Apparently, duos who have performed Anton Rubinstein's Fantasy for Two Pianos in F minor, Op. 73, viz.: Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Andre Previn, Katia and Marielle Labèque, Bracha Eden and Alexander Tamir may be available on streaming sites e.g. Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music and such.
After playing Brahms' Fantasy in F minor with Clara Schumann, Rubinstein decided to write his own work. Brahms was famously critical of Rubinstein and each detested the other, so Rubinstein's work attempted to explore a very different soundscape. It is certainly a piece which is best appreciated live, containing as it does effects which are lost in a one dimensional recording. It would be very satisfying to hear Lesley Howard (who also appears playing this work on You Tube) and another top quality performer in a good quality studio recording. Although it is wonderful to hear this work at last (there are no recordings) this reading does not perhaps explore the changes in tempi and dynamic which might have given the performance more character and depth. It is still a remarkable achievement in a work which requires the greatest skill in execution.
This is a masterpiece, the Forte Piano rapreset the demonic nature (the Forte low bass sounds) and the angelic nature (the piano high soprano sounds), so Anton Rubistein that had this ambivalent nature was a master of Pianoforte instrument as Beethoven, moreover there is the romantic melody, and the romance rapresent the Cosmos, that as Dante said "L'amore che move il sole e le altre stelle"(The love that moves the sun and the other stars). Is my opinion in this piano piece there is even the loops of the cosmic discomusic.
You’re right. I combined both parts (played by me) to create the recording. As another commenter noted, I should have used two different pianos to differ their character. It was an experiment that I learned from.
Highly appreciated. Rubinstein‘s music needs to be played with the fire and energy of his own reported style, which is sadly missed in many recordings of his works - not so in this one! The 3rd mov. Variations are outstanding and would make a brilliant concert piece on their own, certainly among the best of Rubinstein‘s piano works. 2nd mov. is also charming, only 1st mov. is too repetitive and not as strong in melodic invention. To hear a musically and formally entirely convincing work, try 4th piano sonata op100 or the 4-hands sonata op89 - both criminally underrated!
Such compositions must be performed on DIFFERENT instruments so that the sound differs in timbre. For example, use different brands of pianos. Otherwise, it turns out that the same instrument is repeating the same thing. A very interesting work that does not fit into the usual gradations.
Thank you for pointing that out. Yes, I experimented with that a bit and learned from this project. The next 2 piano recording will be better. Appreciate you taking the time to listen.
I knew there would be a lot of Rubinstein hate in the comments. Same old, tired, dismissive remarks. In spite of that, I think this is a brilliant masterpiece for two pianos. This piece has that arcane beauty that elevates the soul and is prevalent in Rubinstein's more mature works. He shows here his mastery of the theme & variations form and the ability to weave intricate, interesting textures using two pianos. I've been aware of this piece via IMSLP; glad to finally hear a great recording. Thanks for sharing!
in the 1860s, people didn't have a movie to go to. This is a movie in sound. Imagine it as a backdrop to something like "Metropolis." Huppertz score is available in a 150 page piano reduction that was probably played during some performances of the silent film. Rather than making snide remarks as someone from a modern era that has endless dazzling visual entertainment, have some imagination & listen more closely. This was the comic book hero movie or Harry Potter movie of the 1860s. That's what you're listening to.
Personally, I think of the first movement as a heroic “good vs. evil” narrative that ends tragically. I don’t always find Rubinstein’s thematic development compelling, but overall it was a very rewarding piece to explore and interpret. Thank you for listening. Speaking of movies, I hear a bit of the Star Wars Imperial March rhythm in the third movement (24:51)!
Personally I don’t like this piece. It feels aimless and uninteresting and not unmusical for me. Still I heard you played both the piano and edited them together. And for that you did wonderfully, very impressive bro :)
This is so awful. I knew the bar was low for romantic era composers. But this guy somehow managed to limbo under it. What an excrutiating piece to listen to.
I am sorry to hear that there was nothing enjoyable or at least interesting for you in any of the three movements. Nonetheless, I appreciate you listening and taking the time to share your thoughts.
@@PianoCurioyou can ignore WhatIsMusic’s comment lol, he’s a well known troll in the classical music UA-cam community, and he calls everything trash. Even though I don’t like this piece (your performance is really good though), you can dismiss everything WhatIsMusic says. He has called some of the best classical compositions ever written terrible and not “true” music. All the while he writes really low-effort slop on his channel. He’s actually a pretty funny troll
Granted, it's a Fantasy, so no rules apply. Nevertheless, it's a brutally repetitive piece that doesn't seem to go anywhere. Seven minutes before the music finally starts. Ugh.
That start is slapping on my face
It slapped my ear drums even more.
Best piece for 2 pianos in the Romantic era! Listened to this 5 times today already, no kidding.
Time well spent. Good to see fans of Rubinstein appreciating these videos.
Some not much of Rubinsteins muchin communicates anything that is trifling.
Rubinstein as always is the best of all
It is so epic and strong, and, in the moments, so romantic! Genius, with the one word.(1 part)
Apparently, duos who have performed Anton Rubinstein's Fantasy for Two Pianos in F minor, Op. 73, viz.: Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Andre Previn, Katia and Marielle Labèque, Bracha Eden and Alexander Tamir may be available on streaming sites e.g. Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music and such.
After playing Brahms' Fantasy in F minor with Clara Schumann, Rubinstein decided to write his own work. Brahms was famously critical of Rubinstein and each detested the other, so Rubinstein's work attempted to explore a very different soundscape. It is certainly a piece which is best appreciated live, containing as it does effects which are lost in a one dimensional recording. It would be very satisfying to hear Lesley Howard (who also appears playing this work on You Tube) and another top quality performer in a good quality studio recording. Although it is wonderful to hear this work at last (there are no recordings) this reading does not perhaps explore the changes in tempi and dynamic which might have given the performance more character and depth. It is still a remarkable achievement in a work which requires the greatest skill in execution.
This is a masterpiece, the Forte Piano rapreset the demonic nature (the Forte low bass sounds) and the angelic nature (the piano high soprano sounds), so Anton Rubistein that had this ambivalent nature was a master of Pianoforte instrument as Beethoven, moreover there is the romantic melody, and the romance rapresent the Cosmos, that as Dante said "L'amore che move il sole e le altre stelle"(The love that moves the sun and the other stars). Is my opinion in this piano piece there is even the loops of the cosmic discomusic.
When the main theme starts, I can't help hearing "Here comes the bride!"
Amazing
Such an exhausting composition 🥴
_Epic!_
The two pianists play so similarly. It's strange it's like it's one person playing.
I guess it is one person? the info only lists one person. Bradley Berg. Did he record both parts and combine them?
The evenness is really incredible it almost becomes irritating.
You’re right. I combined both parts (played by me) to create the recording. As another commenter noted, I should have used two different pianos to differ their character. It was an experiment that I learned from.
@@PianoCurio Well, you have amazing endurance to play all that and so precisely. :) And it's nice to hear such an unusual piece of music.
I have to admit to lots of takes and editing to thank for that, but thank you nonetheless and I appreciate you listening!
Highly appreciated. Rubinstein‘s music needs to be played with the fire and energy of his own reported style, which is sadly missed in many recordings of his works - not so in this one!
The 3rd mov. Variations are outstanding and would make a brilliant concert piece on their own, certainly among the best of Rubinstein‘s piano works. 2nd mov. is also charming, only 1st mov. is too repetitive and not as strong in melodic invention. To hear a musically and formally entirely convincing work, try 4th piano sonata op100 or the 4-hands sonata op89 - both criminally underrated!
Couldn’t agree more with your assessment! 3rd movement is the most compelling by far. I love the four hands sonata too. Thank you!
Une grande œuvre de ce compositeur si cruellement oublié et Bravo à Bradley Berg pour son interprétation aux deux pianos !
Such compositions must be performed on DIFFERENT instruments so that the sound differs in timbre. For example, use different brands of pianos.
Otherwise, it turns out that the same instrument is repeating the same thing.
A very interesting work that does not fit into the usual gradations.
Thank you for pointing that out. Yes, I experimented with that a bit and learned from this project. The next 2 piano recording will be better. Appreciate you taking the time to listen.
😮
I knew there would be a lot of Rubinstein hate in the comments. Same old, tired, dismissive remarks. In spite of that, I think this is a brilliant masterpiece for two pianos. This piece has that arcane beauty that elevates the soul and is prevalent in Rubinstein's more mature works. He shows here his mastery of the theme & variations form and the ability to weave intricate, interesting textures using two pianos. I've been aware of this piece via IMSLP; glad to finally hear a great recording. Thanks for sharing!
ロシアのドイツ的作曲家はチャイコフスキー以外知られていないのが悲しいですね、A.ルビシテインやフェリックスブルーメンフェリトなど、もっといますが悲しいですね
The World disagrees with you.
@@carlhopkinson That would appear to be the case by and large, lol.
in the 1860s, people didn't have a movie to go to. This is a movie in sound. Imagine it as a backdrop to something like "Metropolis." Huppertz score is available in a 150 page piano reduction that was probably played during some performances of the silent film.
Rather than making snide remarks as someone from a modern era that has endless dazzling visual entertainment, have some imagination & listen more closely. This was the comic book hero movie or Harry Potter movie of the 1860s. That's what you're listening to.
Personally, I think of the first movement as a heroic “good vs. evil” narrative that ends tragically. I don’t always find Rubinstein’s thematic development compelling, but overall it was a very rewarding piece to explore and interpret. Thank you for listening.
Speaking of movies, I hear a bit of the Star Wars Imperial March rhythm in the third movement (24:51)!
Personally I don’t like this piece. It feels aimless and uninteresting and not unmusical for me. Still I heard you played both the piano and edited them together. And for that you did wonderfully, very impressive bro :)
This trash is 30 minutes too long. Anton was a great pianist but no composer.
Yeah I’ve tried to like his music but no matter how much I play it I just can’t find any appreciation for it
Vide sidéral
I didn't like Liszt's long, meaningless introductions. After hearing this piece, I begged for liszt
What do you mean "meaningless" 💀
@@ShadowCXC-ok4ff I meant that several of Liszt's introductions are nonse and unnecessary
This is so awful. I knew the bar was low for romantic era composers. But this guy somehow managed to limbo under it. What an excrutiating piece to listen to.
I am sorry to hear that there was nothing enjoyable or at least interesting for you in any of the three movements. Nonetheless, I appreciate you listening and taking the time to share your thoughts.
@@PianoCurio If you are even kind to this guy, you must definitely be very soft-hearted haha! Thanks for uploading by the way
@@PianoCurioyou can ignore WhatIsMusic’s comment lol, he’s a well known troll in the classical music UA-cam community, and he calls everything trash. Even though I don’t like this piece (your performance is really good though), you can dismiss everything WhatIsMusic says. He has called some of the best classical compositions ever written terrible and not “true” music. All the while he writes really low-effort slop on his channel. He’s actually a pretty funny troll
This is very noisy and unmusical; crap,really. Predictable at every turn.
No
Granted, it's a Fantasy, so no rules apply. Nevertheless, it's a brutally repetitive piece that doesn't seem to go anywhere. Seven minutes before the music finally starts. Ugh.
I didn't like Liszt's long, meaningless introductions. After hearing this piece, I begged for liszt
@@pianista-mediocre Liszt n'est jamais "meaningless", bien au contraire!
Fantasias still have form. This does not. This piece is a joke.
@@Whatismusic123 looks like you and i got this reccomended to us at the exact same time!
What a mess.
This is very noisy and unmusical; crap,really. Ot only that but predictable at every turn.