TOSCANINI COLLECTION VOL 41 -

Though Toscanini was one of the greatest conductors ever to mount a podium he was scarcely renowned for his skill and sympathy as an accompanist. But here we have recordings by two instrumentalists who in different ways were able to combat the maestro's tendency to impose his will and his way on any performance. In the Third Piano Concerto Toscanini conducts an intensely dramatic opening tutti, and whenever he has his head he creates a rare incandescence in the orchestral part. Rubinstein goes urbanely but determinedly in his own direction, and his playing has typical poise and clarity. The result is hardly a marriage of minds, but the mixture works well to produce a performance which possesses a good deal of vitality and character. The 1944 recording sounds very well for its date, with good piano tone and just a little surface hiss and crackle from the original source. The audience is very quiet until the end, when there is enthusiastic applause. The 1940 sound in the Violin Concerto