Rubinstein, A - Chopin - Barcarolle Fis-Dur, Op.60

Very rare material from the treasure caves of Russian tv

[@veritas6960]

In 1954 at the age of 9, I discovered this piece in what I remember as sounding exactly like this performance, in a neglected stash of records. I remember being near tears at its beauty. It is no less beautiful now that I am older and supposedly understand the music better. Rubinstein understands and respects Chopin like no one else!

[@buddydog1956]

Phyllis, I couldn't agree w/ you more...even at my ripe ol age of 58 ~

[@mtierra]

He embodies the nobility of spirit and passion that is the essence of Chopin. An incredible master playing a signature work.

[@samanpapillon]

Rubinstien is the best performer of Chopin with no doubt.

[@Wikentija]

А я была на этом концерте! Большой Зал Консерватории, начало октября 1964 г. Только что в институт поступила. Я просто обалдела от исполнения Артура Игнатьевича. Это идеальный Шопен. Романтики фортепиано - и автор, и исполнитель.

[@vivvpprof]

Поздравляю!! Здоровья Вам!

[@hannastaszak1684]

Piękno muzyki Fryderyka Chopina to fenomen graniczący z cudem ❤️

[@martinl19]

Everything was phenomenal about Rubinstein!. His personality, his supreme musicality... his concentration, his utmost respect for the music he was interpreting, his complete lack of pyrotechnics, his abandonment in performance...

[@mjf508]

Wonderful... doesn't matter how many times I watch it, I am moved to tears. Impeccable musical timing and expression...

[@mikeinkc]

Came across thia again-Rubinstein's Chopin is virile, passionate, musical, exact, yet has a supreme calmness-AWESOME and inspirational

[@arturon111]

Rubinstein was one of the all time greats his sound was unique, beautifull and singining, virile, positve full of life and spirit and nobility,... many pianists should learn learn from the master,...

[@tedgangersongs]

Listening to this performance is surely one of the most transcendental musical experiences I have ever had.

[@wghornsby]

My favorite Chopin piece by my favorite pianist.

[@brycecolton6515]

A trick : watch movies at Kaldrostream. Me and my gf have been using it for watching lots of of movies during the lockdown.

[@aryanquentin6301]

@Bryce Colton definitely, I have been watching on Kaldrostream for years myself :)

[@frfrchopin]

@@milojames510 cringe bot advertising which is absolutely off the topic of the video

[@gymnasticsgrl12]

What a treat!! This is one of my favorite pieces. This must be my lucky day!

[@hannastaszak1684]

Arcydzieło, rewelacja ! Chopinie, geniuszu ❤️

[@nerrdinho]

No one can compare, such a beautiful interpretation…

[@MarionCap]

One of our greatest pianists ever. Magnificent!

[@aidanmikdad4850]

He is a magician, just incredible.

[@finlayma84]

simply wonderful. thank you so much for posting! Rubinstein's Chopin has always transfixed me, and it is so nice to see such rare footage of him playing one of my all-time favorites!

[@mikeinkc]

Twotea22- these videos are MORE than educational-they are food for the soul!

[@Havenscope]

This is by far the greatest interpretation of Chopin's op. 60 I have ever heard.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

The actor James Cagney said it best: "Some performers can just come out and fill-up the entire stage!" This was certainly true of Rubinstein...

[@54spiritedwill54]

This indeed a rare privilege. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this.

[@gordonwilliamshaw]

This stuff gives me the shivers.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

"YES, HE IS DEFINITELY THAT GOOD!"...RIP

[@joelkatz8729]

It’s that heartbreaking simplicity around 9’00 that I really adore...

[@carlpalumbo5811]

Rubinstein always played Chopin with grace, style and elan. He had a fantastic intellect as well as great pianistic talent. One could surmise that the magnificent Barcarolle was the culmination of Chopin's stupendous talent. In my audio collection I have over 40 pianists performing this gem. My top favorites are Bella Davidovich, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Takako Takahashi and Juana Zayas. By no means am I disparaging Rubinstein, but if you love the Barcarolle, take a listen to these other fine artists.

[@TomBarrister]

This is from a performance in September of 1964; the first time Rubinstein had performed in Russa since 1932.

[@stmaurmusic]

How wonderfully still he sits!

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

It's the little things that reveal the truly great ones...

[@buddyfingers]

Rubinstein is a consumate artist....let those commentors who are so critical give us their performance. Rubinstein's performace is not only flawless, it is unheard of by the pianists in the commecials scene of today!

[@cvidalo]

Magnífico, que dominio del tempo. Rubinstein, un de los grandes caballeros del piano...como pocos. Thanks for this rare material.

[@Boldstrummer]

Wonderful use of his body, very economical.

[@markhedman1884]

I love the physical and emotional abandon with which he plays leading up to the climax at 6:40 and afterwards. What passion.

[@maikabright]

FANTASTIC!!!!! I love the sound of his right hand, especially ♥ clear, deep, bright & comfortable....♥♥♥

[@bifeldman]

Rubenstein told a story about this piece. Horowitz had arrived on the scene, preempting Rubenstein. At a brilliant Horowitz recital, one of Rubenstein's supporters said consolingly to him, "The Barcarolle will always be yours." "You can imagine how this cut me," he wrote. The piece is still his.

[@frogmanpiano]

It's worth hearing R's earlier recorded performance of this music 1928 (he made a number of later recording too) he was a pianist who could make the piano sing -he tried always to preserve the long line of the music -he saw it as a whole. Many people have remarked about how when he played it "seemed" to them, "right" even though they would play it differently. Barenboim mentioned this (Richter had admiration 4 R) see G Gould's comment on R & Guarneri quartet playing Brahms's piano quintet

[@erikkihss]

Rubinstein always refers to this piece in his autobiographies as "my beloved Barcarolle". You can tell how special this piece was to him by the way he plays it. He puts in ritards and accelerandos where they're not indicated. Sometimes, depending on the recording, he will play bass notes an octave lower than written and ignore ties. The effect is wonderful. I wonder if Chopin played this exactly the same way each time. I doubt it.

[@sab3156]

I don't think you have even heard the majority of Rubinstein's numerous recordings. There is absolutely no modern equivalent to his playing, nor was there a pianist who mastered Chopin like he did in his day.

[@MultiSchnauzermom]

Just fabulous! Better than the studio recordings!

[@Pushkin62]

Such aristocratic and beautiful playing. Rubenstein's interpretation of Chopin is always true to the Polish idiom and spirit.

[@homepianistaminako9597]

My favorite pianist!

[@caivietlong1988]

it is amazing how he can play like this at the rare age (very old). Thank you for sharing!

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

You ought to see the **WONDERFUL** documentary "Rubinstein at 90" (ignore the Spanish subtitles): kzbin.info/www/bejne/np3IkqaGrLeGqLs

[@chaimgogol]

I have been playing it for 40 years. Perhaps I'll post it.

[@nikosofianos]

Brilliance...nothing else can explain it

[@Chopinfreak55]

Fantastic!

[@otonanoC]

I wish people would play this piece more today. People are so stuck on Chopin's ballades and etudes. Those have been played to death.

[@ammbr]

THE greatest, I would say.

[@animumaurarium]

Great, I'd watched a cleaned version of this, early in this afternoon on Mezzo. Didn't know it was available on KZbin since 2006

[@animumaurarium]

Great, I'd watched this early in this afternoon a cleaned edition on Mezzo, and didn't know it was on KZbin since 2006!

[@culturehorse]

.. ah, Grand Maestro .. those who hv ears .. Let them hear then .. incomparable ..

[@nico22059]

completamente de acuerdo...Rubinstein fue un grande entre los realmente grandes...y muchos se atreven a compararlo con Pollini...dios mio! Pollini es simplemente un pianista mas que gano un concurso importante y salto a la fama...Rubinstein es Rubinstein

[@mikeinkc]

Thanks twotea22..once again if all you ever post are these AR videos then you done many a great service

[@Rani9000]

this is so beautiful thanks for posting

[@fmorgana]

Magnifique!

[@nico22059]

lol...you dare to tell Rubinstein how to play? I want to see you play this!

[@anandramanathan]

One of the best I've heard. Very few pianists play the Chopin Barcarolle well. Among the versions I've heard, I feel this and the one by Kristian Zimerman are the best. Zimerman seems a little mannered in his gestures, but if one can ignore that, it is very good.

[@chaimgogol]

I haven't heard Richter's performance for many years but I recall being impressed by it. As a piece it certainly ranks up there with the Barcarolle in terms of the subtlety of the notation.

[@Hailstormand]

@paulprocopolis, am also amazed at the sound quality. Crystal clear.

[@Largo64]

Thanks for posting this!

[@BilGru]

Those lucky Russians in that audience!!!!

[@iluvmylucky]

bless you for posting!

[@emtube9298]

This is my favorite of all Chopin's works (my favorite performance is by Lipatti). Is the introduction improvised by Rubinstein, or is there some edition that actually reads like that? Several other places in this performance sound like memory slips as well, but perhaps Rubinstein had an alternate score... Anyway, the interpretation is (otherwise) very beautiful. Thank you for posting this beautiful and rare recording of this seldom performed piece.

[@mikeinkc]

Please erpooh- every note has substance and backed by a musicality that is awesome. Rubinstein was one of the greatest of the 20th century- other may have had more technic, but none came close to his understanding of any composition he performed.

[@themusicalgerbil192]

Astounding old live performance of Rubinstein! Looks like the 1940s, when he was only in his 60s!

[@jaapaap5]

imo one of the most genius pieces of piano music.

[@jerjerbeat]

Arthur lives forever for us.

[@george27]

tengo una carta a manuescrita por el...fechada en 1919 agradeciendo a mi tatarabuelo (quien era fabricante y afinador de pianos) por afinarle un piano para un concierto en Monterrey... lo cito "...ya que nunca he tocado un piano mejor afinado..." curioso no?

[@enagyb]

Muy interesante. No sabía que también dio recital en Monterrey en esa época . Rubinstein dio grandes temporadas en México por 40 años. Las de 1919 1921 dejaron honda huella por su propuesta innovadora en programa, por ejemplo. Según el maestro en sus memorias, el mexicano uno de los más cálidos y mejores públicos del mundo por su sensibilidad...

[@mikeinkc]

Again- these anti-Rubinstein folks have me wondering if they have cotton in their ears! Whatever Rubinstein performed was honest, sincere, and supported with an enormous technic tempered by blazing musicianship and style. He never played an insecure note of music in his life!!

[@mikeinkc]

At 7:25 total music bliss..I've said this once before thanks twotea22 for these wonderful videos

[@colorsofsound4782]

GOAT

[@twotea22]

Thank you! Somehow i already suspected this!

[@medpiano]

"No serious pianist" would use such exclusive terms as "no serious pianist" when describing one of the greatest pianists--nay, musicians--of the 20th century by far. The style of this time was so much more rubato and freedom, far less of an emphasis on pure fidelity (hello? Cortot?) and in no way can be compared to today's "norms." That is not to say the score is trashed (and it certainly is NOT) but I'd never want to lose what this time period had to offer for the sake of "correctness."

[@bifeldman]

Chopin had never been to Venice, but while in Nohant, he heard a description of the gondolieri and their songs from Delacroiz, recently returned. My understanding is that this was Chopin's inspiration: the swaying of the gondola, a guitar, a secret kiss beneath a bridge, warm night, shimmering brilliant reflections in the canal. Is there a piece more parlante than this?

[@buddydog1956]

@maikabright ...Flawless!

[@buddyfingers]

Have you heard Howard Tuvelle's performance...also on KZbin? "His day" goes on.......with a few......!

[@buddydog1956]

@erikkihss Yea, I wonder too....! but I bet anything Chopin would of been damn proud of Artur's interpretations of his music! ..don't you? :)

[@aristata]

I love this! Saw him at a concert San Francisco mid-60s. Any KZbin links to his apparent encore?

[@paulprocopolis]

This is a beautifully poised performance, poetic and passionate in equal measure. The tempo never drags or rushes but is always flexible to the needs of the music. Given the poor quality picture, the sound is remarkably good. What is the year of the performance? Thanks for a great post.

[@buddydog1956]

@brahmsian1stever ... Thank - You - Very - Much!!!! I couldn't have said it better!

[@paultgorman]

Lipatti Nobility of soul not just posture

[@frogmanpiano]

I have no idea what piano he used.-I thought it worth mentioning his earlier performance because it is widely regarded as a great performance. Sachs: "the 1928 recording..(London April 18th 1928) for instance is amazing in it's mixture of quiet intimacy, melodic splendor, mounting eroticism, and dazzling explosion of joy....one of the most important etc., p 428. My CD sounds reasonable with very little hiss. And it certainly is an evocative performance -easy 2 buy cheap too. frogmanpiano

[@geschwitz4]

Thanks, that was what I signed on to say. The Lipatti version of this Barcarole is one of the most perfect recordings ever created. I love Rubinstein as well, but there is something other-worldy about Lipatti. Does anyone out there in the ether have a Lipatti video? Does such a thing exist?

[@phbarnes]

It doesn’t. And yes, it is in my view the best, but of course Rubenstein is also wonderful and the two versions have much in common.

[@chaimgogol]

1) The appoggiature should be played on the beat. 2) The tempo accelerates gradually through the three blocks of material until slowing at the return of the opening.

[@jasquilaria]

Rubinstein's tone is always perfect but I prefer Dinu's playing because I feel like it can stop my brain and my heart.

[@54spiritedwill54]

Rubinstein...this is music

[@ralimis]

An enchanting, melancholy and beautiful piece. But which year?

[@westernkentucky5956]

I go to Rubenstein for Chopin. I go to Gould for everything else.

[@jesuisravi]

Lipatti does this greatly too.

[@solti]

why doesnt it sound like this when i play this piece?

[@pdr770]

אני אקשיב בביתי לנגינה בפסנתר וקונצרט כמו במאה ה-19 בבתי אצולה גבוהה.

[@laowei7279]

Wow! Heroic declamation, macho agogic! He proves that Chopin, perhaps, was no lyricist at all.

[@nerrdinho]

Sorry what are you getting? What do you mean?

[@laowei7279]

Rubinstein's "masculine", unsentimental rendition of Chopin's Barcarolle convincingly reveals its undercurrent of epic, "heroic" dignity (unlike some shallower "salon" interpretations of other pianists who merely indulge in the sentimentality of the Barcarolle's "lyrical" salon façade).

[@joeyjojo4]

erpooh - I could not disagree with you more strongly. Rubinstein is the consummate interpreter of the music of Chopin. You may find his performance of other composers to be off the mark or not to your personal taste, but regarding Chopin, he is without equal. I find much of Horowitz's Chopin offensive. I attended his (Horowitz's) 1976 Carnegie Hall recital. His Liszt b-minor was, of course, wildly entertaining, and his Chopin...ouch!

[@xiuje87]

he is a happy man, look at him play. He has no worries. haha

[@cziffra1980]

Introduction? Sounds just the same as any other performance me.

[@donthuis]

Well, who would've thought that a fine artist like Rubinstein (I attended one of his last concerts), leads to such reactions. Apparently this discussion thread is leading away from what KZbin is all about. Donaldcallen is right and I will look elsewhere for more value in thought.

[@Largo64]

Picky, picky, picky! It's Rubinstein fer Chrissake!

[@AnacaonaColumbine]

I echo that!!!

[@twotea22]

My attention was brought to the ongoing discussion between Bruce88keys and MASTERCLASSES. Since these 2 users are not able to have a civilized discussion I decided to remove all their "literary contributions" and to block them. I posted these videos (and other ones) because I believe their not available commonly and because I want to share them with people who can enjoy them or who try to see them as "educational". SO PLEASE! ... IF I MAY ASK KEEP IT CIVILIZED!!!

[@nerrdinho]

14 years later, thank you for sharing this

[@solti]

i wish i cud but i dont have a piano. i have no money to buy one.

[@Largo64]

These responses don't necessarily line up with what they are responding to. I remarked that chaimgogol, who had a couple of very specific complaints about the playing was being picky. I was more or less kidding. More or less.

[@ibclappin]

@paulphilip1 thank you

[@advisorC101]

@maikabright, exactly...

[@나옹-f9g]

6:44