Arthur Rubinstein - The Chopin Ballades and Scherzos (2004) [SACD]

I bought the 20-bit reincarnation (1999 mix in the Rubinstein collection) of this recording just two months before the release of the SACD version, so I had to compare them. The SACD is better. It is smoother and warmer than the 20-bit version. More importantly, the SACD is also CHEAPER! It's hard to beat Rubinstein's interpretation of the Ballades. These must be incredibly difficult to play and interpret well. It is easy to over interpret them. I have Wild's, Zimerman's, Perahia's, amongst others. Rubinstein's seems to be the one that is just about right...not overdone..not too fast... etc. I strongly recommend this SACD for anyone who loves Chopin.
Starting with Ballade no.1 I thought Perahia was even more dramatic and was thinking well Rubenstein was born in 1887 so was over 70 when he made these recordings. Well straight on to number 2 and he was even more fiery than Perahia in the tempestuous outer sections!
Everyone will have favourite recordings (Perahia in the Ballades, Richter or Arrau in the Scherzi)but the more you listen to Rubenstein the more you understand his reputation as a Chopin magician.
The only tempo I would quibble with is the beautiful slow section in the middle of the First Scherzi (based if I recall correctly on an old Polish carol?)- I wish it was even slower.
The piano has a big, bold sound though it is slighlty clattery and of course doesn't have the depth and resonance of a modern DSD recording.