Arthur Rubinstein plays Brahms and Schumann

In these newly-restored live performances from 1962 and 1964, the listener can hear the interpretation of a mature performer who is far from being worn out. The fresh vigour with which Rubinstein continued to play even in old age is legendary, as this recording of the 75 and 77-year-old performer demonstrates so convincingly.

The Brahms concerto in B major opus 83 is the fruit of a long inner process of composition. After the failure of the first concerto in D minor opus 15, first performed in Leipzig, the composer took his time before attempting a second one. Twenty-three years separate the two works, and it was not until 1883 that the B flat concerto was presented to audiences by Johannes Brahms himself. Described as a “piano symphony” not merely on account of its length but also due to the tight relationship between the soloist and orchestra, its thematic link with the violin concerto opus 77 is often highlighted.

In Italy, a country that Rubinstein loved to visit, Robert Schumann’s piano concerto in A minor opus 54 was recorded under the baton of Franco Caracciolo. The three movements embrace everything that is part of the concept of Romantic Music: free handling of the theme, great emotions and tender feelings.