Near the end of his long life, Artur Rubinstein declared these Mazurkas among the best recordings he had ever made. They're certainly convincing in their lyric simplicity, tonal warmth, and healthy, uncluttered sentimen... more »t. There are, however, other valid approaches to these wonderful works. Rubinstein himself, for instance, was a friskier and riskier player when he recorded the set for EMI in the thirties. The pianist's fifties-remakes are more grounded, yet retain the joie de vivre and rhythmic snap that were hallmarks of his live performances. On the other hand, the stereo versions benefit from superior engineering and a more scrupulous approach to Chopin's text. Decisions, decisions. --Jed Distler« less
Near the end of his long life, Artur Rubinstein declared these Mazurkas among the best recordings he had ever made. They're certainly convincing in their lyric simplicity, tonal warmth, and healthy, uncluttered sentiment. There are, however, other valid approaches to these wonderful works. Rubinstein himself, for instance, was a friskier and riskier player when he recorded the set for EMI in the thirties. The pianist's fifties-remakes are more grounded, yet retain the joie de vivre and rhythmic snap that were hallmarks of his live performances. On the other hand, the stereo versions benefit from superior engineering and a more scrupulous approach to Chopin's text. Decisions, decisions. --Jed Distler
CD Reviews
Superbly nuanced performances
09/19/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Are these superbly nuanced performances Rubinstein's greatest Chopin recordings? David Hurwitz thinks so. Personally, I would vote for the Nocturnes, but the Mazurkas run them a close second. Wherever you rank them in the Rubinstein discography of Chopin (and I like them much better than his 30's recordings of the Mazurkas for EMI) this is imperishable and cherishable Chopin."
Definitive (almost)
Barry De Boer | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire United Kingdom | 07/21/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love the Mazurkas and have played quite a number of them enthusiastically (and badly!) over the years. Two artists stand out for me; Fou Tsong and Rubinstein. The Fou Tsong has an immediate, haunting appeal but the more you try to play them yourself, the more you realise just what an achievement the Rubinstein performances were. With two or three exceptions he seems to explore every nuance of the music. It grows on you with each listening whilst the Fou Tsong, with its occasionally overdone delicacy, fades a little. Listen to the little Mazurka number 13, which can't quite decide if it is in C major or A minor. I bet you hold your breath whilst you listen to Rubinstein"
Who Better to Record Chopin's Mazurkas?
Lee M. Mcguire | Urbana, IL | 11/28/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Rubinstein. Chopin. Mazurkas. Perfection. The impeccable Rubinstein rubato shines most when he plays the works which invite overindulgence, like the dance forms, or the easily sentimentalized nocturnes. His rhythmic restraint is admirable. These recordings are quirky yet authoritative enough to make me wonder whether only a fellow Pole can play Chopin with such multifariousness of movement within the staff. I've heard other recordings of the mazurkas, mainly individual performance pieces in compiliations, but none sparkle like the way Rubinstein makes them sparkle. Sublime."
Youth and hope
Avid Reader | Franklin, Tn | 03/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Artists rarely declare their satisfaction with a performance and the fact that Rubinstein did so makes this recording all the more important. Chopin excelled in many formats for the piano but he is usually thought of as a miniaturist. No better example of this exists than this recording of the Mazurkas. One must remember that the Mazurkas were originally Polish dances, thus their odd yet similar rhythms. They vary in both length and depth but each is a poignant poem, dedicated not only to friends but also, silently to his birthplace, Poland. He wears his patriotism on his sleeve - something unthinkable today - and emptied his sould into his music. About the playing there is nothing much to add to the other reviewers. It seems as if Rubinstein gathered all his artistic energy for this recording and it is impossible to imagine one Mazurka standing alone. They MUST be heard as a group to get the true import of the music. Each idea is quickly explored and then completed, preparing the way for the next one. A few lengthen to several pages and they provide nice breaks in the quickly moving pace. For all the criticism of the performer's rhythmic style one can find no hint of affectation or exaggerated rubato with this set. This recording is perfection."
Track Listings (26) - Disc #1