Hi!
On saturday I bought a masterpiece: it's Chopin's nocturnes played by Arthur Rubinstein.
They are two cds and thew were digitally remastered so the sound is wonderful.
Rubinstein recorded these pieces during 1965 and 1967. By that moment he was at his best.

This is a must for every piano lover!

Rubinstein does play the nocturnes wonderfully, without going overboard on sentimentality. Claudio Arrau also plays them just as well, they are my two favorites for the Nocturnes.

I love Rubinstein! He is my absolute favorite! Has anyone ever heard him play the Grieg concerto? Its AMAZING!

Yes, those are fantastic. I also have his double CD of the Mazurkas (also recorded in the mid-sixties). They are absolutely fantastic too. Just as with the nocturnes, I can easily find myself listening to the thing over and over and over...

Are these sets, the Nocturnes and Mazurkas, from the series of his works in chronological order? If so, they go for about $29.95 at the local Best Buy. I've been debating whether to buy these two. I have several of the single CD albums. Some of the early recordings sound a bit scratchy, like when I burn analog CDs from vinyl.

I was fortunate enough to get a great deal on the Complete Rubinstein Collection, 94 CDs for only $1,000.00!

It's interesting to compare Rubinstein's three sets of Mazurkas and Nocturnes. Not to mention his FOUR different versions of the Grieg concerto. (And there's a fifth version on video!)

Generally, I prefer his last version of the Nocturnes--from the 1960s, and his first version of the Mazurkas--from the 1930s. My favorite version of the Grieg is the Ormandy version from 1943.

Yes. I have a CD entitled: "Piano Greatest Hits" and Arthur Rubinstein is the pianist (for every peice). Its a great CD, another must have. The Grieg Concerto is #3 on the CD. This CD is put out by RCA VICTOR and every pianist should own it.

[ September 10, 2001: Message edited by: jgoo ]

jgoo-
I do already have that CD. I listen to it just about every day!!