thanks to my friends at pedro's



Arthur Rubinstein - 1960 Chopin: Scherzos
2003 XRCD24 (JVC) JMXR-24009 Audiophile Recording



by server_alliance

Perforomer
Arthur Rubinstein - piano

Tracklist
01. No.1 in B Minor, Op.20 [9:05]
02. No.2 in B-flat Minor, Op.31 [9:44]
03. No.3 in C-sharp Minor, Op.39 [7:14]
04. No.4 in E, Op.54 [10:59]
Total Playing Time [37:21]

Product Description
Written & published in four separate parts by Fryderyk Chopin, this release originally recorded by RCA and conducted by Arthur Rubinstein, brings together these 4 important piano works into one dynamic collection. Known by the fast dramatic pace of the music these Chopin Scherzos are best loved for their beautiful musical style. Rubinstein, a keyboard prodigy, realizes Chopin's spirit in these compositions remastered with care by JVC in XRCD24 Super Analogue. Hear the difference only on XRCD24.



Review - Audiophile Audition Magazine
This was an interesting A/B shootout. The Red Seal CD reissue of these recordings came out in l984, near the beginning of the CD Era. They contained in addition to the Scherzos all four of the Chopin Ballades, and there was still nine minutes to spare before hitting the 80-minute mark (but few CD ran to that length at that time). So let’s perk an ear to the original. (The actual original tapes come from l959). I remember how when the first CDs were demonstrated to our local audiophile society how we had our reservations about the tonal quality of orchestral and chamber music recordings but we agreed that piano sounded so much better than on vinyl because the pitch was rock-steady - not a hint of flutter or wow speed variations. Well the l984 effort doesn’t have any pitch variation, but boy does it sound tinny! Big climaxes in the music also sound very edgy. Switch to the xrcd: Still brilliant (he plays, after all, a Steinway and the practice is to mic very closely) but the tinny is gone. There is also more low bass end and the impression of a real piano in a space is strong whereas on the standard CD its only a very rough sonic suggestion. These are amazing virtuoso works that show all of Chopin’s skills in creating some of the most pianistic pieces every composed. They are somewhat flashier than the Ballades but make a fine pairing with them - unfortunate they can’t both be on the same hi-res disc. I guess I’ll have to get out the AIX DVD-A recording of the Ballades next time I want to hear them because I won’t be able to stand that tinny RCA CD again.



Review - Enjoy The Music Magazine
This is the third of the Arthur Rubinstein recordings from the 50's and 60's recently reissued on the JVC XRCD24 label. The four Scherzos, written at different times in Chopin's life, rank among his finest works and have elicited some very fine performances over the years. This disc can be added to the list of recommended recordings, but it does not represent the very pinnacle of Rubinstein's Chopin or displace my top recommendation in this repertoire, Sviatoslav Richter (SXLP 30510).

At its steep price and very short playing time (37m21s), this is among the most expensive recordings per minute of music. But JVC does bring these fine performances to us in the best sound they have had over the years, and I thank them for that. The piano is not quite so well captured as on the Chopin Sonata disc, with slightly less body to the piano, but it does sound remarkably full and clear for its age, and puts many later piano recordings to shame. The dynamic range captured here is very wide. This is particularly useful given the sudden sharp attack we hear, for instance, at 6m28s into the B minor Scherzo. Detracting slightly from the sound on the first three Scherzos are some occasional low-level ticks and scrapes on the left channel.

But there is no short measure in Rubinstein's performance, which is full-blooded and well constructed, with perfectly judged tempos. Yet the rubato is not quite so natural as in his later playing, and I wondered at times if the artist needed the stimulus of a live audience to spur him to greater heights. To understand this, you need only play Martha Argerich's Debut Recital, which features the C-Sharp Minor Scherzo in first-rate sound. This performance is electric and dazzling. From the very first notes you know that Argerich is in total command of sound and structure, and that technical difficulties simply do not exist for her. She keeps the dynamic range of her playing within careful bounds in the development in order to set up the magnificent climax. Despite her faster tempo, the music breathes more easily. What a shame she gives us just one Scherzo here. Rubinstein sounds a little tame after this.

Rubinstein reserves his best performance for the famous B-flat minor Scherzo, where he offers a greater dynamism and intersperses telling silences between phrases so that each section leads naturally to the next. How he achieves such forte playing without harshness is a constant miracle. No one plays this better. Kissin's performance as a teen from the live Tokyo recital Evgeny Kissin Plays Chopin (2) (MK 418017) is a most interesting alternative. He plays with rhythmic freedom and spontaneity, taking risk after risk which all succeed beautifully. His stupendous climax leads to a roar of approval from the Japanese audience.

Rubinstein's B minor Scherzo is a fine performance too, with careful use of rubato that propels the music forward. The pace is fast but not rushed, and his voicing is remarkable. He must have had a spectacular piano, as the tone is beautiful and powerful at once, with exceptional clarity and attack up top.

The Scherzo in E is less impressive here. The performance is wistful, relaxed and gentle, but does not match the inspiration found elsewhere on this disc. The finest performance of this Scherzo in my collection comes from Richter, who plays this, as he plays the entire set, in a flowing graceful style that makes this music sound more profound.

I very much enjoyed the two Scherzos (Nos. 1 & 2) that Vladimir Sofronitsky offers us in the Russian Piano School series (Melodiya 74321 25177 2). His 1960 recording from the Small Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire is more fleet-fingered than Rubinstein, with less gravitas but more freedom of phrasing. His dexterity is astonishing, although some details are obscured by the coarse, shallow nature of the recording.

Louisiana-born pianist, writer and actress Pamela Ross also offers us the complete set in a close recording with a lot of ambiance (88 Carat Productions CD5598). The pedals are prominent in her playing, giving a rich and varied sound. She has a fine technique, but there are too many hesitations and accelerations that call attention to themselves, breaking the flow of music. In the B-flat minor Scherzo her playing is loud but without the menace that Rubinstein brings.

If you are looking for the complete set, Richter is my first choice by a small margin over Rubinstein. He is not so well served by the recording, which lacks bite and clarity. But what his disc lacks in recorded sound it more than makes up for in the grand sweep and integrity of his playing throughout, which sounds closer to Beethoven in style than is common in Chopin performances.

A fine offering this Rubinstein disc, but I'll take Richter.

при всём уважении к XRCD, для себя предпочитаю SACD, та же запись звучит с него лучше... не говоря уж о 3х каналах

OlCh
ты про это?

http://www.amazon.com/Chopin-Ballades-Scherzos-Hybrid-SACD/dp/B0002TKFS6

если есть этот диск, выложи плис

спасибо! странно, по поиску "chopin" не нашел такого диска

Только вот SACD не рипнуть,только цд слой поддаетса... Куда хакеры смотрят...

хакеры - не хакеры, но хотя бы оцифровка с аналогового выхода плеера давно была налажена и конкретной критики так и не прозвучало ни от кого - скачивали молча все и усё!

А кто скачал,тот думает что настоящий SACD залил.Кому нужна оцифровка с аналогового выхода дешового плеера ,да еще небось звуковой картой creative,DSP которой припидорашивает звук? Наверное в детстве переболели отитом с осложнением на головной мозг ,вот и качают любой джанк.Вот хотя-бы надо - http://www.dvdupgrades.ch/150019/Modification/SPDIF/Output/Six_channel_S_P_
DIF_output_board.html

откуда такая информация? вы за свои слова отвечаете?

согласен, такая оцифровка никому не нужна, но откуда такая увереность в таком варианте? уж не последствия ли это упомянутой болезни?

с удовольствием скачаю твоий рип по такой технологии

OlCh

Да все равно на чем оцифровывал с аналогового выхода - все равно уже не то...
P.S. Болею аудиофилией..

This post has been edited by maniac_of_noise on 07-03-2007, 11:44

maniac_of_noise
конечно не то, но все же лучче чем обычный стерео диск