Rachmaninov / Artur Rubinstein, 1947: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43 - RCA Vinyl

From the LP shown above, issued in 1954. The recording you hear was made in 1947. Artur Rubinstein is soloist; Walter Susskind leads the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Note: Rubinstein hits a wrong note at the start of variation 19 (at about 16:37). I would be interested to know if this error, for which at the time of this recording there was no technology to correct, has been edited in more recently produced CD versions of this performance.
Рапсодия на тему Паганини ля минор, opus 43 - произведение Сергея Рахманинова для фортепиано с оркестром. Рахманинов работал над этим сочинением на вилле Сенар (близ Веггиса в Швейцарии) с 3 июля по 18 августа 1934 года. Премьера состоялась в Lyric Opera House в Балтиморе 7 ноября 1934 г., партию фортепиано исполнил автор в сопровождении Филадельфийского оркестра под управлением Леопольда Стоковского. В этой музыке ностальгия соединяется с откровенной «дьявольщиной». Недаром Рахманинов включил в нее мотив «Dies irae». Премьерное исполнение было записано. Среди других знаменитых исполнителей, записавших Рапсодию, - Артур Рубинштейн, Владимир Ашкенази, Вэн Клайберн.
Der russische Komponist Sergei Rachmaninow schrieb seine Rhapsodie über ein Thema von Paganini im Sommer des Jahres 1934 innerhalb weniger Wochen in seiner Residenz bei Luzern. Sein Opus 43 wurde am 7. November 1934 in Baltimore mit Rachmaninow am Flügel und dem Philadelphia Orchestra unter Leopold Stokowski uraufgeführt. Etwa zehn Jahre zuvor hatte Rachmaninow die Uraufführung von George Gershwins (1898-1937) „Rhapsody in Blue" am 12. Februar 1924 in New York organisiert und dieser beigewohnt. Vergleicht man nun Besetzung (Klavierkonzert), Spieldauer (ca. 15 min bei Gershwin, ca. 20 min bei Rachmaninow) und Titel („Rhapsodie") beider Werke - und macht man sich die leicht an Jazz erinnernde X. Dies irae-Variation bei Rachmaninow bewusst -, so könnte man auf den Gedanken kommen, Rachmaninow hätte sich vielleicht durch seinen jüngeren Kollegen etwas inspirieren lassen (zumal Rachmaninow eine Leidenschaft für Jazz hegte).
A Rapsódia Sobre um Tema de Paganini (em russo: Рапсодия на тему Паганини) em lá menor, opus 43, é um trabalho concertante, com duração média de 20 a 25 minutos, escrito pelo compositor russo Sergei Rachmaninoff. A obra foi escrita para piano e orquestra, lembrando um concerto para piano, em Villa Senar, Suíça, de acordo com anotação na partitura, de 3 de Julho a 18 de Agosto de 1934. O próprio Rachmaninoff, notavelmente um intérprete dos próprios trabalhos, tocou piano na estréia da peça na Lyric Opera House em Baltimore, Maryland, EUA, em 7 de Novembro de 1934 com a Orquestra da Filadélfia regida pelo maestro Leopold Stokowski.
Рапсодия на тему Паганини / Rhapsodie über ein Thema von Paganini / Rapsodia sobre un tema de Paganini / Rhapsodie sur un thème de Paganini / Rapsodia sopra un tema di Paganini / パガニーニの主題による狂詩曲 / რაფსოდია პაგანინის თემაზე / Rapsodie op een thema van Paganini / Rapsódia Sobre um Tema de Paganini / Rapsódia na Paganiniho tému / Variacije na Paganinijevo temo / Рапсодія на тему Паганіні
"David Hertzberg"

[@davidhertzberg]

More from Artur Rubinstein: Chopin / Artur Rubinstein, 1969: Grand Fantasy on Polish Airs, Op. 13 - Eugene Ormandy:

[@mlmyburgh]

One wrong note and many thousands NOT ... superb playing and exceptional recording.

[@daseladi]

Thank you poster for this beautiful recording. This enchanting piece so beautifully played, .. whatever I say won't be enough. Thanks!

[@peterbutler443]

OMG the "WRONG NOTE"!!! WTH??

[@pianocrazylover]

Phenomenal performance: Musically, technically; beautifully matched by a sympathetic and master conductor. Even for 1947 recording, you can hear "the Rubinstein unique, full, round sound". Even at high speed he makes music and sings in every note. Wrong notes? What a waste of time trying to catch one or two wrong notes and forget about catching the music!!!

[@claudiamarchant]

great! really a pleasure.

[@letiziapalmieri1223]

Amazing

[@steldap1]

Thaks at all de commentarist who inform about this wanderfull masterpiece to a modest an ignorant as me, who only can hear and enyoy!!!! (From Buenos Aires)

[@notaire2]

Although the sound quality is not so high, the highest technique of Rubinstein can be fully heard from this recording. It's a real rhapsody!

[@christinecc2008]

太棒了！ 整體性的風格能量， 只有在那個時候才會有的。 感謝您。

[@messrtwinky]

Love that wrong note...shows that genius lies not in correct notes alone! ;-) I feel I'm in the same room as Mr. Rubinstein and company. He brings a majestic depth to these variations without pretension nor syrup. The infamous 18th variation is just one of many in which we hear his light touch of trademark tone that belongs to him alone. Never before have I heard both Debussy and Prokofiev in this piece. Bravo! Encore, please!! The orchestra, too, was alive to conductor, music and soloist!

[@alejandragentina1690]

que interpretacion!!! maestro Rubinstein pelos de puuunta!!!

[@zy964c]

13:43

[@PeterLunowPL]

wrong note is considered a deadly sin , it seems... I couldn't care less . Its a great performance in my book.

[@ishiferman]

OMG

[@7pianoforte]

This is a fantastic performance from the musical and artistic point of view. Even though not edited this is still a masterful performance. Can you expect infallibility from any great artist? The split note is so slight it could escape attention.

[@maxreger100]

As you stated davidhertzberg, editing was not possible at the time of this recording. One simply performed a few takes and chose the best one. So, in a sense, we are really hearing performances--albeit originating in a studio. I. for one, hope they never "fix" the wrong note. BTW--was this originally pressed on 78's?

[@yuehchopin]

gut

[@cchris874]

Thank you for posting. The sound in the re-issue "original jacket collection" is appalling. Is there a way to download this? Thanks

[@stevesumner9988]

you wouldn't hear it unless you were listening for it. very minor