Artur Rubinstein - The Great Concertos

Advantages: A little known gem of a piece, performed brilliantly
Disadvantages: None

...Henry Litolff is by no means a well known composer, which is a great shame as these two piano concertos from the Romantic era are definitely worth adding to any collection. If, like me, you enjoy listening to virtuosic piano skills then you will not be disappointed. Peter Donohoe puts on a polished performance, effortlessly racing up and down the piano to make this the best recording available. The Scherzo of the No. 4 is the best known movement and is the most virtuosic. If you enjoy piano concertos by Rachmaninov and Beethoven, give this a try.... Read review

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Advantages: Haunting, passionate music to get lost in.
Disadvantages: It's classical and this puts people off before they even try it.

...interrupt it - particularly something as mundane as housework. Floon and I are obviously not alone in finding the quintet special. This music has aroused the passions of many and the notes say” Many musicians have spoken in awe of its spiritual Elysianism, including the pianist Artur Rubinstein (who requested the slow movement be played at his funeral), the great nineteenth-century cellist Alfredo Piatti (who asked for it to be played during his dying hours to send him into the next world), and the renowned quartet leader John Saunders who had the opening seven bars of the first movement’s second subject inscribed on his tombstone above the following Shakespearian quotation (Sonnet XVIII): So long as man can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. String Quintet in C Major, D956 (1828) The title conveys... Read review

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Advantages: Good tuba muisc
Disadvantages: None

...like opening to the first movement and then launches into the main material. It has two contrasting themes in the first movement, a rhythmic one and a much more lyrical one. The first movement makes a great opening to the concerto, with a good bright tempo, a great melodic line (especially in the middle with a lovely, high, lyrical melody) and great orchestral accompaniment. The second, middle, movement is much slower and has a main string chorale (hymn like tune) which is heard at the start and end of the movement. The middle has the tuba solo which is very chromatic and leads to a climactic point. This movement isn't as good in my opinion, but as contrast is a very important part in many concerti, this is achieved, and achieved quite well. The final movement is faster again, with a rondo structure and bright dance like melody... Read review

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