ROSLAVETS
Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 4 and 6 / 3 Dances Arthur Greene (Piano) / Solomia Soroka (Violin) [ Naxos / CD - released 9/Sep/2006 ] Nikolai Roslavets is an enigmatic but intriguing figure in the history of twentieth-century music. Hissurviving compositions exhibit a marked sophistication and uniqueness attractive especially to those who enjoy repertoire beyond the mainstream. |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2 / 24 Preludes, Op. 28 / Trois Nouvelles Études / Berceuse in D flat major, Op. 57 / Barcarolle in F sharp major, Op. 60 Arthur Rubinstein (piano) [ Naxos Historical Great Pianists / CD - released 25/Aug/2011 ] When the recording of the Preludes, Rubinstein's only committal of the work to disc, was issued in the UK in 1955, Gramophone declared: 'As a whole, this masterly performance is the best we have had so far of Chopin's great work'. |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Waltzes / Impromptus Arthur Rubinstein (piano) [ Naxos Historical Great Pianists / CD - released 10/May/2011 ] "this earlier version is wistful and whimsical, and impeccably tasteful." (BBC Music Magazine) |
JOHANNES BRAHMS / LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Brahms: Double Concerto / Beethoven: Violin Sonatas (1950-1951) Artur Balsam (Piano) / Vladimir Horowitz (Piano) / Philadelphia Robin Hood Dell Orchestra, Fritz Reiner (Conductor) [ Naxos Historical Great Violinists / CD - released 14/Sep/2006 ] In contrast to Oistrakh, Milstein did not develop a rapport with Stolyarsky: at an early age he developed an ironic, independent viewpoint, and a scepticism towards those in authority which would not have served him well in post-Revolution Russia. |
RODRIGO
Piano Music, Vol. 1 Artur Pizarro (piano) [ Naxos / CD - released 6/Mar/2005 ] Artur Pizarro gives excellent performances. Great virtuosity is rarely required but sensitivity to variations of mood is the key here and he captures the spirit of the music to perfection. |
RODRIGO
Piano Music, Volume 2 (Incls ' 3 danzas de Espana') Artur Pizarro (piano) [ Naxos / CD - released 6/Jun/2007 ] This second and final volume of Artur Pizarro's recording of Rodrigo's complete solo piano music for Naxos includes miniatures written for 'small hands', including those of his daughter Cecilia, the virtuosic Sonatas de Castilla, the Suite para... |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Mazurkas (Rec 1938-39) Artur Rubinstein (piano) [ Naxos Historical Great Pianists / 2 CD - released 20/Aug/2008 ] "Rubinstein's Mazurkas are equally the stuff of legends. Chopin's most subtle and confessional diary, they transcend their humble origins and become in Rubinstein's hands an ever-audacious series of miniatures" (Gramophone 2001) |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Nocturnes and Scherzi (Rec 1936-1937) Artur Rubinstein (piano) [ Naxos Historic Great Pianists / 2 CD - released 19/Feb/2006 ] "Critics' Choice.' How remarkable to to have the greatest of Rubinstein's Chopin, his 1932-39 recoridngs, available on Naxos. A bargain of bargains, no more extrovert or subtly ebusive Chopin exists." - Bryce Morrison, Gramophone, January 2002 |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Polonaises Artur Rubinstein (piano) [ Naxos Historical / CD - released 20/Apr/2010 ] Arthur Rubinstein recorded the first seven Polonaises of Chopin three times. The fine performances heard here, from the middle period of his recording career, still stand as among the best, for Rubinstein was one of only a handful of pianists able to... |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Polonaises [selection] (Rec 1934-35) Artur Rubinstein (piano) [ Naxos Historical Great Pianists / CD - released 20/Aug/2008 ] "When Rubinstein launches into these works, it's soul music!" - Classics Today (Jed Distler), December, 2000 |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Piano Concerto No 2 (with Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No 1) (rec 1929 & 1932) Artur Rubinstein (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra / Albert Coates & John Barbirolli [ Naxos Historical Great Pianists / CD - released 20/Feb/2009 ] "Mark Obert-Thorn, the producer, mentions the difficulties presented by the Brahms. The results of his wrestlings sound as good as we may reasonably expect for the venerable age of the recording, but it is true that the Tchaikovsky sounds more than... |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 (recorded 1946 & 1953) Artur Rubinstein (piano) / Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Alfreed Wallenstein / NBC Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg [ Naxos Historical Great Pianists / CD - released 20/Nov/2008 ] This release is the first in a series devoted to Arthur Rubinstein's 'middle period' Chopin cycle, recorded from the mid-1940s through the mid-1950s. |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No 2 / Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini (Rec 1946-1950) Artur Rubinstein (piano) / NBC Symphony Orchestra / Vladimir Golschmann [ Naxos Historical Great Pianists / CD - released 19/Feb/2006 ] ""Though many collectors already own the RCA Rubinstein Edition, they may gravitate to these restored-sound inscriptions made possible through Mark Obert-Thorn and the Naxos label." (Audiophile Audition) |
BEETHOVEN
Piano Concertos 1 & 2 Artur Schnabel (piano) / London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Malcolm Sargent [ Naxos Historical / CD - released 2/Apr/2001 ] |
BEETHOVEN
Beethoven Piano Works, Volume 11 Artur Schnabel (piano) [ Naxos Historical / CD - released 27/Jun/2005 ] |
Artur Schnabel
Beethoven: Piano Works Vol 7 [ Naxos Historical / CD - released 28/Jun/2004 ] |
Artur Schnabel
Beethoven: Piano Works Vol.4 [ Naxos Historical / CD - released 10/Mar/2003 ] |
Artur Schnabel
Mozart: Piano Concerto No 27 [ Naxos Historical / CD - released 30/Jun/2008 ] |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 27-29 (Rec 1932-1935) Artur Schnabel (piano) [ Naxos Great Pianists / CD - released 1/Feb/2005 ] "I must say the recordings sound remarkably well for what they are and at Naxos price the supreme performance of op. 90, together with the insightful slow movements elsewhere, makes purchase infinitely worthwhile." - MusicWeb April 2005 |
BEETHOVEN
Diabelli Variations / Bagatelles Artur Schnabel (piano) [ Naxos Historical Great Pianists / CD - released 1/Jan/2004 ] "The transfer of sound from the original shellac 78s is done by engineering magician, Mark Obert-Thorn. One knows it's not modern sound, but one wouldn't think it is from the 30s. I've reviewed several of this series, but so far this is my favorite.... |