Beethoven "Pathetique" !st Mov. Rubinstien Rec 1946

[anonymous4gud]

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[SilvaAdrianiel]

Hrm... so far, this is the interpretation that I've liked best. There's much more dramatics here than I've heard from other pianists and I believe that the Pathetique really needs that extra drama.

[rubestuh]

I think Rubinstein's mastery is evident here as in so many other composers. I don't think his Beethoven was as masterful as his Chopin, say, or his Schumann, but he still served the music well. The crispness of tone, the spontaneity, the long melodic line all do as much for Beethoven as for any other composer. It's true that he allowed more fluctuation of tempo than many pianists do today ... but my ears, perhaps not purist enough, take no offense.

[twgirl1]

Everybody good this wonderful music really pleasant to hear performance's attagirl

[kiaragre]

the best from 1.28 on...

[crosleyper]

I think Rubenstein always does a wonderful interpretation of Beethovens music. Others may prefer anothers interpretation.  Different interps. take us different places.'' I think its wonderful how the same composer has taken me different places under the fingers of a different pianist .

[definitivunkreativ]

Once upon a time... when pianists were just like gods.

[mf4251]

awesome, but wheres the repeat gone?!

[Beckmesser2]

@mf4251 This sonata was recorded during the 78 rpm era when  recording time was limited.

[utubuser10]

@Beckmesser2 i don't think this recording is from 1946? it sure as heck sounds like the rca recordings of 1962-63?

[Beckmesser2]

@utubuser10 Yes, this is the 1946 recording. I have had the original 78 RPM album ( DM 1102 -- Rec 8-26-27-1946) in my collection for over 60 years and am very familiar with it. It was the first of his 3 recordings of the Pathetique the others being recorded in 1954 and 1962.

[sltomsik]

@mf4251 In his era, pianists were allowed some latitude & liberty with the score. It was even expected. As long as they presented a strong performance, the audience wasn't religious about holding to the score note for note back then. This started changing about 1970 or so.

[mychemicalrelapse]

if i had rubenstein's hands id be in heaven :)

meanwhile..ive got a looooong way to go before i can even dream of playing this!

[Tu16]

@mychemicalrelapse Keep on going. I thought the same thing, and a few years ago I played this, and now I'm doing one of the Hungarian Rhapsodies written by Liszt. 'Wo ein Wille ist, ist ein Weg': Where there is a will, there's a way!

[ipmoic]

@madpianizt

What I meant was I disliked Rubinstein when I was a young child, but later, after hearing him live, changed my mind.

Sorry you misunderstood my meaning.

[maxreger100]

Interestingly Beckmesser2, I think that Rubinstein's sound ON RECORDINGS is often his least attractive feature.

I am lucky enough to have heard him often live as you have.

The beauty live was always magical.

Hard to explain. I disliked Rubinstein as a young child; adored him as a young, and now not so young, man.

[madpianizt]

@maxreger100 How did you know Rubinstein as a child? Are you about 110 years old? and Rubinstein is definitely not so young anymore as he is dead and has been so for the past 29 years...

[mychemicalrelapse]

@maxreger100 sorry do u mean actual live performances or RECORDINGS of live performances...?

[Klaviermusik81]

Iam so happy that there is a wellknown pianist who plays this piece in a way I can play too. I always heard the extremly fast versions but this version is much slower and that makes me confidential that Iam on the right way.

[kcaluko]

does anybody know who performs the version that's actually used in the commercial? I hear some singing in addition to the piano in that version and I would like to hear that full version

[sclyfes1212]

Is this guy from New York?

[doretaSn]

@sclyfes1212 yes rubinstien is a known american name! :P

[Kygoski246]

lol At&t commercial led me here

[trueinsider123]

me too lol

[Darthwannabe]

same here, but only when I noticed it was the song from the Starship troopers openning also

[OramAndy]

Haha me too yahoo answers then here

[MrJorlop]

I have two recordings of this piece, one by Rubinstein and the other by Rudolf Serkin. Personally, I love Serkin's performance. It is a tour de force. Rubinstein's performance leaves me indifferent. He is the definitive performer of Chopin (at least for me), but not of the master of Bonn. Sorry Artur!

[calloffthedogs]

did he take 20 mg of valium before this recording?

[dominatore0291]

Absolutely the first...the difference is in his awesome touch...

[kinkokonko]

lackadasical and pretty poor really. The tempo and dynamics in the Grave and though out are pretty uncared for. I think Rubinstein is a massively overrated pianist. His Beethoven is very odd.

[isayhi72]

So is Gould's. But... everything (besides Bach) Gould plays is odd. Rubinstein does amazing things with Chopin. That cannot be denied.

[curiousgeorge555]

I like the drama here with Rubinstien. This piece is all about a big drama IMO.

~cg5

[punkazn77]

i love how he plays more romantic.

[efanwoo]

Rubenstein is a true master, but i don't really like this recording as much as i like other of this same piece.

[jmanthirtyseven]

Second, in my humble opinion to only Horowitz..

A little more dramatic, but the precision and dynamics are incredible.

[kinkokonko]

are you drunk? The tempo is all over the shop. It sounds like he thinks its a Chopin Nocturne

There is attention to detail, especially in the prall trils section, for left hand. Just listen and compare to Barenboims

[lourak]

@kinkokonko Perceptive comment! Although I cherish Rubinstein's work, he is quite erratic here. Just when he should continue with headlong movement, he stops dead with a serious loss of developmental tension. Can't quite recommend Barenboim though.

[clifdavol]

Thank you for this. How vibrant and dynamic. You always come up with these marvelous gems.