ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN - The Chopin Recordings (2010) 5xCD BOX-SET / MONO / RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Even though RCA's outstanding recordings from the 1960s of Arthur Rubinstein playing Chopin are the most recommended versions for their exquisite interpretations and superior sound quality, some still turn to his recordings from the 1920s and '30s, which in many cases have the edge for passion and physical strength. Yet it is only fair to point out the limitations of this box set from EMI, which presents the concertos, nocturnes, waltzes, mazurkas, and polonaises in clean, digitally remastered audio, but has a closed-in, boxy quality that some listeners will find difficult to tolerate. Fortunately, these vintage recordings of Rubinstein performing at the peak of his powers have little distracting surface noise, and anyone who has had experience with historical recordings will find them quite attractive for the preservation of the piano's natural luster and for the lack of distortion. Once one accepts the compressed sound as a necessary condition, it's easy to see why Rubinstein's admirers champion these legendary performances, for his expressions are mature but still fresh and energetic, and his brilliance and bravado come across clearly, despite the age of the recordings. This set will be best appreciated by fans and specialists in the repertoire, but others will derive some benefits by giving it a fair hearing. by Blair Sanderson  

All Tracks & Credits

MISCHA ELMAN - The Best of Mischa Elman (2006) 2CD / APE (image+.cue), lossless

 

MARTHA ARGERICH - Martha Argerich Edition : Chamber Music (2011) 8xCD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827):

Violin Sonata No.9 in A major, op.94 “Kreutzer

César Franck (1822-1890):

Violin Sonata in A major

Itzhak Perlman – violin, Martha Argerich – piano

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Piano Quartet in C major WoO36 No.3

Clarinet Trio in B flat major, op.11

Piano Trio in D major, op.70 No.1 “Ghost”

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849):

Intoduction and Polonaise brillante in C major, op.3

Renaud Capuçon – violin, Lida Chen – viola,
Gautier Capuçon – cello, Marek Denemark – clarinet,
Mark Drobinsky – cello, Mischa Maisky – cello, Martha Argerich – piano

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Violin Sonata No.1 in A minor, op.105

Violin Sonata No.2 in D minor, op.121

Fantasiestücke op.73 (version for flugelhorn and piano)

Märchenbilder, op.113

Géza Hosszu-Legocky – violin, Renaud Capuçon –
violin, Sergei Nakariakov – flugelhorn, Nobuko Imai – viola,
Martha Argerich – piano

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Piano Quintet in E flat major, op.44

Piano Quartet in E flat major, op.47

Andante and Variations in B flat major for two pianos, horn and two cellos, op.46

Dora Schwarzberg – violin, Renaud Capuçon – violin,
Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg – viola, Mark Drobinsky – cello,
Lida Chen – viola, Gautier Capuçon – cello, Alexandre Rabinovitch – piano ,
Marie Luise Neunecker – horn, Natalia Gutman – cello,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Martha Argerich – piano

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Piano Trio in G major, Hob.XV:25 “Gipsy Trio”

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)

Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, op.49

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Fantasiestücke, op.88

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Cello Sonata

“La plus que lente” – valse

“Minstrels” – Prélude No.12

Renaud Capuçon – violin, Gautier Capuçon – cello,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Martha Argerich – piano

César Franck (1822-1890)

Cello Sonata in A (transcription of the Violin Sonata)

Béla Bartók (1881-1945)

Violin Sonata No.1 Sz75

Contrasts Sz111 for violin, clarinet and piano

Mischa Maisky – cello, Renaud Capuçon – violin,
Chantal Juillet – violin, Michael Collins – clarinet,
Martha Argerich – piano

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Piano Quintet in G minor, op.57

Piano trio No.2 in E minor, op.67

Leoš Janáček (1854-1928)

Concertino for piano, two violins, viola, clarinet, horn and bassoon

Renaud Capuçon – violin, Allissa Margulis – violin, Lida Chen – viola,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Maxim Vengerov – violin, Gautier Capuçon – cello,
Lucy Hall – violin, Nora Romanoff-Schwarzberg – viola,
Corrado Giuffredi – clarinet, Zora Slokar – horn,
Vincent Godel – bassoon, Martha Argerich – piano

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Piano Quintet in E flat major, op.44

Violin Sonata No.2 in D minor, op.121

Fantasiestücke, op.73

Dora Schwarzberg – violin, Lucy Hall – violin, Nobuko Imai – viola,
Mischa Maisky – cello, Natalia Gutman – cello, Martha Argerich – piano