The violin gods bestowed numerous gifts upon Michael Rabin during his brief life: an intense, penetrating sonority, a flawless bow arm, and pinpoint intonation. All of these qualities blossom throughout this thoughtfully varied encore collection. The music ranges from Szigeti’s gnarly arrangement of Scriabin’s Etude in Thirds and virtuosic dazzlers by Sarasate and Wieniawski to lyrical fare like Engel’s Sea-Shell, Debussy’s La Plus Que Lent, and Chopin’s D-flat Nocturne. The latter selections could stand more repose and introspection, but we have to remember that the violinist was an unbridled 23 at the time of these recordings. He was even younger when he made his lone disc devoted to unaccompanied repertoire in 1955. Rabin brings fiery symmetry to Ysaye’s Third and Fourth Solo Sonatas, and impressive linear clarity to a bracing, intense Bach C Minor Sonata. While EMI’s 1990 Rabin boxed set drew upon a noisy LP for the solo items, they are nicely restored here from the master tapes.
