Wikipedia

Arthur Rubinstein

This article is about the Polish-American pianist. For the unrelated Russian pianist/composer/conductor, seeAnton Rubinstein.For the American film and television composer, seeArthur B. Rubinstein.

Arthur RubinsteinKBEOMRI(Polish:Artur Rubinstein;28 January 1887 – 20 December 1982) was aPolish-Americanpianist.[1]He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time.[2][3][4]He received international acclaim for his performances of the music written by a variety of composers and many regard him as one of the greatestChopininterpreters of his time.[5][6]He played in public for eight decades.[7]His repertoire also included the works ofBeethoven,Mozart,Schubert,Liszt,Tchaikovsky,Saint-Saëns,Schumannand more.

Arthur Rubinstein in 1937, byCarl Van Vechten

Early life

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Childhood home of Artur Rubinstein atPiotrkowska Street,Łódź,Poland

Arthur Rubinstein was born inŁódź,Congress Poland(part of theRussian Empirefor the entire time Rubinstein resided there) on 28 January 1887, to a Jewish family. He was the youngest of seven children of Felicja Blima Fajga (née Heiman) and Izaak Rubinstein. His father owned a small textile factory.[8][9]

Rubinstein's birth name was to beLeo,but his eight-year-old brother claimed that "His name must be Artur. Since Artur X (a neighbour's son) plays the violin so nicely, the baby may also become a great musician!"[10]Thus, he was called Artur, although in English-speaking countries, he preferred to be known asArthur Rubinstein.His United StatesimpresarioSol Hurok,however, insisted he be billed asArtur,and records were released in the West under both versions of his name.[11]

At age two, Rubinstein demonstratedabsolute pitchand a fascination with the piano, watching his elder sister's piano lessons. By the age of four, he was recognised as achild prodigy.His father had a predilection for the violin and offered Rubinstein a violin; but Rubinstein rejected it because he thought his instinct was for harmony and polyphony. The Hungarian violinistJoseph Joachim,on hearing the four-year-old child play the piano, was greatly impressed, telling Arthur's family, "This boy may become a very great musician—he certainly has the talent for it... When the time comes for serious study, bring him to me, and I shall be glad to supervise his artistic education." On 14 December 1894, seven-year-old Arthur Rubinstein had his debut with pieces byMozart,SchubertandMendelssohn.[10][12]

When he turned ten, Rubinstein moved toBerlinto continue his studies, and gave his first performance with theBerlin Philharmonicin 1900, at the age of 13.[5]Joachim entrusted Rubinstein toKarl Heinrich Barthas his piano teacher. As a student of Barth, Rubinstein inherited a renowned pedagogical lineage: Barth was himself a pupil ofLiszt,who had been taught byCzerny,who had in turn been a pupil ofBeethoven.[5]

Music and career

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In 1904, Rubinstein moved toParisto launch his career in earnest, where he met the composersMaurice RavelandPaul Dukasand the violinistJacques Thibaud.He also playedCamille Saint-Saëns'Piano Concerto No. 2in the presence of the composer. Through the family ofJuliusz Wertheim,whose understanding of Chopin's genius inspired Rubinstein, he formed friendships with the violinistPaul Kochanskiand composerKarol Szymanowski.[12]

Rubinstein, age 19, in 1906

Rubinstein made his New York debut atCarnegie Hallin 1906, and thereafter toured the United States, Austria, Italy, and Russia. According to his own testimony and that of his son inFrançois Reichenbach's filmL'Amour de la vie(1969), he was not well received in the United States. By 1908, Rubinstein, destitute and desperate, hounded by creditors, and threatened with being evicted from his Berlin hotel room, made a failed attempt to hang himself. Subsequently, he said that he felt "reborn" and endowed with an unconditional love of life. In 1912, he made his London debut, and found a musical home there in the Edith Grove,Chelsea,musical salon of Paul and Muriel Draper, in company withIgor Stravinsky,Kochanski, Thibaud,Pablo Casals,Pierre Monteuxand others.[12]

DuringWorld War I,Rubinstein stayed in London, giving recitals and accompanying the violinistEugène Ysaÿe.In 1916 and 1917, he made his first tours in Spain and South America where he was widely acclaimed. It was during those tours that he developed a lifelong enthusiasm for the music ofEnrique Granados,Isaac Albéniz,Manuel de Falla,andHeitor Villa-Lobos.He was the dedicatee of Manuel de Falla'sFantasía Bética,Villa-Lobos'sRudepoêmaand Stravinsky'sTrois mouvements de Petrouchka.

Rubinstein was appalled byGermany's conduct during World War I, particularlythe atrocities in Belgiumand never played there again. His last performance in Germany was in 1914.[12]His dislike of Germany was not improved during and afterWorld War IIwhen most of his family back in Poland were killed during theHolocaust.(Rubinstein has said many times to interviewers that there were two countries where he would not play:Tibet,because it is too high, and Germany, because it is too low.)

In the autumn of 1919 Rubinstein toured Great Britain with sopranoEmma Calvéand tenorVladimir Rosing.[13]

In 1921, Rubinstein gave two American tours, travelling toNew Yorkwith Karol Szymanowski and his close friend Paul Kochanski.[12]During his recital in Florida, Rubinstein was accompanied by violinist virtuoso Rudolph Bochoco.[14]

In 1934, the pianist, who stated he neglected his technique in his early years, relying instead on natural talent, withdrew from concert life for several months of intensive study and practice.

Rubinstein toured the United States again in 1937, his career becoming centered there during theWorld War IIyears when he lived inBrentwood, Los Angeles, California.He became a naturalized US citizen in 1946.[15]

A cast of the pianist's hands, at theŁódźmuseum

During his time in California, Rubinstein provided the piano soundtrack for several films, includingSong of LovewithKatharine Hepburn.He appeared, as himself, in the filmsCarnegie HallandOf Men and Music.

Although best known as a recitalist and concerto soloist, Rubinstein was considered an outstanding chamber musician, partnering withHenryk Szeryng,Jascha Heifetz,Pablo Casals,Gregor Piatigorskyand theGuarneri Quartet.Rubinstein recorded much of the core piano repertoire, particularly that of theRomanticcomposers. At the time of his death,The New York Timesin describing him wrote, "Chopinwas his specialty... it was [as] a Chopinist that he was considered by many without peer. "[5]With the exception of theÉtudes,he recorded most of the works of Chopin. In 1964, during theCold War,he gave a legendary concert inMoscow,with a pure Chopin program.[16]He was one of the earliest champions of Spanish and South American composers, as well asFrench composersof the early 20th century (such asDebussyandRavel). In addition, Rubinstein promoted the music of his compatriotKarol Szymanowski.Rubinstein, in conversation withAlexander Scriabin,namedBrahmsas his favorite composer, a response that enraged Scriabin.[17]

In 1969, the filmArthur Rubinstein – The Love of Lifewas released; it won theAcademy Awardfor Best Documentary Feature. (A later TV special,Rubinstein at 90,highlighted how he had been playing for people for eight decades.)

By the mid-1970s, Rubinstein's eyesight had begun to deteriorate. He retired from the stage at age 89 in May 1976, giving his last concert at London'sWigmore Hall,where he had first played nearly 70 years before.

Rubinstein, who was fluent in eight languages,[15]held much of the repertoire (and not only that of the piano) in his formidable memory.[15]According to his memoirs, he learnedCésar Franck'sSymphonic Variationswhile on a train en route to the concert, without the benefit of a piano, practicing passages in his lap. Rubinstein described his memory asphotographic,to the extent that he would visualize an errant coffee stain while recalling a score.[18]

Rubinstein also had exceptionally developedauralabilities, which allowed him to play whole symphonies in his mind. "At breakfast, I might pass a Brahms symphony in my head," he said. "Then I am called to the phone, and half an hour later I find it's been going on all the time and I'm in the third movement." This ability was often tested by Rubinstein's friends, who would randomly pick extracts from opera and symphonic scores and ask him to play them from memory.[5]

Rubinstein's autobiography contained two volumes:My Young Years(1973); andMy Many Years(1980). Many were displeased by their emphasis on personal anecdotes over music. PianistEmanuel Ax,one of Rubinstein's greatest admirers, was profoundly disappointed by readingMy Many Years:"Until then," he toldHarvey Sachs,"I had idolized Rubinstein—I had wanted to have a life like his, the book changed all that."[7]

In a reflective muse, Rubinstein once noted "It is simply my life, music. I live it, breathe it, talk with it. I am almost unconscious of it. No, I do not mean I take it for granted—one should never take for granted any of the gifts of God. But it is like an arm, a leg, part of me. On the other hand, books and paintings and languages and people are passions with me, always to be cultivated. Travel too. I am a lucky man to have a business which allows me to be on the road so much. On the train, the plane, I have time to read. There again, I am a lucky man to be a pianist. A splendid instrument, the piano, just the right size so that you cannot take it with you. Instead of practicing, I can read. A fortunate fellow, am I not?"[19]

Personal life

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Rubinstein in 1963

Marriage and family

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Of his youth, Rubinstein once said: "It is said of me that when I was young I divided my time impartially among wine, women and song. I deny this categorically. Ninety percent of my interests were women."[5]At the age of 45, in 1932, Rubinstein married Nela Młynarska,[20]a 24-year-old Polishballerina(who had studied withMary Wigman). Nela was the daughter of the Polish conductorEmil Młynarskiand his wife Anna Talko-Hryncewicz, who was from a Polish aristocraticheraldic familyof Iłgowski coat of arms. Nela had first fallen in love with Rubinstein when she was 18, but marriedMieczysław Munz,another Polish-American pianist, after Rubinstein began an affair with an Italian princess.[21][22]Nela subsequently divorced Munz and three years later married Rubinstein.[22]They had five children (one died in infancy), including photographerEva Rubinstein,who marriedWilliam Sloane Coffin,and sonJohn Rubinstein,aTony Award-winning actor and father of actorMichael Weston.[23]Nela subsequently wroteNela's Cookbook,which included the dishes she prepared for the couple's legendary parties.[24]

Both before and during his marriage, Rubinstein carried on a series of affairs with women, including Lesley Jowitt, the wife of the British politicianWilliam Jowitt,andIrene Curzon.[25]

In addition to fathering a daughter (Brazilian pianistLuli Oswald[26]) with the Italian marchioness Paola Medici del Vascello (née Princess Paola di Viggiano, also: Donna PaolaSanfelicedei Principi di Viggiano), he may have been the father of American decorator and artistMuriel Draper's sonSanders Draper,who died in World War II.[12]Luli Oswald was never recognised by her biological parents, hidden from the public and given as a newborn to a friend of Rubinstein's, the Brazilian conductor and composerHenrique Oswald(1852-1931). The latter's daughter Maria and her husband Odoardo Marchesini raised her and adopted her. The adoptive parents signed an affidavit in 1967 stating that Luli Oswald had been entrusted to them by her biological parents Paola Medici and Arthur Rubinstein because she was the "fruit of a forbidden love."[27]After the adoption, her name was Margarida Henriqueta Marchesini. Oswald later performed under the stage name Luli Oswald.

Though he and Nela never divorced, in 1977, at age 90, he left her forAnnabelle Whitestone,then 33 years old.

Jewish identity

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Anagnostic,Rubinstein was proud of hisJewishheritage.[28]He was a great friend ofIsrael,[29]which he visited several times with his wife and children, giving concerts with theIsrael Philharmonic Orchestra,recitals, and master classes at theJerusalem Music Centre. In 1949, Rubinstein—who lost family members inthe Holocaust—along with other prominent musicians (includingHorowitzandHeifetz) announced that he would not appear with theChicago Symphonyif it engaged the conductorWilhelm Furtwängler,who had remained in Germany during the war and who had performed a symphony for Hitler's birthday.[7]

Polish identity

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External videos
Rubinstein performingin 1964:
Chopin'sPolonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53,
Debussy's waltzLa plus que lente,L. 121 and Prelude in A-minor,
Alexander Scriabin's Nocturne for the Left Hand, No. 2 of Op. 9,
Heitor Villa-Lobos'sO Polichinelo,
de Falla'sDanza Ritual del Fuego

Throughout his life, Rubinstein was deeply attached to Poland. At the inauguration of theUnited Nationsin 1945, Rubinstein showed his Polish patriotism at a concert for the delegates. He began the concert by stating his deep disappointment that the conference did not have a delegation from Poland. Rubinstein later described becoming overwhelmed by a blind fury and angrily pointing out to the public the absence of the Polish flag. He stopped playing the piano, told the audience to stand up, including the Soviets, and played thePolish national anthemloudly and slowly, repeating the final part in a great thunderousforte.When he had finished, the public gave him a great ovation.[15][30]

Charitable contributions

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Rubinstein was active in supporting charities throughout his life. He performed charity concerts to raise donations for numerous organizations which interested him. In 1961, he performed ten recitals in Carnegie Hall to raise roughly $100,000 for charities includingBig Brothers,United Jewish Appeal,Polish Assistance,Musicians Emergency fund, theNational Association for Mental Health,and theLegal Defense Fund of the National Advancement of Colored People.[31]

On practice

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Rubinstein in 1968

In his two autobiographies, Rubinstein is often intensely self-critical. A natural pianist with a big technique, he claimed that he practiced as little as possible, learning new pieces quickly and with insufficient attention to detail, relying on his charm and charisma to conceal the lack of finish in his playing. The literal truth of these self-directed critiques is open to question: Rubinstein wasn't averse to making himself the butt of a good story. Even so, he insisted that his attitude toward practicing changed after his marriage. He stated that he did not want his children to see him as a second-rater, so he began in the summer of 1934 to restudy his entire repertoire. "I buckled down back to work—six hours, eight hours, nine hours a day." he recalled in 1958. "And a strange thing happened.... I began to discover new meanings, new qualities, new possibilities in music that I have been regularly playing for more than 30 years." In general, however, Rubinstein believed that excessive practice could be dangerous for young pianists. Perhaps recalling his own youthful brush with repetitive-stress syndrome, Rubinstein regularly advised that young pianists should practice no more than three hours a day. "I was born very, very lazy and I don't always practice very long", he said, "but I must say, in my defense, that it is not so good, in a musical way, to overpractice. When you do, the music seems to come out of your pocket. If you play with a feeling of 'Oh, I know this', you play without that little drop of fresh blood that is necessary—and the audience feels it." Of his own practice methods, he said, "At every concert I leave a lot to the moment. I must have the unexpected, the unforeseen. I want to risk, to dare. I want to be surprised by what comes out. I want to enjoy it more than the audience. That way the music can bloom anew. It's like making love. The act is always the same, but each time it's different."[5][32]

Pupils

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For Rubinstein's notable students, seeList of music students by teacher: R to S § Arthur Rubinstein.

Rubinstein was reluctant to teach in his earlier life, refusing to acceptWilliam Kapell's request for lessons. It was not until the late 1950s that he accepted his first pupil,Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak.Other pupils of Rubinstein includeFrançois-René Duchâble,Avi Schönfeld,Ann Schein Carlyss,Eugen Indjic,Janina Fialkowska,Dean Kramerand Marc Laforêt. Rubinstein also gave master classes towards the end of his life.[29]

Death and legacy

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"I have found that if you love life, life will love you back..."

"People are always setting conditions for happiness... I love life without condition."

— Arthur Rubinstein[33]
Grave of Arthur Rubinstein at Arthur Rubinstein forest near Jerusalem

Rubinstein died in his sleep at his home inGeneva,Switzerland,on 20 December 1982, at the age of 95. His remains werecrematedtwo days later.[5]On the first anniversary of his death, an urn holding his ashes was buried inJerusalem—as specified in hiswill—in a dedicated plot now dubbed "Rubinstein Forest" overlooking theJerusalem Forest.[34]This was arranged by then-mayorTeddy KollekwithIsrael's Chief Rabbis,who had objected to Rubinstein's wish of having his ashes strewn over the Jerusalem Forest, given that Jewish law prohibits cremation and the forest is a public park, and as such falls under the religious law governing cemeteries.[35]

In October 2007, his family donated to theJuilliard Schoolan extensive collection of original manuscripts, manuscript copies and published editions that had been seized by theGermansduringWorld War IIfrom hisParisresidence. Seventy-one items were returned to his four children, marking the first time that Jewish property kept in theBerlin State Librarywas returned to the legal heirs.[36]

In 1974, Jan Jacob Bistritzky established theArthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition,held every three years in Israel, intended to promote the careers of young and outstanding pianists. The Arthur Rubinstein Award and other prizes are presented to the winners. The Rubinstein Competition also commissions works by Israeli composers.[37]

There is an Arthur Rubinstein Street inTel Avivand inBiałogard(Polish:ulica Artura Rubinsteina) and an Arthur Rubinstein Passage inŁódź(Polish:aleja Artura Rubinsteina).

Recordings

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Further information:Arthur Rubinstein discography
External audio
Rubinstein performing in 1947Liszt'sPiano Concerto No. 1withAntal Doráticonducting theDallas Symphony Orchestra

In 1910, Rubinstein recordedFranz Liszt'sHungarian Rhapsody No. 10for the Polish Favorit label.[12]The pianist was displeased with theacoustic recordingprocess, saying it made the piano sound "like abanjo"and he did not record again until the advent ofelectrical recording.However, Rubinstein made numerousplayer pianomusic rolls for theAeolianDuo-Artsystem and theAmerican Piano Company(AMPICO) in the 1920s.

Beginning in 1928, Rubinstein began to record extensively for theGramophone Company(later known asEMI Records), better known asHis Master's Voicein England and forRCA Victorin the United States, making a large number of solo, concerto andchamber musicrecordings until his retirement in 1976. As recording technology improved, from 78-rpm discs to LPs and stereophonic recordings, Rubinstein re-recorded much of his repertoire. All of his RCA Victor recordings have been reissued oncompact discand amount to about 107 hours of music.

Rubinstein preferred to make studio recordings and during his lifetime approved for release only around three hours of live recordings. However, since his death, several labels have issued many of his live recordings sourced from various radio broadcasts.

A recording of Rubinstein's version of Chopin'sMinute Waltzhas served as the theme music for theBBC Radio 4showJust a Minutesince the programme’s inception.[38]

Honours

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Sculpture of Arthur Rubinstein on Piotrkowska Street, inŁódź,Poland, where Rubinstein was born

Filmography

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See also

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References

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  1. ^"Artur Rubinstein",Encyclopædia Britannica
  2. ^"The 10 Greatest Pianists of All Time - Classical Music - Limelight Magazine".April 18, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon April 18, 2014.RetrievedDecember 31,2020.
  3. ^"The 25 best piano players of all time".Classic FM.RetrievedJune 21,2020.
  4. ^"The 20 Greatest Pianists of all time".Classical Music.RetrievedOctober 24,2021.
  5. ^abcdefgh"Arthur Rubinstein Dies in Geneva at 95".The New York Times.November 21, 1982.Archivedfrom the original on November 14, 2013.RetrievedNovember 6,2011.
  6. ^Schonberg, Harold C.(1987)The great pianists.Simon & Schuster.ISBN0671638378
  7. ^abcTeachout, Terry(1996)."Whatever Happened to Arthur Rubinstein".Commentary.101(2): 48–51.
  8. ^"Intoxicated with Romance."Time101, no. 23 (4 June 1973): 73.
  9. ^Artur Rubinstein.geni
  10. ^abRubinstein 1973,p.4.
  11. ^Rubinstein 1973,p.4:"In later years, my manager Sol Hurok used the h-less 'Artur' for my publicity, but I sign 'Arthur' in countries where it is common practice, 'Arturo' in Spain and Italy, and 'Artur' in the Slav countries".
  12. ^abcdefgSachs 1995,p.[page needed]
  13. ^Newton, Ivor(1966).At the Piano – the World of an Accompanist.London: Hamish Hamilton Ltd. p. 44.
  14. ^https:// newspapers /clip/119441817/rudolph-bochco-accompanies-arthur-rubens/Noted Pianist Coming to the CasinoThe Tampa Tribune. 1 Mar 1921 p. 8.
  15. ^abcdSachs 1995,pp. 223–224
  16. ^This presentation is well-documented on an audio CD edited byJoachim Kaiser,Klavier Kaiser,Sueddeutsche-Zeitung Co., Munich 2004.
  17. ^Rubinstein 1973,quoted in Norman Lebrecht,The Book of Musical Anecdotes
  18. ^"Pianists: The Undeniable Romantic".Time.February 25, 1966. Archived fromthe originalon November 4, 2012.RetrievedApril 25,2010.
  19. ^The Rubinstein Story (as told to Clifton Fadiman), Radio Corporation of America, 1959.
  20. ^Taylor, Angela (December 12, 1983)."NELA RUBINSTEIN: MAKING A LIFE OF HER OWN".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedAugust 6,2024.
  21. ^Taylor, Angela (12 December 1983)"Nela Rubinstein: Making a Life of Her Own".The New York Times,Section B, p. 22.
  22. ^ab"After 50 Years of Pots and Chopins with Husband Arthur, Nela Rubinstein Rolls Out Her Own Cookbook".People Magazine,14 November 1983 Vol. 20, No. 20
  23. ^"John Rubinstein Biography".filmreference.2008.RetrievedApril 10,2008.
  24. ^Rubinstein, Nela (1983)Nela's Cookbook.Alfred A. Knopf, New York.ISBN039451761X
  25. ^Sachs 1995,pp.189–90,246–47..
  26. ^See on German Wikipedia:https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luli_Oswald,sighted on 12 March 2022.
  27. ^Sachs 1995,pp. 223–224
  28. ^Sachs 1995,p.13.
  29. ^abRubinstein 1980,p.[page needed]
  30. ^Ulanowska, Elżbieta "Na cześć Artura Rubinsteina: Pianistyczna gala w Łodzi"(" In Honor of Artur Rubinstein: Piano Gala inŁódź"),Gwiazda Polarna(The Pole Star,a Polish-American biweekly), vol. 99, no. 21 (11 October 2008), p. 18.
  31. ^Parmenter, Ross(December 11, 1961) "Music: A Grand Finale".The New York Times.
  32. ^"UALR Public Radio – KLRE Classical 90.5 – Pianist Arthur Rubinstein".Klre.org. Archived fromthe originalon August 4, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 7,2012.
  33. ^Life,5 April 1948
  34. ^"Arthur Rubinstein Remains Are Buried in Jerusalem Plot".The New York Times.Associated Press. December 22, 1983.RetrievedAugust 27,2007.
  35. ^"Writer Re-Visits Arthur Rubinstein’s Boundless Love of Israel and Link to Hebrew U",by Saul Jay Singer, 15 May 2019, for the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University website. Accessed 3 July 2022.
  36. ^Juilliard News. October 15, 2007
  37. ^"About".The Arthur Rubinstein International Music Society. 2012. Archived fromthe originalon April 24, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 18,2012.
  38. ^"History of the BBC: Just a Minute first transmitted".BBC.RetrievedOctober 12,2023.
  39. ^ab"Cidadãos Estrangeiros Agraciados com Ordens Portuguesas".Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas.RetrievedMarch 20,2019.
  40. ^"2007: the Year of Artur Rubinstein".Culture.pl. December 31, 2007.RetrievedNovember 6,2011.
  41. ^"Maestro Arthur Rubinstein".Quirinale.it.RetrievedOctober 19,2023.
  42. ^"Arthur Rubinstein (pianist)".Gramophone.RetrievedApril 12,2012.

Sources

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