Which Chopin Mazurka set should I buy?

Rubinstein gets mentioned in every survey. His 1928-1939 recordings. Emi 4697. It's a Chopin collection which includes 51 of the over 60 mazurkas Chopin wrote. Excellently remastered. The notes around the piano decay in real time and both Rubinstein and the room come to life in fine style.

I've heard only a few of the mono Rubinstein set, but from what I've heard, I prefer the later stereo recordings. Ashkenazy also does a superb job. And, of course, Michelangeli is remarkable in the few he has recorded (including 10 of them on DG).


"The universe is change, life is opinion." Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

I have all three Rubinstein sets, thirties, fifties and the stereo set from the early sixties. The latter one is the one I hardly ever listen to. Too slow and deliberate (comparatively).

I'd say the middle one is your best bet for vitality of musicianship and great (mono) sound. But indeed some of thirties pieces are superior to the fifties ones. I'd get the fifties one in a good issue (like the AR Collection, nr 27) and a cheapo Arkadia issue of the earlier set - and then you won't ever have to worry about the mazurkas ever. They are wonderful works.

As always Herm, your recommendation is spot on, but, while you may not "ever have to worry about the mazurkas ever" after purchasing the 30's and 50's Rubinstein sets, you'd be missing out if you didn't sample some of the other offerings. Being among Chopin's most personal, imaginitive, and innovative works, the mazurkas give full rein to the interpreters imagination and temperment and seem quite resilient to very different interpretations. As such, I very much enjoy listening to Horowitz, Michalangeli, Moravec, Malcusynski, Argerich, Pogorelic, and others offerings as well as Rubinstein. All very different and effective. But yes, I would go for Rubinstein early and mid if I were looking for one complete set.

Cheers,
Garth