An Emotional Tour de Force.

All the stars were aligned when Arthur Rubinstein recorded Rachmaninov’s 2nd Piano Concerto in 1956. If fact, the RCA sound quality alone places it way ahead of its time. It would have been released on 78s and Mono LP but what a revelation for those lucky enough to have stereo tape players the time. HDTT has captured every ounce of sonic quality from that tape. Rubinstein recorded the Rach No 2 three times during his 60+ years of public performance and this is the best of those three. It has certainly captured my heart-strings. Every moment is faultless. Forgive me for being a Rubinstein fan having been exposed to his first version of the No 2 released in 1946 with the NBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Golschumann on a bunch of 78s. It’s a pity Rubinstein did not record the other Rachmaninov Piano Concertos. Rubinstein was acknowledged as one of the top pianists of the 20th century and deservedly so. Enjoy the effortless flow and the exquisite balance between Rubinstein’s piano and Fitz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a warning - keep your emotions in check.