Backhaus/Rubinstein: My Favourite Piano

This Centurion CD is to listen to Wilhelm Backhaus interpreting Brahms, and to listen to Rubinstein's interpretation of Chopin. If you rather expect a bright sounding version of these works, you should look for a more recent recording, as Backhaus' sound is quite dull. The Recordings are from 1936 and 1946.
Beautiful and unique interpretations each.
Brahms' walzes are quite lively and folk, which was a surprise to me, as I had associated with him a more severe mood.

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Brahms: 16 Walzer for solo piano		No.1-16	Wilhelm Backhaus	1936
Chopin: 24 Préludes		op.28, 1-24	Arthur Rubinstein	1946

Enrico Caruso: Best Recordings

Beautiful voice. Soft interpretation, full with sentiment. The sound is quite punished, esp. regarding the orchestral instrumentation. Lacking power, as compared to Pavarotti, he more than compensates with his intention. It is almost as if he himself were surprised with his facility to do as he pleases with his voice. With such fluid transitions, it is a shame the recordings sound so bad, but most are near or more than a century old.
Classic Options, CD: 20 tracks

Name

Year

Observation

Addio a Napoli

1919

Lolita

1908

O Sole mio

1916

La danza

1912

Tarantella sincera

1911

A Granada

1918

español

Vaghissima sembianza

1920

Vieni sul mar

1919

Le pecheurs de perles

Je crois entendre encore

Rigoletto

1908

Questa o quella

La Regina di Saba

1909

Magiche Note

Il trovatore

1906

Di quella pira

Aida

1911

Celeste Aida

Pagliacci

1907

Vesti la giubba

Un ballo in maschera

1911

Di tu se fedele

Manon Lescaut

1913

Donna non vidi mai

La Juive

1920

Rachel, quand du Seigneur

La Tosca

1909

Recondita armonia

Ombra mai fu

1920

Messe solennelle

1920

Domine Deus

Pachelbel & Fasch

What an interesting 1968 recording of the famous Canon by Pachelbel. So sober and precise interpretation. It sublimes the piece away from the usual "cheesy" interpretations that we all have in mind about it.
The other pieces by Pachelbel (1653-1706) are rather blunt, from "dull sweetness". There is really no conflict, and the themes though nice are just like a breath.

Fasch in contrast aspires to more. He has some tempo contrast, more interesting themes. And although these pieces are quite simple, they are nice.

Overall, an interesting CD to have for light listening.

Orchestre de chambre Jean-François Paillard,
JF Paillard,
Maurice André, trumpet
Pierre Pierlot, Jacques Chambon, oboe