The Legendary Rubinstein

Artur Rubinstein and Frederic Chopin are as interchangeable as the keys on a piano. Rubinstein's repertoire spanned continents and centuries, but he will forever be linked to his fellow Pole Chopin. Rubinstein made many recordings of Chopin's works, large and small. This EMI disc highlights specific recordings made during a time of introspection Rubinstein went through during the 1930's. Bored with being a virtuoso (after all, he had been concertizing professionally since age 13), Rubinstein took a long break from his busy performance schedule to redefine and perfect his technical and musical approach to the piano. His focus became the music of Chopin, and the depth of understanding he achieved can easily be detected on these recordings. Clearly the Mazurka no. 13 in A minor and the Nocturne no. 8 in D-flat display Rubinstein's complete immersion into all things Chopin, which in the case of these two works hones in on their moody yet intricately textured settings. Even the more virtuosic Scherzo no. 2 in B-flat minor is played with a reserve previously unheard in Rubinstein's playing, but the new intensity he exhibits is truly innovative. The disc ends with the beautiful Bercuese, a fitting finale to this unique recording.