Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Erich Leinsdorf :: Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 59

Good Beethoven, Best Brahms

Sean Patterson | Westerville, Ohio United States | 01/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The 2nd piano concerto of Beethoven that is performed by Rubinstein and Leinsdorf is wonderful, but for me the Brahms 1st is what makes this CD special. Most reviewers have stated that the definitive Brahms 1st is the one offered up by Rubistein and Reiner from 1954. While I agree with them that 1954 session is good it is not the best. This one is, by far. Leinsdorf gets the Boston symphony to sound very rich and sonorous, very similar to the Tchaikovsky 1st from vol. 37 of the Rubinstein collection. I agree with the previous reviewer that most performers have tended to make all of Brahms' works too slow. But not here. Rubinstein is quick without being in a hurry or sounding rushed. The main trills from the first movement are spot on, unlike the Clifford Curzon version. The Brahms: Piano Concerto no 1 / Curzon, Szell has the most intense opening I have ever heard recorded. George Szell had the London Philharmonic Orchestra in fine form on that recording date. However, Curzon botches the trills several times throughout the opening movement. This made it very difficult to enjoy, let alone think that it should be considered one of the best. That honor goes to this recording."