core of chopin´s music of course such as mr. rubinstein does;))
between both pianists are worlds in any case!
kajohada 3 years ago 2
Too stiff?? No doubt you could play it better, I am sure.............
Gman6755 3 years ago
...how really affecting and wonderful how mr. rubinstein plays the barcarolle---->sigh!!!!
kajohada 3 years ago 2
tengo una carta a manuescrita por el...fechada en 1919 agradeciendo a mi tatarabuelo (quien era fabricante y afinador de pianos) por afinarle un piano para un concierto en Monterrey... lo cito "...ya que nunca he tocado un piano mejor afinado..." curioso no?
george27 3 years ago
I like this interpretation but I prefer Zimerman's one
girgiii 3 years ago
this isn't so much a comment on the video as a related one:
if you want to hear what may be the best ever recorded performance of this piece, try Dinu Lipatti.
exponentu 3 years ago
Rubinstien is the best performer of Chopin with no doubt.
samanpapillon 3 years ago 2
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Maybe Argerich, not Rubinstein you dumb! Take a look at the barcarolle performed by Martha, then you can judge
tibe2003 3 years ago
only Chopin?
onaocn 3 years ago
I utterly agree with all of you, rubinstein is just rubinstein, he is the one.
alberchri 3 years ago 4
Fantastic!
Chopinfreak55 3 years ago 5
So beautiful and rare! Thanks for posting this piece of music!
mauvetys 3 years ago 5
At 7:25 total music bliss..I've said this once before thanks twotea22 for these wonderful videos
mikeinkc 3 years ago 2
People will find his playing offensive and egotistical, but I say, he re-invented Chopin! I love it so much. He is a genius.
alexongcs 3 years ago
I wish people would play this piece more today. People are so stuck on Chopin's ballades and etudes. Those have been played to death.
otonanoC 3 years ago
How wonderfully still he sits!
stmaurmusic 3 years ago 4
he reads chopin perfectly
funeverestfun 3 years ago
Rubinstein...this is music
54spiritedwill54 3 years ago 3
Well, who would've thought that a fine artist like Rubinstein (I attended one of his last concerts), leads to such reactions. Apparently this discussion thread is leading away from what YouTube is all about. Donaldcallen is right and I will look elsewhere for more value in thought.
donthuis 3 years ago
We're fortunate to have this -- it's a film of a great man at work, playing of the highest order. I was fortunate to meet Rubinstein almost 50 years ago, when I was a piano student. He was very gracious and interested in what I and the other students I was with were studying.
I must say that I find too much of the discussion here pretty infantile. The people who don't like Rubinstein's playing are certainly entitled to say so. The bickering is childish and demeans those of you who do it.
donaldcallen 3 years ago 4
Well quite a number of strong opinions! First of all: Rubinstein once stated that Chopin should be played in a NOBLE way (see his latest masterclass elsewhere on YouTube). And here he does. But Chopin is also about a flow of emotions and for once I'm missing this a bit with him. Maybe it is due to the rather harsh sound (that could be improved upon by post-processing), but there are some cold moments as well. With Cortot and Lipatti the flow of emotion is much more constant.
donthuis 3 years ago
"Flow of emotions" You mean, like so much slime? Cortot was a great artist, and Lipatti not so bad. But trust me: a "flow of emotions" has nothing whatsoever to do with it. Only amateurs and the woefully naive would believe that. As any decent actor will tell you, you cannot act an emotion or an adjective, or a state of mind; but you can *act* through a verb. Much the same is true in the interpretation of music. But don't strain yourself; you'll never get it anyway.
dobrivecher 3 years ago
very beautiful!
kajohada 3 years ago 3
Thanks for posting this!
Largo64 3 years ago
Es sorprendente la cantidad de estupidecez que dicen aquí pseudo conocedores que lo único que evidencian es la magnitud de su ignorancia...
Limítense a disfrutar la maestría de Rubinstein, a ver si aprenden algo... que lo que menos importa es si dió la apoyatura en el tiempo o si varió o no este según "el agua"... ¡por favor!, ya qusieran muchos, incluyendo el aséptico de Pollini tener un poco del encanto que distingue a este grande del teclado!
Brahms041 3 years ago
completamente de acuerdo...Rubinstein fue un grande entre los realmente grandes...y muchos se atreven a compararlo con Pollini...dios mio! Pollini es simplemente un pianista mas que gano un concurso importante y salto a la fama...Rubinstein es Rubinstein
nico22059 3 years ago
!!! ESO CHINGON !!!
heroicpolonaise 3 years ago 2
Interesting note, did you know this is the last song played by Wallace Hartley during dinner on the Titanic the night she went down?
ZacharyWDS17 3 years ago
Is that really true? How touching, indeed.
EarthboundSpiral 3 years ago
Very true, a survivor heard it a year later during dinner and started crying her eyes out, saying it set off memories of the ship.
ZacharyWDS17 3 years ago
WOW. I'm not surprised. Several years ago, during dinner at a very nice restaurant in Santa Barbara (while my date was in the restroom), the pianist played this piece. My date returned about two-thirds through it. By then, I was wiping tears from my face. I can only imagine the emotional combustion that would ensue from a real-life association of this piece with Titanic's fateful night. Forget Celine; I now feel more genuinely connected with those Titanic passengers than ever.
EarthboundSpiral 3 years ago
Are you daft, or just genuinely ignorant? What deludes you into believing the Chopin Barcarolle, which he composed shortly before his death in 1849, some 63 years before the Titanic was even built, has anything whatsoever to do with that? Do you even know what a Barcarolle is? Look it up, and give up pop music; it only makes you stupid.
dobrivecher 3 years ago
I intended only to highlight the very loose connection between different persons from different eras who happen to hear the same piece of music. This is "cool" to me in the same way I think it's cool that every person is connected who has gazed upon the same starlit sky. No thanks on the invitation to give up pop music. (F/Y/I I think Chopin listened to the pop of his day--polkas, mazurkas, military marches, etc.) Do what you will, but I prefer to stay connected to the past AND the present.
EarthboundSpiral 3 years ago
this is a hrad piece to keep focus, Pollini plays it very well, here I've heard Rubenstein play this better than here.Perhaps the live setting doesn't bring out the richness of his tone. . .
herma57 3 years ago
This indeed a rare privilege. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this.
54spiritedwill54 4 years ago 5
Rubenstein told a story about this piece. Horowitz had arrived on the scene, preempting Rubenstein. At a brilliant Horowitz recital, one of Rubenstein's supporters said consolingly to him, "The Barcarolle will always be yours." "You can imagine how this cut me," he wrote. The piece is still his.
bifeldman 4 years ago
This is indeed wonderful playing. However, no pianist except Arrau plays the ornaments correctly, and I have never heard Chopin's tempo indications strictly respected. Just to point out that in the greatest masterpieces there is always something to discover.
chaimgogol 4 years ago
why is that chaimgogol?
DevastatorBloc 4 years ago
1) The appoggiature should be played on the beat.
2) The tempo accelerates gradually through the three blocks of material until slowing at the return of the opening.
chaimgogol 4 years ago
Picky, picky, picky! It's Rubinstein fer Chrissake!
Largo64 3 years ago
whats picky?
heroicpolonaise 3 years ago
These responses don't necessarily line up with what they are responding to. I remarked that chaimgogol, who had a couple of very specific complaints about the playing was being picky. I was more or less kidding. More or less.
Largo64 3 years ago
lol...you dare to tell Rubinstein how to play? I want to see you play this!
nico22059 3 years ago 3
I have been playing it for 40 years. Perhaps I'll post it.
chaimgogol 3 years ago
I agree; do you also find that almost nobody except Richter gets the right note values for the opening of the great Polonaise-Fantaisie? Rubinstein loved Chopin's Barcarolle; he recorded it several times, but the one from 1957 is transcendental: everything flows perfectly there. What a great composition!
billyguns2 4 years ago
I haven't heard Richter's performance for many years but I recall being impressed by it. As a piece it certainly ranks up there with the Barcarolle in terms of the subtlety of the notation.
chaimgogol 4 years ago
Arthur lives forever for us.
Similie 4 years ago 5
Indeed. Critics: PLEASE post your responses as a performance. If nothing else, you'll be enriched for trying. I laugh when I read some of these criticisms because this piece allows for so much variation. It's about WATER, and, depending upon one's interpretation, ebbs and flows in tempo and dynamics are bound to occur--even when performed by the same artist.
EarthboundSpiral 4 years ago
Comment removed
p1ano 4 years ago
Sorry, but no. BOAT = TREE. WATER = FOREST. Boat mechanics (tying of knots, sanding of wood, rowing of oars, etc.) are NOT the underlying inspiration here. Like the songs the Venetian gondoliers sang for centuries, MOVEMENT THROUGH WATER is the true lifeblood of this song--which inspires big dreams and free expression.
EarthboundSpiral 4 years ago
Comment removed
p1ano 4 years ago
I'm apologize for being unclear. I used an expression that must be specific to my locale and/or my profession: that one "is not seeing the forest for the trees." This expression describes a misunderstanding (of a whole "thing") that results when a person focuses too much on some small parts of the "thing" (i.e. the trees in a painting of a forest) rather than on the whole of the "thing" itself (i.e. the forest).
EarthboundSpiral 4 years ago
Chopin had never been to Venice, but while in Nohant, he heard a description of the gondolieri and their songs from Delacroiz, recently returned. My understanding is that this was Chopin's inspiration: the swaying of the gondola, a guitar, a secret kiss beneath a bridge, warm night, shimmering brilliant reflections in the canal. Is there a piece more parlante than this?
bifeldman 4 years ago
Rubinstein is a consumate artist....let those commentors who are so critical give us their performance. Rubinstein's performace is not only flawless, it is unheard of by the pianists in the commecials scene of today!
buddyfingers 4 years ago
Such relaxed hands...aaaah :)
Steinway1920 4 years ago 2
This is by far the greatest interpretation of Chopin's op. 60 I have ever heard.
Havenscope 4 years ago 3
sublime...
bonak182 4 years ago 6
rubinstein forever
lilithazel 4 years ago 3
Of course Rubinstein let us imagine the canals of Venice, a city very known by him. His left hand is a brilliant steady conductor for his free right hand.
daughtersprince 4 years ago 2
What a treat!! This is one of my favorite pieces. This must be my lucky day!
gymnasticsgrl12 4 years ago 5
Beautiful! Thank you Rubinstein.
atwyatt 4 years ago 3
I have always loved Rubinstein's way with this piece; it sounds so flowing, natural, and unforced, and with magical attention to harmonic changes and colors. His 1957 recording is, in my opinion, the greatest thing he ever left us, and I am also quite fond of Lipatti's superb recording. I understand that the Moisiewitsch may be the greatest of all, but I have yet to hear it.
billyguns2 4 years ago 3
Billguns2
I also prefer Rubenstein's earlier version but this is beautiful. A few spots sound hesitant he was in late 70's. Just listened to Lippati, magnificent, I think it flows more evenly and is more nuanced than this performance and the trills are better. IMO Moisiewitsch was a magnificent pianist and Chopinist who did not make enough recordings. He was on the A list.
We are on the earth for so little time? why such animos over music which should bring out the best in us.
63Attila 3 years ago
Wonderful... doesn't matter how many times I watch it, I am moved to tears. Impeccable musical timing and expression...
mjf508 4 years ago
This indeed a rare privilege. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this.
Depatoshita 4 years ago 2
sorry Yves Nat
Pirlaimbecille 4 years ago
This is from a performance in September of 1964; the first time Rubinstein had performed in Russa since 1932.
TomBarrister 4 years ago
Is beautiful but the best version is the one belonging to Dinu Lipatti! Just listen to Lipatti's Barcarole and you will love it!!!!!
piguinu 4 years ago
Thanks, that was what I signed on to say. The Lipatti version of this Barcarole is one of the most perfect recordings ever created. I love Rubinstein as well, but there is something other-worldy about Lipatti. Does anyone out there in the ether have a Lipatti video? Does such a thing exist?
geschwitz4 4 years ago
He embodies the nobility of spirit and passion that is the essence of Chopin. An incredible master playing a signature work.
mtierra 4 years ago
Those lucky Russians in that audience!!!!
BilGru 4 years ago
Magnifique!
fmorgana 4 years ago
This is okay, but is rather boring. It's very cold and anti-climactic. He does unmusical things in spots, like for the chords at the end climax, they're very disconnected. Even though they're seperate chords, they are one long phrase. Check out Argerich's or Kissin's versions (on CD), and you will be completely moved.
PianoManSteve 4 years ago
I just remembered. In addition to my other referrals, there's a great performance here on YouTube of Zimerman playing this piece. Check it out.
PianoManSteve 4 years ago
You are a total moron dude...! HAHAHAHAH
The chords are detached? When Arthur Rubistein is playing this piece and many others u forget that the music comes from a music score. He created his own language... He's like improvising. Don't u realize how much more his music has compared to Kissin and Argerich?
Pirlaimbecille 4 years ago
What do you mean I forget it comes from a score. No I don't. And I'm all about freedom. But in that particular part (among others) he does it in a displeasurable way. Don't be fooled by his name; he's not above all others.
PianoManSteve 4 years ago 3
I'm not fooled by any names. U should listen somebody like Ives Nat, Dinu Lipatti on this piece. What I ment is that it seems he is not playing from the score. That's why he is above others... Seems u have been in Poland and u studied piano there, and that you know better than Rubinstein, or Hofmann, or Friedman whose blood came directly from Chopin that u know how this rallentando has to be played. The notes mean an intention we have to find!
Pirlaimbecille 4 years ago
There's no right or wrong way to play something. I just personally don't like the way he played this. If you love this performance, then great, enjoy it. I was just giving my opinion, but apparently I'm a total moron for having a different opinion than yours.
PianoManSteve 4 years ago 2
whose recordings of this piece do you prefer then?
libetta 4 years ago
Read above.
PianoManSteve 4 years ago
You're a not a moron for having your own opinion, but you are a total moron for believing that Rubinstein's Chopin is inferior, that's for sure. You're being stupid... He was considered (and still is) the best Chopinist in history. Hands down.
sab3156 4 years ago
You contradicted yourself. You say I'm a moron for believing Rubinstein's Chopin is inferior, not for having my own opinion, but that is my opinion. As much as you love Rubinstein and believe he's the best at anything Chopin, you have to accept the fact that there is no best.
PianoManSteve 4 years ago
I don't think you have even heard the majority of Rubinstein's numerous recordings.
There is absolutely no modern equivalent to his playing, nor was there a pianist who mastered Chopin like he did in his day.
sab3156 4 years ago
OK. Well I disagree with your view.
PianoManSteve 4 years ago
OK. Well I disagree with your view.
PianoManSteve 4 years ago
Have you heard Howard Tuvelle's performance...also on Youtube? "His day" goes on.......with a few......!
buddyfingers 4 years ago
Is "Chopinist" really a word? Like Beethovenist or Rachmaninoffist"?? Or maybe Lisztist ??
cbfoto 3 years ago
yea,but rather negativ:there are some certain "specialists" as to chopin among the pianists such as askenase,harasiewicz,vasary od czerny-stefanska.they mean that there re only one way of expressing the composer´s world but on the contrary they never come to the core of chopins beautiful music.because mr.rubinstein was a great virtuoso on the piano he always played chopin also among other componist with such a great mastership,therefore he might be the truest specialist who ever lived;))
kajohada 3 years ago 2