Search - Chopin, Rubinstein :: Piano Concerti

Masterly

Avid Reader | Franklin, Tn | 03/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Frequently one hears criticism of the Concertos. This is quite remarkable in itself since Chopin is the one composer adored by not only amateur and professional performers but also by the general public. Yet one must admit that the Concertos lack that little something that the smaller pieces carry. This is most likely due to the composer's love affair with the piano. All else was secondary to him - voice, woods, reeds, brass. His piano sang, it cried tears like no violin ever has, it became an orchestra of sound in the Scherzos.Still, Rubinstein's treatment of these works is anything but superficial. He gives the same articulate expression to them as he would the shortest Mazurka. Although an orchestra exists, it is the piano that shines through - like a movie with one actor and several off-stage voices. While the music itself may not be as exciting as other works, the performance is top-notch, the notes crystal clear, glittering. It is a masterful performance with not a single glitch."