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Author:  Charles Schoonmaker Posted:  1/20/04; 4:22:59 PM Topic:  That poor piano Msg#:  4103 (in response to 4101) Prev/Next:  4102/4104 Reads:  741

Greg, I'm thrilled that you have found great piano. May I suggest you also check out Arthur Rubenstein's work ?

Sometime after he tried to hang himself with a rotted threadbare scarf in Paris, Arthur began to develope that very rare 'touch of the oracle' in his playing.

'The Touch' stayed with him throughout his remaining life and Authur's superiority is unmistakeable.

Horowitz was outstanding in his prime but later on fell victim to using gobby rubato to compensate for his lack of attention to subtle nuance in phrasing. Check out Arthur's 'Chopin' and you may understand where I'm coming from. Chopin's 'Ballad in G Major' is one of the most marvelous bugger-bears ever composed for pure piano. I've had recordings of this and other Chopins going all the way back to Paderewski.

Nobody but nobody has touched on Chopin quite like Arthur Rubenstein.

OK Greg, Please also let me know when you get a shot at Jim Kweskin's 'Ukulele Lady'. that's lottsa fun too.

Chas

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