Rudolf Buchbinder Critical Acclaim

“…the Viennese oracle on the core literature of Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms…”
The Philadelphia Inquirer

“ … Buchbinder’s intelligent virtuosity, superb ear for color, and sixth sense for hitting upon the right
tempo are suffused with strokes of spontaneity ranging from unexpected rubatos to tasteful,
imaginative ornamentation…. Buchbinder’s achievement is even more remarkable when you consider
that these are live recordings… Buchbinder has given us the finest all-around Mozart concerto cycle
on disc (at least since Schiff/Vegh on Decca), a reference edition guaranteed to give immense
musical pleasure for years to come.”
(Vienna Symphony Orchestra/ Mozart Piano Concerti/ Profil label)
Classics Today

“It was a dynamic performance, with the Viennese pianist Rudolf Buchbinder as soloist, that tried to
reclaim the concerto as a brashly contemporary score. There was nothing coy about the bluesy slow
movement, and the driving rhythmic patterns of the finale, both in the orchestra and in Mr.
Buchbinder’s arm-blurring playing, had a pummeling intensity that recalled Bartok.”
(New York Philharmonic/Lorin Maazel, Gershwin Piano Concerto in F)
The New York Times

“…such a monumental work always brings an unexpected je ne sais quoi when in good hands. Rudolf
Buchbinder proved that last night…Buchbinder crossed the concerto like a bulldozer, making
pianissimos shine and eliciting magical responses from the orchestra. The music ranged from direct
and flamboyant to intimate by the electrifying virtuosity of the well-built contents without forgetting the
intermediate echelons. A very nice version.”
(Montreal Symphony Orchestra/Stefan Sanderling, Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15)
Le Devoir

"Stylistic integrity, comprehensive technique and a genuine Beethovenian
flair marked all these performances..."
(Ambassador Auditorium, Los Angeles, Recital)
Los Angeles Times

"His wondrously fluent fingers dispatched the Mozart as a model of balance, subtle contrasts and
natural phrasing. Most memorable among many such moments was his slow movement, a thing of
fragile introspection and aching sadness. Here Buchbinder rendered ultimate Mozartean essences--
heartbreak with restraint, wrung from tonal purity and delicately graded dynamics."
(Los Angeles Philharmonic/Michael Tilson Thomas, Mozart Concerto in E-flat, K. 271)
Los Angeles Herald Examiner

"Played the outer movements with a sense of fierce yet controlled excitement. Mr. Buchbinder is a
very interesting musician, and New York should hear more of him."
(New York Philharmonic/Zubin Mehta, Beethoven Concerto No. 3, C minor)
The New York Times

"Centerpiece of the evening was the Schumann with Rudolf Buchbinder, who gave a highly
unorthodox interpretation. Dohnányi and Buchbinder gave the familiar romantic piece a chamber-
music interpretation, with emphasis on lightness of sound, springy rhythms and close integration of
piano with orchestra. It was a novel, even daring approach to a piece that is often interpreted with
swoons, sighs and the beating of breasts."
(Cleveland Orchestra/Christoph von Dohnányi, Blossom Festival, Schumann Concerto)
The Plain Dealer

"The concerto makes particularly grueling technical demands on the pianist, but Buchbinder was
more than capable of handling even the wild, Beethovenesque cadenzas of the final movement. In
the softer passages, he showed a remarkable talent for using the pedal to lend the piano a bell- like
resonance."
(Montreal Symphony/Neville Marriner, Mozart Concerto in D minor, K. 466)
The Gazette

"This was one of those rare ones -- a concert that was consistently satisfying, with conductor, soloist
and orchestra combining their considerable talents to produce music of the first rank. Buchbinder
understands Beethoven as perhaps only a Viennese can. He easily balanced the structural elegance
of the piece with its emotional content, moulding his clear-voiced tone to serve both ends. His
dynamics were natural- sounding rather than calculated. He was articulate without being stuffy, and
best of all he left no doubt that it was Beethoven, not souped-up Mozart he was playing."
(Detroit Symphony, Beethoven Concerto No. l, C major)
Detroit Free Press