Josef Hofmann plays Rubinstein Concerto No. 4 (1/4)

Part 1
Anton Rubinstein - Piano Concerto No. 4, D minor, Op. 70 1. Moderato assai (first half)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• josef
• hofmann
• anton
• rubinstein
• concerto
• piano
• classical

[cdpiano27]

is it possible to get the score of this concerto? I just don't understand why Anton Rubinstein's music is not played more today!! I heard about this concerto but this is the first time I have ever heard it!!

[truecrypt]

Yes, it's available @ IMSLP site.

I'm sending you an URL by PM

[hophmi]

Definitely the 1937 recording. The others from the 40s are no good because Hofmann's technique was not in good shape by then. This 1937 one is a total classic, as is just about everything from the Golden Jubilee performance, which features arguably the best Chopin First Ballade and Andante Spinato and Grande Polonaise ever recorded. The Rubinstein 4 is a good concerto, but Hofmann's playing makes it better than it is.

[RabidCh]

And there are and were many people that for some reason or another don't like Hofmann.

(I'm not one of those people...)

[MsCrocodileTears]

@cdpiano27

Anton Rubinstein was very popular in Russia and early Soviet Union. Then due to antisemitic tendencies of the later years of Stalinism Rubinstein was almost faded out from public performances.

[lipatti0]

I failed to mention in the post of mine just a few moments ago that the VAI Audio item is a 2-CD set with many other works played by Hofmann including Brahms Chopin, Mendelsssohn, Rachmaninov, Moszkowski, Beethoven,Rachmaninov and two composed by Hofmann.

[lipatti0]

Many years ago in my youth I bought and still have the LP of this piano concerto played admirably by Oscar Levant with the New York Philharmonic under Dimitri Mitropolous. I currently have the VAI Audio CD "The Complete Josef Hofmann- Vol. 2"in which the live performance of this work by Hofmann is contained. I bought it through Amazon.com if any of you are interested in buying it.

[anastasiabelina]

Rubinstein was such an amazing personality. Most of his concert reviews in all major 19-th century periodicals say the same thing--to hear him play was once in a life time experience. One of his contemporary musicians called Rubinstein a 'murderer of music' because he said that after hearing him play a piece, no one else's interpretation came even close. Rubinstein as a composer was not super amazing, but he played his own music in the way that it made it sound mesmerising.

[paulostroff99]

Astounding! TY.

[Bruce88keys]

@Gargantupimp wow, your 2 for two- I am english and in therapy!

[Gargantupimp]

@Deneb33 I think if more people played it like this than it would be much more appreciated.

[Gargantupimp]

@Bruce88keys this is boring to you? Either your from england or you need to get your head examined.

[Bruce88keys]

I played this concerto as a kid because my teacher played it when he was a kid- I thought it was a total bore, and it is, which is a reason it fell out of the performance repetoire- Its derivative at best, better a young student spend time & work on a Mozart or Beethoven, something conductors would program.

[Classicmozayfull]

@marklavar My god! I was wondering why he seemed so familiar to me!