Strauss Shultz-Evler Blue Danube Lhevinne Ampico

Josef Lhevinne recorded the Strauss Shultz Arabesque on the Blue Danube Waltz for Victor on a two sided 12 inch 78rpm record (6840) on May 21, 1928. It was an electrical recording and was a "first take" as were all ten of his solo Victor recordings.There were several cuts due to the time restrictions imposed by the limited time length of 78rpm recordings. On this ampico roll,we are able to hear Lhevinne play the florid and treacherous introduction which was left out out of the 1928 recording,plus several repeats that were omitted. Here, Lhevinne brings out some inner voices and has time to 'breathe' between phrases and apply more rubato. All and all, I am convinced that this is (with a few quibbles) what Lhevinne heard when he approved the release of this roll. There are many niceties and subtleties missing in the Victor recording that are evident in this roll that only an artist such as Lhevinne could have added. Piano rolls could be edited and adjusted according to the artists wishes,just as tape and digital recording can be today. Of course, this could make some pianists sound better than they really were. But in the case of Lhevinne, we have his recordings and know that he was,according to Arthur Rubinstein "Le denier des aristocrats."