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   Home » Musical Discussions » Ravel's Piano Trio; Rubinstein, Piatigorsky, Heifetz (5 posts, 1 page)
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10-31-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,658
Joined on 10-12-2006
Post #: 1
Post ID: 12102
Reply to: 12102
Ravel's Piano Trio; Rubinstein, Piatigorsky, Heifetz
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RCA Victor, LM1119 (mono LP that sounds better in "stereo")

OK, I admit to liking music that puts me into an altered state (of mind), such as this, Debussy's La Mer and Franck's D minor Symphony, etc.. This piece certainly warrants comparison with Ravel's similar String Quartet, since both are "New" Music stretched over fairly rigid classical frames.  Neither piece shows stretch marks, however, and both deliver some unexpected twists along with Ravel's ravishing themes and contra "melodies" that burst in and play out alternately or simultaneously in time and tone.

Will you be surprised if I tell you that all three of the Big Name Geniuses are well-behaved and into the music here, to excellent effect?  No show- boating and no going-through-the-motions, these guys just get it done with wit, charm and their incomparable skills, using (reasonably toned-down) instruments fully worthy of the occasion.

The flip side on this LP is Mendelsohn's Trio #1, played here to fully equal Beethoven's Triple Concerto by anyone else.  Very rich and satisfying, like a great piece of chocolate.

This LP is a later pressing of what I guess would be a [mono] "Plum Dog". The re-master is as good as can be expected, and surfaces are simply wonderful, better than most of my Plum Dogs, in fact.

Paul S
10-31-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,160
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 2
Post ID: 12105
Reply to: 12102
The modest Heifetz.
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Was it during the recording where humble Heifetz insisted that the album shall be release with reserved order of players and title shall not say “Rubinstein, Piatigorsky, Heifetz” but “Heifetz, Rubinstein, Piatigorsky”? The God joke really helped….

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
10-31-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,658
Joined on 10-12-2006
Post #: 3
Post ID: 12108
Reply to: 12105
Shaw, God and Natural Order
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Actually, the album reads top to bottom: Artur Rubinstein, Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky, so any re-shuffling of status was mea culpa.

And, like I said, Heifetz did not even use "THE" Strad to drown the other two out with.

I know it's difficult for some here to swallow, but this is yet another excellent Heifetz performance!


...the fact that Shaw was NOT given to kissing ass only made it worse...


Best regards,
Paul S
10-31-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,160
Joined on 05-28-2004
Post #: 4
Post ID: 12109
Reply to: 12108
Thank God, Heifetz had a sense of humor.
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Yes, I know. I was referring the famous story that Heifetz before the recording insisted that he name will be printed first, before the pianist and cellist. The problem is that that in all trios the name of pianist printed first. Reportedly Gregor Piatigorsky retorted the Heifetz demands with brilliant comeback: “Jascha, even if God would play violin instead of you then on the record it shall be said: Trio of Rubinstein, God, Piatigorsky”

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
10-31-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,658
Joined on 10-12-2006
Post #: 5
Post ID: 12110
Reply to: 12109
The Gods Must be Crazy
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I did not know of Piatigorsky's remark. Thanks for sharing.

For those who may not know, but may yet care, the "god joke" I was referring to was George Bernard Shaw's famous line after hearing Heifetz for the first time in London, "Jascha, please make a mistake, so the gods may sleep!"

If an ego was already over-inflated, that could well pump it up close to exploding...


Paul S
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