Artur Rubinstein's classic performances of Chopin's piano concertos for RCA were digitally remastered for this 1986 reissue, and the transfer from the analog tapes is clean, while the pianist's presence and clarity are enhanced in the mix. Rubinstein's performances of the Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, with Stanislaw Skrowaczewski and the New Symphony Orchestra of London, and the Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, with Alfred Wallenstein and the Symphony of the Air are perfectly delightful, if old-fashioned renditions, with a feeling of Romantic ardor and sentimentality held in check by the pianist's refined sense of proportions and elegance. Of course, with many excellent recordings available, this disc will be desired most by connoisseurs of historic recordings, but less so by fans of contemporary artists in all-digital recordings.
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