Rubinstein plays Chopin Scherzo in C sharp minor, Op. 39

Scherzo No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39
Composed 1839
Published 1840
Dedicated to Adolf Gutmann
Played by Artur Rubinstein

[@oknarbtal]

I remember once, there was a storm outside. I went to sleep and let Chopin play. Suddenly, in the middle of the night, a thunder hit somewhere near my yard. I jumped out of bed and heard this scherzo raging from the speakers. Scared the shit out of me.

[@nickdimopoulos3842]

10 years on this made me chuckle. Hope we're all still enjoying this Chopin Scherzo recording!

[@hoosas5998]

Hmm I never knew thunder could hit a yard 🤔😂😂

[@trebleclef9844]

damn this is an old comment

[@themusicalgerbil192]

I love the little dance he does at the end of the coda. Not used to seeing Rubinstein so energetic. XD

[@gioiafrancesco]

The famous 8th articulation by Rubinstein: the knee.

[@benjamin-hughmackay2094]

The delicacy of his touch is breath-taking. No hint of an ugly sound.

[@ondinehd6889]

Under Chopin's watchful eye... Beautiful. Love this tempo. So serene, yet magical and lyrical, without all the unnecessary "noise" that so many add. He knows what to put "en relief," and what not to, and is very careful with contrasts, which flow and seem so natural He lets the piece speak, and that makes it a very powerful interpretation. One of the best, if not my favorite!

[@jangoisbaddest]

After seeing a few videos of Rubinstein as an older guy having some trouble with his precision, I didn't think he deserved the praise people have given him. This video changed my mind. One of the best piano performances I have ever had the privilege of observing. Masterful.

[@hellbooks3024]

There are also records.

[@ma1513]

when I asked my teacher who to take as a reference for playing Chopin he immediately answered "Rubinstein".

[@mheineman2]

Amazing - I can listen and watch this over and over. He becomes the music.

[@goldenboy886]

Those noble gestures of power. This is why it takes so much power from him. Thank you.

[@ler_47]

I love this Trance-like sound, so cool!!! 5:19 - 6:02 Chopin was so good at finishing the song within the song and then finish the general song... *yep, whatever that means!*

[@IBRAHIMpianist]

The best Interprertation for this Scherzo!!!

[@brastoki]

Superb artist! One does not see poetic interpetations anymore nowadays! Young artists should hear the old masters, like the great Rubinstein, not to copy them but to feel that emotion is still the key of musical comunication.

[@bweaverla]

Rubinstein had one of the finest ears for melody. This was always the most important element for him. He brought it out in every phrase.

[@mariasmurthwaite1807]

I think this is one of the greatest recordings of all time for this piece. Especially the middle passages, which are played with such quiet energy and calm...the coda is what most people come for, but the glistening chord arpeggios in those passages are just breathtaking, especially when played by someone like Rubenstein. Obviously, the coda is also great: energetic, emotional, dear lord! Chopin must've been a genius, and it is a tragedy that he had died so soon. Never take this down. ☺

[@Alessandro_da_Rimini]

Jesus......... THIS IS Chopin

[@cattleman6420012000]

This is wonderful. I went and heard Rubinstein in London in about 1970. I will never forget that amazing magical performance. He was incredible. So musical and sensitive.

[@PianoManSam]

I love the camera angle looking up at him, feels like I'm 5 and he's my grandad playing for me 🙈

[@tamcocar]

Majestic yet understated. Bravo!

[@pianocrazylover]

What a precise expression. Couldn't agree more. Thank you.

[@aaabbbccc5]

Rubinstein is incredible here!

[@fadethetrade]

@bachluther WHen my father played this when I was a little kid,I used to ask him to play the monster song!

[@whatzause]

That’s a classic remark!!

[@MrAristaeus]

Extraordinary

[@qermont]

I was so captivated by this wonderful piece I didn't see that old Ruby had a nice Chopin painting on his wall at 0:40 :)

I have to play this piece on a concert next week. As always, I've come to check Rubinstein's version to see if I'm OK. A true master of Chopin.

[@MarcAmengual]

Good luck!

[@andrewg6031]

On a concert?

[@happypiano4810]

How’d it go?

@@happypiano4810 It went pretty good, thanks for asking!

[@javieramundarainvitali7525]

Thank you for posting this wonderful video.

[@catlest]

It makes me think of shafts of sunlight falling from stained-glass windows between the pillars of a cathedral... My favorite Chopin, best interpretation.

[@MrRancidrob]

Just wonderful

[@anonymousQ45]

i love the section at 1:40. sounds like a requiem. reminds me of lost loved ones and the recording of ballades and scherzos is sooooo great!

[@giordanofranchetti8143]

Thank you for this video btw, it is existentially important for me. To all you fellow classical instrumentalists: I will fight for your suffering, to at least be partially understood… How can i even describe being so defeated to others. If You are reading this and you know, I KNOW, and YOU ARE WHAT IS GOOD IN THIS WORLD. No matter the childhood of masochism, the lifetime of bitterness and lack of recognition, WE KNOW.

[@apug296]

Thank you!

[@Ellatigojusticiero]

Grandioso!!!!!!!! BRAVO!!!!!!

[@lnhleung422]

Best interpretation. Ever

[@agamaz5650]

maybe rachmaninoffs recording is a bit better but tbh this is perfect

[@hadial-mokdad5322]

@@agamaz5650 no one plays the cascades like Rachmaninoff does I agree! Yet the other sections, they somehow feel like they are stripped of their chopin-esque manner, almost like Rachmaninoff turned it into his composition. Not to say that it is a bad thing by any means, I simply am not so fond of it, for even when Mr. Rachmaninoff is very dear to my heart with his masterpieces, Chopin must sound like Chopin to my ears!

[@henrique1944]

Dekuje bardzo za to wideo!

[@geertdehoux]

Rubinstein was een FANTASTISCH talent, maar hetgeen mij stoort in zijn pianospel is dat hij, zoals ook de fenomenaal begaafde Brendel, alles met dezelfde techniek brengt. Wellicht daarom dat alles op elkaar gelijkt, zoals ook bij Brendel het geval is. Gegroet, Geert Dehoux, pianist.

[@davidescarabottolo2005]

Amazing!

[@MarcAmengual]

This is how you play a piano!!

[@drbruce77]

This is a template to gauge my phrasing, timing, pedaling and color when playing the piano. Rubenstein's roundness of sound and connection to the music made his performances inspiring, exciting and full of beauty. His repertoire was enormous as well.

[@BREN248]

This is fucking incredible ❤

[@drbruce77]

In Carnegie Hall, his sound resonated to the upper balcony (where I was an usher for three glorious years in my teens). Each note was a pearl in a continuing thread. He is always amazing to hear, even in recordings. This recording is particularly fabulous.

[@치악산복숭아당도최고]

I really want to every pianist play this like

[@belemuski]

GRANDE!

[@kkbkkbkkb1010]

I don't personally believe that this scherzo was or can ever be played better than in this recording

[@matthewv789]

Here’s one that’s not necessarily better, but perhaps as good. Maybe a little less gentle, nuanced, or dramatic, but unusually crisply played and exceptionally well paced in my opinion: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3fbq4uGiMuBp9E (the visualizations were added by someone else)

[@pianogus]

I didn't think so either. Check out Danill Trifonov, though.

[@fedegwagwa]

I like Pogorelich's interpretation more, it's wilder, more powerful

[@buggfire]

Martha usually takes the cake, except for Bach, which is Gould, but this Rubinstein brought tears on earlier.

[@jonolson6533]

Holy crap....I totally agree, Martha is the one I really liked, but this is just amazing!

[@user-cw1pc5vq3y]

This is thrilling

[@TheMrSteinway]

0:50 - 1:08 is so clear staccato!

[@stefanufer608]

Some pianists are too loud when it comes to that fabulous choral melody but he gets it just right

[@loboris1995]

Very good!!!

[@GiorgiIssakadze]

genius ... genius

[@hatem52]

MIRACULOUS!!

[@Mrmmm88]

Chopin. The OG of stride piano 🎹

[@fmusumeci316]

non a caso i due nomi più grandi del firmamento pianistico storico e d'ogni tempo si chiamano tutti e due ARTURO Benedetti Michelangeli ARTURO Rubinstein. I due Arturo oltre le parole.

[@demonizyt]

Ben Frith. If you ever see this, will you PLEASE record it!!!!! Fondest regards, Ade from Royal Holloway. The bar by bar snippets when you were teaching me how this should be played in your living room transcend even this version. Please Ben, do it

[@TheSigg91]

@MrPneunomia He says it takes more strength out of him than any work he knows. I dont blame him, the ending especially must take a toll on his arms and shoulders in order to bring out the notes in those long passages!

[@retrogamerdave362]

amen

[@lance1380]

Yes I agree rubinstein was a lover of chopin and all his works and to be fair... I think that explains why I agree with your comment 😊 he has a way about every not when playing chopin and interesting that all my piano teachers say when it comes to chopin listen to Rubinstein or Argerich... I like Horowitz A lot especially his works of chopin but for me Horowitz I think was more all rounded... Oh and when it comes to Rachmaninoff - for sure Horowitz is one of few that comes to mind. totally agree that rubinstein had something special in his heart with chopin, almost like it comes naturally...*

[@antonelagiglioni2594]

You should listen Chopin played by Claudio Arrau.

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

As an young man Rubinstein was an very orginal a creative player.But after the second world war Rubinstein had to start training because Horowitz came to the USA.Then pianists start to play strickly from the notes no creative versions of the concertos or sonatas.The world change after Van Cliburn won the Txchaikovsky competion in 1958.Then Rubinstein had to start playing the piano many hours of the day.The piano competions change the growds and the audience taste.The people waited only fast play

[@blakley42]

I ‘m sorry but you are wrong. Even though I am only a casual listener of concert pianists, I can think of many pianists who play expressively and with heart and sensitivity,e.g. rosalyn Turek , Leon Fleisher, Clifford curzon, to name only three of many. Oh, and also artur Rubinstein-post 1958

[@anonymousQ45]

yeah i can see that, there are alot of good qualities in that section, i want to know what chopin was really thinking about when he wrote it

[@Giovanni-fj5cu]

Tanta roba

[@satyu131089]

That's how much he believes his interpretation man

[@rukashawn]

i don't know why i can feel the liszt energy in this piece '_' ?

[@geertdehoux]

Ja, 'k heb erover gehoord: GENIALE dictees, en zo! Op klavier uitgevoerd door de Meester Zelf...

[@Musicman180]

@MrPneunomia "which takes more strains out of me than any other work I know"

[@bryanhunnicutt7811]

He used the pedal sparingly and you can hear every note

[@marklaverty3221]

@oknarbtal Ha ha!! Scary story. Chopin Live!!!

[@marklaverty3221]

@oknarbtal Ha ha!! Scary story. Chopin Lives!!!

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

Rosa Tamarkina is the Queen playing Chopin scherzo 3 Tamarkina is a karate kid.Tamarkina plays such a furious a rage a violent a fierce version of Chopin Scherzo 3.Rubinstein lives for ever because Rubinstein had the best the beautiful piano sound.The only ones as same class with the beautiful tone are Gilelsand Lupu.Tamarkina a very bad girl with this Chopin 3 scherzo.All the men are sissy with Chopin 3 scherzo

[@geertdehoux]

Ja, "ons" janneke zal ook - hier en daar en zeer af en toe - wel iets moois gedaan hebben, maar vind het maar eens... :-)

[@willpiano2023steinwayb]

@v4liumfrance " I will play for you now a piece which takes more energy out of me than any other work...the scherzo in c sharp minor"

[@MrPneunomia]

what's he saying ? "a scherzo by chopin, which takes most ____ out of me..." ???

[@joyceleedy5093]

strength

[@whatzause]

Yes, “strength” is correct.

[@misiaczek991992]

Chuck Norris of piano !!!

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

Todays players have a problem to get out the beautiful piano sound out of the piano.Rubinstein and Gilels had a golden tone.The only ones after them Radu Lupu and Ashkenazy has a golden tone.I like the most the modern pianists like Grigory Sokolov the titan the giant of the piano.Sokolov plays Chopin piano concerto such a titanic furious fashion with a golden tone.Sokolov Chopin 2 the concerto performance of all time.Andrei Gavrilov Stanislav Igolinsky N.Trull S.Bunin are better than cool Kissin

[@tetyanachorna8139]

Did you listen Aleksey Sultanov ? It's terrific!!!

[@barrygordon5323]

Bottom line rubinstein felt this music ,and had the musicality and temperment to pull it off...without overdoing it...i once listened to 12 of the greatest pianiist play the Rachmaninoff third concerto, Horowitz was the best,while the others made it s tangle of notes,, Horowitz made it musical ,and still had his untouchable technique. Yet with chopin, Rubinstein was even more musical then Horowitz.. that was how naturally musical Rubinstein was in chopin,,,in Rachmaninoff,or lizst i like Horowitz.

[@angela_hu]

Rubinstein or Horowitz? Which one do you prefer?

[@JoaoFurtadoCoelho777]

+Angela Hu None of them!... None of them has got what it takes to give a great rendering of this very difficult piece. They are both too "small"...

[@angela_hu]

Which artist do you prefer then?

[@JoaoFurtadoCoelho777]

+ Angela Hu Rachmaninoff... and after "good old Sergey", Rafael Orozco. Should you be interested, both renderings are available on YT. Best wishes. Shared on Google+

[@izaakvidler]

Rubinstein for sure

[@judyfalcigno8646]

Byron Janis...

[@satyu131089]

Man that's not completely true.. If you distil the very best of today, there are fabulous ones.. Kissin is an epic.. Probably the Rubinstein of today.. Rafal Blechacz also captures the Chopin spirit incredibly well.. Avdeeva, who won Chopin 2010, also plays as good as the old masters..

[@MarcAmengual]

With all due respect Kissin is not comparable to Rubinstein

[@GoodmanGu]

Please also check out this version by Andrew Gu: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZ6ofquPft98bNk

[@ralphberney7768]

The exception-sometimes- proves the rule: in this case it works, more or less, perhaps, most of all, because of great technical competence which he makes fine play of, and wins the day, and a bit more too, though Chopin is not his man usually.

[@tamcocar]

Are you kidding me? He is well regarded as the greatest Chopinist of the 20th Century. Chopin was his specialty.

[@BrianPaick]

6:24 Fuck the coda, especially the jumps of two octaves at 6:29 and 6:44. It's so difficult to play.

[@happypiano4810]

Woah, he plays the coda super fast!

[@rolandmdill]

Incredibly musical performance!! Lang Lang's version was insufferable, felt like rape of this incredible piece of music.

[@MarcAmengual]

Don't even mention Lang Lang in the presence of the great and best Chopin interpreter of all times Artur Rubinstein.

[@rolandmdill]

@@MarcAmengual I'm so sorry, yes you are totally right!!!

[@hswatnik]

outtasite!!!!

[@pianogus]

You forgot to mention Murray Perahia.

[@francisjdunne]

Lacks passion - dull and limpid. Perhaps it is just the old recording

[@camzyule007]

What? This is as good as any other recording. Rubinstein's Chopin never disappoints, and this is a wonderful interpretation.

[@thebugcast]

If you're into seizures and heart attacks, you should check out lang lang