This 1958 Brahms 2nd, the third of four Artur Rubinstein recorded in the studio, might well be considered a summation of his “romantic“ view of the work—a better integrated, more controlled account than those he produced with Albert Coates (the very first recording of the work, made in 1930) and Charles Munch in 1953. Rubinstein went on to record still another version, I believe in 1971, with Eugene Ormandy, which may well be his finest. Still, in its somewhat unstylish, at times even Chopinized way, this 1958 reading proves a refreshing alternative to other, better integrated approaches, and the digital remastering of the early stereo sound is astonishing, with splendid clarity and impact and virtually no audible hiss. The three solo piano pieces are also superbly remastered and a welcome bonus.

-- Mortimer H. Frank, FANFARE [9/1987]