Composer(s): Rachmaninov, Sergey
Label: Naxos Historical
Series: Great Pianists
Genre: Concerto; Instrumental
Period: Romantic
Catalogue No: 8.111289
Barcode: 0747313328925
Distribution Note(s):
Not available in the United States due to possible copyright restrictions
Release Date: 06/2008

RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Rubinstein) (1946-1950)

Although Rubinstein did not play many works by Rachmaninov, he made four recordings of the Piano Concerto No. 2. If, in this May 1946 recording, Rubinstein’s adherence to the text is not always completely accurate, his performance is full of exhilaration and panache with fast tempos and a climax judged to have any audience jumping to its feet. The 1947 recording of the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is remarkable, even today, for the high quality of the sound, described as ‘Stunning! The recording is almost too vivid’, by a critic in 1948. The only solo work of Rachmaninov that Rubinstein committed to disc was the famous Prelude in C sharp minor Op. 3 No. 2 which he recorded twice.

Tracklist

Rachmaninov, Sergey
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
NBC Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Golschmann, Vladimir (Conductor)
1I. Moderato - Allegro09:15
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
NBC Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Golschmann, Vladimir (Conductor)
2II. Adagio sostenuto10:03
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
NBC Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Golschmann, Vladimir (Conductor)
3III. Allegro scherzando09:58
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
NBC Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)
Golschmann, Vladimir (Conductor)
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
4Introduction: Allegro vivace. Variation 1 (Precedente)00:34
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
5Theme: L'istesso tempo00:18
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
6Variation 2: L'istesso tempo00:18
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
7Variation 3: L'istesso tempo00:24
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
8Variation 4: Più vivo00:28
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
9Variation 5: Tempo precedente00:27
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
10Variation 6: L'istesso tempo00:59
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
11Variation 7: Meno mosso, a tempo moderato00:59
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
12Variation 8: Tempo I00:31
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
13Variation 9: L'istesso tempo00:30
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
14Variation 10: Poco marcato00:50
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
15Variation 11: Moderato01:24
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
16Variation 12: Tempo di minuetto01:21
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
17Variation 13: Allegro00:27
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
18Variation 14: L'istesso tempo00:40
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
19Variation 15: Più vivo scherzando01:01
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
20Variation 16. Allegretto01:18
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
21Variation 17: (Allegretto)01:32
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
22Variation 18: Andante cantabile02:57
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
23Variation 19: A tempo vivace00:32
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
24Variation 20: Un poco più vivo00:35
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
25Variation 21: Un poco più vivo00:25
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
26Variation 22: Un poco più vivo (Alla breve)01:43
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
27Variation 23. L'istesso tempo00:50
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
28Variation 24: A tempo un poco meno mosso01:13
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra)
Susskind, Walter (Conductor)
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)
29Morceaux de fantaisie, Op. 3: No. 2. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor04:22
Rubinstein, Arthur (piano)

Total Playing Time: 55:54