Today while shopping in a shop in Tokyo that sells thousands of used classical LP/CDs, I came across them playing an old album by violinist Michael Rabin through a pair of LS3/5A. The music and sound was sweet and irresistible to me so I asked to look at the album, it was an old album by Michael Rabin playing the Paganini Violin Concerto and another violin concerto which I forgot, and it was the second concerto that he was playing.
I am now kicking myself for not writing it down because I would like to buy the CD reissue of it if it is available.
Does anyone have this old album? Any insight on this supposedly dead violin player?
Posted on: 04 June 2001 by Peter Litwack
I have this old recording. It's one of my favorite violin concerto recordings, both from an artistic standpoint, and from a recording quality standpoint. The other piece is the Wienianski Violin Concerto No. 2. I have owned and listened to many recordings of the Paganini No.1, and IMHO, none of the interpretations compare to Michael Rabin's.
Not even the Salvatore Accardo 1976 version!
Michael Rabin was born in 1936 and died, tragically, in 1972, at the age of 35. He played a magnificent Guarnerius del Gesu violin, dating from 1735, known as "The Townley" (its previous keepers included Jan Kubelik and Ferenc von Vecsey). This may help explain the wonderfully rich, warm tone on the recording.
Another Rabin fan recently told me he bought a remastered version on EMI Testament. I checked Acoustic Sounds' web page, and they list it for $30. Hope you can get one!
Posted on: 04 June 2001 by Keith Wu
I believe that Michael Rabin recorded the Paganini violin concerto twice. The other one was from the 50s' released by UK Columbia. People usually prefer the later stereo one. I don't have the mono version so can't comment. Incidentally, my favourite Paganini No 1 recording is from the Russian violinist Leonid Kogan. It is the most sparkling No.1 I have ever heard.
Both Michael Rabin's (stereo) and Leonid Kogan's Paganini has been re-issued on CD by Toshiba-EMI (Japan) last year, which can be found in medium price only. A LP re-issue can also be found at Testament.
Happy listening,
Keith
