Alexander Uninsky

Uninsky was quickly signed up in the early 1950s by the newly formed Philips recording company. His Chopin playing is well represented in his recordings, including the complete Études, recorded in the 1950s, the complete Mazurkas and Impromptus recorded between 1959 and 1971, the Scherzos and Waltzes, as well as the piano concertos. His other recordings included works by Liszt. His style is greatly reminiscent of Nikita Magaloff, who underwent the same influences of pre-revolutionary Russia and post-revolutionary Paris. His playing is unsentimental and elegant, but with a rubato that marks him as coming from an essentially early twentieth century aesthetic. It is not surprising that his clean, sober playing impressed the jury of the second Chopin Competition, which has been founded to combat the mannered, virtuoso tradition of Chopin playing which had marked the late 19th century. An indication of the 'modernness' of Uninsky's playing comes from a comment by Dinu Lipatti in a review he wrote in 1937 for Libertatea in which he says "How is it possible that Emil Sauer must play in the small Salle Érard, despite his glorious past, when a Brailowsky or Uninsky can pack the Salle Pleyel?"

Fr. Chopin: Polonaises (Nos. 1–6), Epic Records LP -LC 3623 Fr. Chopin: Etüden, Philips LP Nr. A 00405 L undated Fr. Chopin: Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 e-moll op.11, Das Residenz-Orchester Den Haag (W.Van Oterloo Dir.), Philips LP Nr. A 00651 R 1958 Fr. Chopin: Klavierkonzert Nr. 1 e-moll op.11, Fontana Weltserie Folge 34 LP Nr. 695 033 Kl undated Fr. Chopin: Polonaise Nr. 6 As-dur op. 53 e-moll op.11, Fontana Weltserie Folge 34 LP Nr. 695 033 Kl undated