Abysmal. Brahms composed these sonatas for Violin and Piano, not PIANO and violin. If these performances can be rebalanced, that should be done. If not, sink the whole thing like a stone. I will always wonder what Szeryng's playing would have sounded like, if only it had been audible.
-Frank W. Barham
November 19, 2007I bought this cd because of the many wonderful LPs which featured Szeryng or Rubenstein in combinations with other greats of my youth. It is a Dud. Any -wonders of articulation, tone, or phrasing the artists tried to express were squelched by terrible reproduction techniques. Even though it's inexpensive, avoid it. It's a waste of time and money.
An Old Appreciator
May 22, 2007 |  | One of the best and most listened to albums in my collection |  |
As a violinist and pianist, there are few recordings I delight in more than this one. The interplay between Arthur and Henrik is just gorgeous. If for some reason, you are more of a lay person considering purchase of this, listen to the first track and imagine it being played at a gorgeous spring wedding. Otherwise, for musicians, this is simply a sublime set of sonatas played by the best in the business. I feel lucky to have this on CD.
January 12, 2004| | | One of the best and most listened to albums in my collection | |
As a violinist and pianist, there are few recordings I delight in more than this one. The interplay between Artur Rubinstein and Henryk Szeryng is just gorgeous. If for some reason, you are more of a lay person considering purchase of this, listen to the first track and imagine it being played at a gorgeous spring wedding. If you're looking for a gift that's not from the standard repertoire of overplayed classical selections, this is an awesome CD that will delight that picky classical listener. Otherwise, for musicians, this is simply a sublime set of sonatas played by the best in the business. The recording quality is intimate and excellent. We are lucky to have these sensitive and thoughtful sessions captured and available on CD. I find myself listening to and being inspired by this CD far more than I ever anticipated. This CD is going to the desert isle with me!
January 12, 2004| | | A Great Recording Worthy of any Library | |
Rubinstein was the luckiest man indeed. Joachim did take him on musically when he was small. But we are also lucky in the sense that Rubinstein rediscovered Szeryng. That partly explains why there is such good collaboration between the two in this record.
There is a similiar version by Suk/Katchen. Suk is no less expressive but he is gloomier in tone, whereas Katchen is more robust and perhaps more intellectual than Rubinstein. The collaboration is surprisingly almost as good. Nonetheless, I prefer this one, as with Szeryng we have everything one could expect -- no wonder Perlman sounds a bit sour in his comments on Szeryng. What Szeryng has to offer is pure music: it's appealing, relaxing, it's irresistibe. One may not be always ready to go to Menuhin, not so with Szeryng. He is as charming as Kreisler albeit in a different way.
Rubinstein is equally relaxing but his music comes in a broader brush. One doesn't need to be able to appreciate the art of say, Egon Petri to be able to enjoy him, not at all. But it would help if one could go more often to Horszowski, then one would be able to enjoy him better. It's something quite different from Rudolf Serkin or Horowitz or Michelangeli, or indeed any modern pianist.
There is yet another version by Mutter. But it seems that it is essentially more to the taste of the younger generation, geared for surprises and excitement, wouldn't accept anything but the most excellent recorded sound. But as pointed out by some other reviewer, the recorded sound of this one is most excellent, so are the other two. March 5, 2003
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