Strauss Shultz-Evler Blue Danube Lhevinne Ampico

Josef Lhevinne recorded the Strauss Shultz Arabesque on the Blue Danube Waltz for Victor on a two sided 12 inch 78rpm record (6840) on May 21, 1928. It was an electrical recording and was a "first take" as were all ten of his solo Victor recordings.There were several cuts due to the time restrictions imposed by the limited time length of 78rpm recordings. On this ampico roll,we are able to hear Lhevinne play the florid and treacherous introduction which was left out out of the 1928 recording,plus several repeats that were omitted. Here, Lhevinne brings out some inner voices and has time to 'breathe' between phrases and apply more rubato. All and all, I am convinced that this is (with a few quibbles) what Lhevinne heard when he approved the release of this roll. There are many niceties and subtleties missing in the Victor recording that are evident in this roll that only an artist such as Lhevinne could have added. Piano rolls could be edited and adjusted according to the artists wishes,just as tape and digital recording can be today. Of course, this could make some pianists sound better than they really were. But in the case of Lhevinne, we have his recordings and know that he was,according to Arthur Rubinstein "Le denier des aristocrats."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Strauss
• Shultz-Evler
• Blue
• Danube
• Lhevinne
• Ampico

[sukangeong]

Questioner: "Mr. Rosenthal, did you really play the way you did on your piano rolls?"

Moriz Rosenthal:  "No, and neither did anybody else."

[Beckmesser2]

@sukangeong

A typical Rosenthal  response.

[rosge1845]

Magnifique !

[aardvaark069]

Best octaves in the business

[toru620427]

This version has a different taste from his 1907 roll version of this piece !

[paulostroff99]

Stunning! TY Beckmesser2 for posting this gem of gems.

[abdias440]

@lovesGenet "incredible wrists"?  lol

[lovesGenet]

Sounds some places more percussive than the studio recording but the overall finesse and color can't be surpassed!!! His wrists and fingerwork are still to this day incredible! I have always loved his playing.Wish i could have met his wife!.

[assindiastignani]

I first heard this recording 50 years ago, and I'm of the same opinion now, as I was then: this is simply the best bit of piano playing ever to be recorded, anywhere, by anyone.

[brainwasher9876]

to show off his leet skills :)

[Edbrye2008]

Certainly, way too fast to waltz to!! But this, of course, is not about a pianist trying to accompany waltzers as they dance in a grand hall but rather about a virtuoso showcasing his ability, perhaps as an encore. At this, he succeeds in grand style!

[d60944]

Wonderful, a version at (almost) the right speed! My own roll transfer is way too slow, but this one is a tad too fast nonetheless. Some of the phrasing is not quite right at this speed, nor compared to the acoustic disc. Still, good to hear a much closer-to-true rendition of the roll. Thanks!