4/5 An impressive legacy
  by gpk (Salt Lake City, UT United States)
Artur Rubinstein, at age 88, recorded these concertos in the Croydon Fairfield Hall in 1975 with André Previn, then music director of the London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world's best ensembles. There is no audience, and in effect these are studio recordings in full dress. The video is good for its vintage (despite some gimmicky filming), the audio quite fine. As was customary at the time, the piano is over-miked in relation to the orchestra, but this is less noticeable in the "stereo" setting than in DTS 5.1. Rubinstein is amazingly strong and nimble-fingered and his interpretations, regardless of his impenetrable facial expression and consistently straightforward approach to the scores, are at times moving and always musical. Tempi are deliberate for the most part, but not excessively so. There are no surprising new insights into these scores. To the credit of the producers, a few audible glitches have not been edited. The Grieg is played stately with the appropriate grandeur, and the Chopin sparkles. In the Saint-Saëns, the comparative lightweight among the concertos, Rubinstein pulls all the stops to make up in sheer virtuosity for the thin musical substance. Previn is a considerate but forceful presence on the podium, a pianist himself who knows when to step back in favor of the soloist. The bonus interview "Rubinstein at 90" is a precious document, although the skillful interviewer rarely manages to penetrate the poised and elegant façade of the man and the artist.

1/5 Surprisingly Very Disappointing
  by Jose C. Valdes (Baguio City, Philippines)
I have bought many music DVDs from Amazon, and have generally been very pleased with them. But this one, Arthur Rubeinstein Piano Concertos, was a great disappointment. In the first place, although the Region Code was 0, Worldwide, I could not play it on my video player which has had no problems with Amazon-bought DVDs in the past. It could play only on my computer. Secondly, when I played it on my computer, the sound was unbelievably choppy, not at all what I expected from a quality product. In short, the product was defective! And I could not return it as I first played it, for reasons of my own, 2 months after I ordered it.

So, do you want to have this product? I would advise you to be very careful about buying it.


5/5 Other reviews have it right
  by B. Berkov (San Diego, CA United States)
There's not much to add to what others have said about this DVD -- it's superb.

3/5 Seek Elsewhere for Rubinstein at His Exalted Best
  by Doug - Haydn Fan (California)
I like Rubinstein as much as the next guy or gal - but let's get serious here. Sorry to throw cold water, but people buying this should be aware just what they're getting, and it certainly isn't all top drawer Rubinstein. Rubinstein made endless great recordings. His earlier recording of the Saint-Saens was never the last word in this concerto,Rubinstein Plays Saint-Saëns, Franck & Liszt [Hybrid SACD] and this DVD version - while quite literally Rubinstein's last word - is much less so. Rubinstein was a great pianist, but he also made some recordings that are less good, and even a few best left forgotten. If you've heard either the Saint Saens or the Grieg concertos performed live by a great pianist you'll wonder what's happening here. Rubinstein plays so slowly at times I was afraid his head was about ready to tumble forward into a nap. Previn rarely does much to bring any life to the somnambulistic proceedings.

If Rubinstein had adopted such tempos in his forties and fifties I would question why he made such choices, but it would never cross my mind that it was due to his difficulties in playing the music. That IS how I see and hear some of this playing: I fear Rubinstein just can't attack the music at the speeds he once did, when he nonchalantly fire up the afterburners with a kickstarting giddy-up.

I heard Rubinstein in concert - several times. His best playing had a snap crackle pop intensity and it's just not in much evidence here. At times it's just not there at all.

I've known these particular Rubinstein performances since they were first issued on Laser - like all the other reviewers I bought them on sight. Unfortunately they were less than overwhelming. Many years later they remain just as slow and underwhelming - nothing has changed.

You the buyer certainly are free to disregard my warnings - but caveat emptor. Sometimes strange things happen in Amazon reviews - and this DVD seems to me an example of a out of whack set of reviews.

Let's enjoy Rubinstein in his prime at the pinnacle of his powers, and not over praise his playing near the end when he's showing clear signs of the batteries running down. To hear Rubinstein at his towering best try instead his album of Spanish music, made many years before this. No, it's not TV. Are you interested in the music or the image? If the music then his Spanish CD showcases infinitely better more vital music-making.

And if your heart is set on hearing Rubinstein in a concerto this CD also includes a far better example of this great master in a concerto. Of course it's not even in stereo, let alone video, but it IS fabulous playing. Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 18 This Rubinstein performance I did give a full five stars review - if Amazon permitted more I would have given it a few more than five!

Listen with your ears and your heart, too, not just your eyes.

5/5 Previn and Rubinstein
  by Gustavo M. Do Nascimento (São paulo, SP Brazil)
It's a delight to see Rubinstein at his 90ths playing three magistral piano concerts. The peaceful way that Rubinstein plays the Chopin's concert is a special moment in this DVD. Another important point is the youth Andre Previn conducting the London Symphony Orchestra masterfully.