These performances aren’t perfect, but they are mostly very good. The Second Concerto, though, is entirely stunning, with a central scherzo that’s a model of lightness and grace and a tarentella finale in which you could imagine Thibaudet’s fingers catching fire at any moment. It’s dazzling, brilliant, and most of all great fun. In the “Egyptian” Concerto Thibaudet delivers a pellucidly flowing account of the opening Allegro animato, but he fusses a bit with the orientalisms in the second movement and this tends to break up what already is a very sectional piece. The finale also reveals a curious hint of uncertainty at the outset between Thibaudet and Dutoit as to what tempo is ideal, and it strikes me as fractionally too slow, particularly when you consider what this team achieves in the finale of the Second Concerto.
The Symphonic Variations makes a logical coupling, and it’s sensitively played, but the performance falls curiously flat in the bouncy finale, which simply lacks the gusto and flair that Rubinstein brings to its “big tune”. If I sound less than enthusiastic, it’s only because the performance of the Second Concerto sets such a high standard. For this work alone you may well find this release a desirable acquisition.
