Though Toscanini was one of the greatest conductors ever to mount a podium he was scarcely renowned for his skill and sympathy as an accompanist. But here we have recordings by two instrumentalists who in different ways were able to combat the maestro's tendency to impose his will and his way on any performance. In the Third Piano Concerto Toscanini conducts an intensely dramatic opening tutti, and whenever he has his head he creates a rare incandescence in the orchestral part. Rubinstein goes urbanely but determinedly in his own direction, and his playing has typical poise and clarity. The result is hardly a marriage of minds, but the mixture works well to produce a performance which possesses a good deal of vitality and character. The 1944 recording sounds very well for its date, with good piano tone and just a little surface hiss and crackle from the original source. The audience is very quiet until the end, when there is enthusiastic applause. The 1940 sound in the Violin Concerto is again very good, and Heifetz is in superb form, so that he in the end dominates the formidable Toscanini through the wizardry of his technique and the force of his musical personality. In general tempos are on the fast side, and there is a good deal of tension in the performance, but there is some marvellous music-making too, particularly in the slow movement, where Heifetz plays with great poetry and a beautiful quality of tone.

-- Gramophone [3/1988]
reviewing these performances previously reissued as RCA 5756