Artur Rubinstein plays Chopin's Polonaise in A-flat, Op.53 (Moscow, 1 Oct 1964)

[@jalbertseabra2283]

What a talent! Every single note is individualised, flying through the air crisp and clear. Plays at the right speed, highly musical .... Today 's pianists play extremely fast, like a machine - unfortunately, the quality , the musical talent are lost in the race.

[@lraoux]

Love how he gets up while he plays. Bravo!

[@stonestone1000]

Who else can play Chopins Polonaise like this ? ? No one - ever - Its like watching war horses galloping across the battle field. Just beyond words BRavo Bravo Maestro !!!!!!

[@daviddahlgren347]

I saw him play this in 1974 in Leeds at the age of 88. That was just as stunning!

[@pamelafrancis4476]

I heard him in Edinburgh that year or 75.

[@cynthiagonzalez658]

Lucky you. We'll never see the likes of him again.

[@AnonYmous-ry2jn]

If you live in or near Leeds, do you have any memories of the Leeds Piano Competition you can share with us?

[@blaht15]

Rubinstein, Chopin, this polonaise played in Moscow.. It has this touch, the place is special, who knows the history will understand the emotions of Rubinstein

[@krystynabieganska3607]

Amen

[@brotherhood7596]

I wonder if he played in Germany

[@MarcAmengual]

@@brotherhood7596 He refused to play never again in Germany after WWII.

[@brotherhood7596]

@@MarcAmengual Well that's a pity

[@wojciechjedrzejewski6163]

Rubinstein był polskim Żydem. Polonez Op.53 Chopin skomponował po wojnie Rosji i Polski. Tak, wszystko się tu składa w całość.

[@兩棲動物研究員]

Best Chopin interpretation ever. Maybe people have different style to play, but to me, Rubinstein is the master of masters in interpreting Chopin

[@johne6081]

I think I prefer Horowitz on this particular composition, but both have deservedly stellar reputations.

[@brmf4346]

@@johne6081 Horowitz has his flamboyant style with his misses that add flavour to Chopin's - in my opinion - first jazz music, which actually makes it even more jazz. They were both gods to be honest. Rubinstein was a Polish Jew and Horowitz was a Russian Jew and that may be the reason for the differences too.

[@miquelcanosasanteularia1678]

Maybe. I still prefer horowitz dinamics

[@CHUNGAandNANOOK]

@@miquelcanosasanteularia1678 ​ @johne6081 ​ @brmf4346 Trust me, being Polish makes all the difference, if nothing else, then in this particular piece alone. I've compared the two, and Horowitz consistently falls flat when he plays Chopin, and this is only in comparison to the sheer enormity of Rubinstein, of course. But it would indeed be a mistake to credit Horowitz as the superior interpreter of Chopin. Trust me, bro.

[@MTMF.london]

@@CHUNGAandNANOOK Trust you, bro? ppppfffftttt 😂😂😂

[@CHUNGAandNANOOK]

Still the best of all time

[@natalievandenblink7802]

I have never heard a more magnificent performance. What a supernatural talent. Chopin must be in musical heaven when he hears his composition played like this. I had goosebumps. !! Bravo Bravo .

[@stonestone1000]

It is unbelievable that a man this age can play like this. I had a heart attack for him. !! He is the total master.

[@rekab7070]

What tremendous panache! To play with that level of strength at the age of 30 would be a feat, but at the age of 78 ? I guess miracles really exist...

[@hansdekorver7365]

Only 77 !

[@cynthiagonzalez658]

Maybe he secretly lifted weights. LOL. Such upper body strength.

[@lyolevrich]

He was a real n.1!A giant!

[@natalievandenblink7802]

Oh my, have you ever heard of more triumphant, jubilant victorious playing in your whole life !!Maestro Rubenstein is in a planet of his own. This is just bliss, thrilling bliss, to listen to. Bravo Bravo !!!

[@danielm8840]

Wonderful, with no false emoting or moving all over the place. He does it as it should be done, leaving it to the audience to decide to emote or not.

[@pamelafrancis4476]

and yet he had marvellous expression as we can remember from his live performances encores, the Ritual Firedance was a riot!

[@JSerrato289]

From what I heard, Franz Liszt took full advantage of his facial expressions. Usually contorting them when in intense passages, making all the women "pass out"

[@chewfacity]

You're right! All that movement makes the piano sound terrible!

[@chrismc1834]

​@@chewfacityyeah but it depends on the piece, like if its an insane balkariev islamey or don juan liszt transcription with many different colours u kinda need lil more expressions but yah.

[@BudinVegas]

The BEST of the BEST.

[@gabrielxtc1]

77 years old. A camera man to his left. Full house to his right. And his left hand alone is superhuman. Awe.

[@johne6081]

He reportedly absolutely loved this composition -- it shows.

[@hannastaszak1684]

Piękno muzyki Fryderyka Chopina to fenomen graniczący z cudem.

[@eustachiodemarco]

Maestro Rubinstein, ritorna tra noi!!!!!!

[@advisorC101]

This is the dance of Freedom.

[@CHUNGAandNANOOK]

Aye

[@Daniel-qx6bg]

Boy, he didn't hold back at all. That was so electrifying!

[@mikeappignani4383]

Magnificent. This man's hands ✋️ 🙌 👏 were made of steel 👌.

[@reubenlee6438]

Wow. His expressive way of playing is so beautiful that listening to him play makes me feel different than when others have played this piece. This is true art.

[@natalievandenblink7802]

So stirring it made me have goosebumps. He absolutely owns this piece.Exquisite Bravo !!!!!

[@Thomas070397]

Polonaise Op53 in A major (as a result of the untuned piano)...makes it sound way beyond phenomenal; stunning

[@calebhu6383]

It has to be the recording that makes the key off.

[@EmdrGreg]

It sounds very close to pitch to me. If it is very slightly sharp, it is not even close to being a half-step. Recordings were all analog then; a slight change in the speed of the play-back may be causing the slight pitch variance.

[@strukhoff]

I am, for better or worse, a bit synesthesic, and it sounds like the familiar burnished maroon of A-flat to me. The middle section opening seems plenty green, too, definitely nowhere close to F as far as I can tell.

[@sebastianciarfella3061]

It'd be A half-flat. +The piano's not untuned, all old recordings had pitch related problems

[@natalievandenblink7802]

If King Arthur Rubenstein was born to play just one piece, it was this !!! Stirring, majestic. Bravo !!!

[@hannastaszak1684]

Chopin to najpiękniejsza spuścizna dla ludzkości.

[@CHUNGAandNANOOK]

Amen

[@아목동아]

기적 같은 연주입니다

[@DragonsAndDragons777]

He's not even trying and it sounds incredible!

[@afrofinka]

With Horowitz and Backhaus, Rubinstein is my favourite pianist for Chopin. One word comes to me to describe his playing : aristocratic.

[@kristmania1285]

And with very character

[@codythedoggo7671]

Check out Krystian Zimerman too

[@herrhyde]

that’s funny you’re mentioning two Jews (Horowitz and Rubinstein) and a one nazi (Backhaus).

[@afrofinka]

@@herrhyde I didn’t know about Backhaus, but he certainly wasn’t the only one in his situation.

[@mayravaldes-z9d]

marvelous

[@alexgomez2]

How come the great performers of the past trusted their performance more than any simulated showmanship to attract the admiration and even adoration of fans? Mr. Rubinstein, Mr. Horowits, Andres Segovia and Narciso Yepes in the Guitar were not great showmen of their instruments yet their art has survived long after their gone. Thank you for sharing this video of the great maestro at his best. Good heavens KZbin exists for people to share this treasures and viewers like me to admire the memory of these great ones of mankind!

[@cguzelli1]

I was introduced to this Master in 1961 through recordings my Aunt gave me a box st of LP's with Artur Rubenstein playing Chopin who was my inspiration and favorite composer of classical music. Between Rubinstein and Paderewski, that was all it took to drive me to practice hours on end to try and emulate the Chopin original scores. I realized that I would never be that gifted as either, so took a break from studies to join a rock band and then away from piano all together for 20 years. A mistake for certain but have returned to the piano in my older age to regain some of the magic and my first love, classical works. Thank you Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and Artur as my inspiration. I'm now writing my own classical works.

[@jalbertseabra2283]

A fantastic, moving story. Thank you for an intelligent and inspiring comment.

[@tiffsaver]

My all-time favorite interpreter of this timeless classic. BRAVO!!!

[@natalievandenblink7802]

from3.33 onwards I took my BP tablets. !! What a thrilling performance. I am still clapping. How did he put such energy into his playing. Bravo Maestro !! There will never be another Rubenstein. !!! Thank you Creator, for him.

[@jolantadykas4862]

Polskę słychać w każdej nicie . Pozdrowienia z Chicago 😇

[@henryahlers5075]

He was so much more exciting live than on record and this performance is incredible!

[@cynthiagonzalez658]

The strongest rendition of this piece I've heard. Personally I think it's a man's piano piece, meant to be played this way. I have yet to hear it played satisfactory by a female pianist somehow. They can give it the emotion but not the heroic strength it needs. I could play it in my 20s but my entire back, shoulders & arms hurt after the practice sessions. Although an elderly neighbor said listening to it gave him goosebumps. That was a complement worth the pain.

[@Cleo2706]

Me too I saw him playing at Beaux Arts in Brussels, and must have been beginning of the 70ies. Still impressed.

[@ArindamRoy88]

Documenting history!!! Thanks 🙏

[@johnpointon4462]

Literally 'breathtaking'.

Yes. Panache, freedom, absolute assurance and a gigantic tone.

[@pamelafrancis4476]

exactly! thank you for the right words.

[@hjerteligtilstededagasbjrn4]

Best version ever!!!

[@francesvansiclen3245]

Magnificent !

[@MarcAmengual]

The best of the best.

[@NoferTrunions]

He was 77 here. What a truly Grand Master of the piano and in particular, this particular Chopin. Perhaps playing it more arrogantly than Liszt could! Bravo! Some staggering arm weight aerial bombardment at 3:43 ! What memories is he calling forth, his eyes closed, expressionless at 4:53

[@erikricardoboscolo4779]

Absolutely stunning.

[@stonestone1000]

Thrilling !! The war horses are galloping across the battle field and they are victorious !!!

[@natalievandenblink7802]

Triumphant !!! The pianist Mr. Rubenstein must have felt he had conquered the marauding tribes with this playing. It is thrilling !!!! I would have given anything to be at this concert, anything.. Bravo !!!

[@MARI-ib6xq]

EXTRAORDINARY AND GREAT!!!!!

[@krystynamaciejewska8464]

Cudowna kompozycja Chopina, przepiękne, przepiękne wykonanie,

[@PianoDawg1620]

I have no words.

[@etucker82]

I often think the studio recordings don't do him justice from what people say Rubinstein was really like in recital. There are so many recordings, and so many of them are so incredibly cautious. But whatever the Russian engineers did, my god, this must be what it was like - it's a whole orchestra!!!!

[@おと-u3e]

かっけぇ…✨

[@alecpetrossian7459]

Greatest forever.

[@JFish-df2ep]

Blew me away. Thank you

[@MiHonorableAbbaPadre]

A masterpiece for an aristocrat !!! 👏👏👏 Bravo maestro !!!

[@Ilduce922]

Great

[@doltbezoar]

Superb.

[@LukeFaulkner]

3:07 why do I hear the dominant 7th in these chords? Old recording adding some extra colour I guess...

[@josephstapleton2242]

I thought the same

[@josephmagil1149]

Wow!

[@pz9686]

Absolutely clobbers a polonaise, pedal down guns blazing all glory and triumph. Wow

[@wojciechjedrzejewski6163]

To nie muzyka, ten utwór to armaty ukryte w kwiatach.

[@わんわんお-g6h]

普通に弾いてる感じなのにパワフルで煌びやかな音…スンゲェ

[@nebojsadajkovic5833]

Nobody is better

[@elmira-9]

Восхитительный,блестящий,великий Шопен.

[@lebiecki78]

Rubinsztein finest Son of Poland …..

[@Abidification]

A musical giant.

[@אהרוןאשכנזי-ס5מ]

For me he is nomber 1!!!

[@elmira-9]

Браво!!!! Гений. Силач. Грандиозный пианист.

[@GiveMeChocolate2308]

3:45 him smashing the keyboard

[@Felix-wp9fb]

J'adore

[@geroelze7566]

Eine wirklich majestätische Darbietung, gerade weil er sparsam mit Rubato umgeht! Der unvergleichliche Klang tut sein Übriges!

[@cjm081]

It appears Rubinstein gave a big middle finger to the Soviets with this Polonaise performance. Most of them had no clue what was happening.

[@strukhoff]

Yes, agree. The Russkies had dominated Poland since his birth, and seemed stronger than ever in 1964. Arthur letting them know Polish pride is real and daring them to find a more incendiary player. All this at the age of 77.

[@vickybeforeyourveryeye]

haaa i understand the performance much better now. Music interpretation being politically (also could we say socially ?) involved. it was indeed a breath of fire from him!@@strukhoff , now it all make sense. And it moved me even more.

[@brotherhood7596]

Did he play this in Germany too?

[@brotherhood7596]

@gastonette lamy A pity

[@mattgibbs73]

@@brotherhood7596 I wonder if you can guess why?

[@Arpa61]

ARTUR!

[@DH-gt1vm]

光輝燦爛!

[@maciekr9848]

Nikt nigdy tak tego nie zagra.

[@CHUNGAandNANOOK]

Amen

[@zebeauv]

C’est vraiment ma version préférée de cette Polonaise. Rubinstein y est impérial ! Dommage que la vidéo soit de si mauvaise qualité…

[@Chopin03]

Classic

[@tomaszchyzy783]

👍💕

[@上田進-r2g]

フレデリック・ショパン ポロネーズ アルトール・ルビンシュタイン演奏賛辞 アルトール・ルビンシュタインの音楽への態度の､立派である事であります。恐らく現代のピアニストの中で筆頭のピアニストであると､思うのであります。そのような観点から､音楽の計り知れね､素晴らしさを思う次第であります。 擱 筆

[@adelelarkins5921]

BEAUTIFUL. LIBERACE FAVORITE

[@strukhoff]

Franz Liszt is scratching his head, wondering how someone could play with so much virtuosity and power.

[@bruce6614]

I doubt that very much

[@linawu8056]

How does he do that? I just can’t play it

[@brotherhood7596]

With a lot of practice

[@keithjones9546]

OFF the fucking chain.

[@martinwujet8424]

Artur showed Stalin his big balls

[@vytioxaV]

SProkofieff - can you tell us where you get these A.Rubinstein videos?

[@spfqr4977]

he recorded it himself

[@ploesrw]

Just pulled it off KZbin.

[@jarosawwiejski2036]

dlaczego ,tak zagrał doskonale tam i w tym czasie WIELKI ARTUR ,,syn ziemi łódzkiej '' jarek

[@cynthiagonzalez658]

Something weird I just noticed. Towards the end, when he was facing towards the right, just below his shoulders, you can see the horizontal lines from the wall through his shoulders. Like he's a ghost.

[@lightningx2656]

The recording is from 1964.

[@irane6919]

the recording seems to be from the end of 19th century))))

[@EmdrGreg]

It was 1964.

[@AndrzejzBuffalo]

There was no video in the 19th century ;)

[@dental1967]

Rubinstein, although a virtuoso, I miss the intensity of EMOTIONS TRANSITION in this very interpretation.

[@jolantadykas4862]

Napisalam tylko raz - a hakerek jeszcze raz powielił moje zdanie . 🇺🇸

[@keithjones9546]

Fantastic performance. But I have heard him play pure gibberish before when he froze up and forgot what he was supposed to be playing.

[@angelmunguia196]

I didn’t feel the power of the piece... maybe it was “too much” for me. In MY opinion, Vladimir Horowitz used to play it better...

[@tomgentry5987]

Yes. It's a great performance, but horowitz brings it alive much much more with his inimitable rubato and dynamics.

[@jeffe2222]

way too much pedal in the beginning, for sure (and throughout, really).... tempo all over the place... not great compared to, say, Horowitz :)

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

That may be ... but what a *performance* the man gave, and wasn't that what the audience came to experience?

[@aleksiejjuszczak1729]

100% I think he (Horowitz) plays it better

[@joannamroczek7518]

Best version ever !!!!!!

[@ronmortimer252]

Wow!!