Though Harold Bauer was a familiar musician to me in my youth, I had known Ossip Gabrilowitsch only through reputation: as Mark Twain's son-in-law, as a keen supporter of Mahler's, and purportedly as a wonderful pianist. His recording of the Arensky waltz was particularly noted in reading about him. In truth, he recorded the work twice, once in 1929 (the famous recording, sampled here) and once in 1928 (not released until 1992). One immediately understood what all the fuss was about; the duo obviously had deep love and even musical respect for a work that, though very popular at one time, was still seen as little more than cute parlor-music by most.

Most of the other recordings by Gabrilowitsch are decent, some even rising to the level of great; they are well worth checking out. But none, alas, touch on the near-perfection of the Arensky.