Rubinstein - La Russie

[semloh]

... but I'll rest my case.

Pity!  We both agree that it is enjoyable, Peter, but we differ in that you presumably see some overall logic that lifts it above pot-pourri status (?)

[Mark Thomas]

I suspect that Peter is disagreeing with the overall view which some of us have that Rubinstein is a flawed composer, but I'm sure that he can speak for himself.

[eschiss1]

presumably meaning "more than usually" flawed

[Mark Thomas]

I really don't want to reopen the pro/anti Rubinstein debate but, lest I be accused of slyly Rubinstein-bashing by proxy, I had better just say that there is a lot of Rubinstein's music which I actively enjoy and believe has real, lasting merit: the piano concertos and the Konzertstück, the Demon, the chamber music with piano and many of the piano works. I called him "flawed" because I don't think he could write as successfully for more disciplined genres, such as the symphony, as he could for looser ones, or those which involved the piano.

[Alan Howe]

I'll back Mark up on his analysis. That's why I couldn't ever elevate Rubinstein to the ranks of the best unsung composers such as Raff, Draeseke or Rufinatscha.

[sdtom]

I think that he tried to do too much. Composer, teacher, concert pianist who took world tours.
Tom

[eschiss1]

Liszt did even more, but had more genius, in my opinion (while realizing he could do more if he settled in one place, at least if that was really a major reason he settled in Weimar instead of continuing his hectic concert life, as seems a reasonable guess...)

[JimL]

I still find the final two Rubinstein symphonies to be minor masterworks - if not precisely rigorously constructed they at least don't overstay their welcomes.

[Peter1953]

I've just listened to The Third. I don't know a more exciting, well-constructed 3rd with such impressive and memorable themes in all four movements. La Russie is indeed a potpourri of captivating melodies, but this marvellous symphony is of another dimension. Just great.

[Alan Howe]

I'll take Raff 3 or Draeseke 3 over Rubinstein 3 any day. However, we're in danger of going off-topic here....

[britishcomposer]

For those of you who like to compare different recordings I have uploaded an old German radio broadcast of Rubinstein's Don Quixote. Horst Neumann's take is quite energetic, the fastest I know.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks, always good to have an alternative.

[LateRomantic75]

Apart from his Symphony no. 5 (one of his most Slavic-sounding works), and his magnificent Piano Concerto no. 5, Rubinstein is not a composer who I have been too impressed by. I'll listen to La Russie and report back with my thoughts!

[TerraEpon]

Listening to this again, I find it quite engaging, even if it's indeed somewhat of a potpurri. It even seems to toss Kol Nidrei in there of all things. It seems there's no commercial recording though...

[Mark Thomas]

I imagine that "Kol Nidrei" is there as a nod to towards the substantial Jewish minority in Russia, from which Rubinstein himself originally came, of course.  I also spotted "God Save the Tsar" and "O Tannenbaum" in the mix. There must be many other such quotes which I didn't get - anybody else able to prise some more out of the pot pourri?