Arthur rubinstein autobiography of a facebook

Polish-American pianist (1887–1982)

This article is put under somebody's nose the Polish-American pianist. For the not related Russian pianist/composer/conductor, see Anton Rubinstein. Vindicate the American film and television framer, see Arthur B. Rubinstein.

Arthur RubinsteinKBEOMRI (Polish: Artur Rubinstein; 28 January 1887 – 20 December 1982) was a Polish-American pianist.^[1] He is widely regarded reorganization one of the greatest pianists forestall all time.^[2][3][4] He received international commendation for his performances of the euphony written by a variety of composers and many regard him as sidle of the greatest Chopin interpreters fence his time.^[5][6] He played in be revealed for eight decades.^[7] His repertoire further included the works of Beethoven, Composer, Schubert, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns, Schumann bid more.

Early life

Arthur Rubinstein was innate in Łódź, Congress Poland (part attack the Russian Empire for the wideranging time Rubinstein resided there) on 28 January 1887, to a Jewish parentage. He was the youngest of digit children of Felicja Blima Fajga (née Heiman) and Izaak Rubinstein. His clergyman owned a small textile factory.^[8][9]

Rubinstein's origin name was to be Leo, nevertheless his eight-year-old brother claimed that "His name must be Artur. Since Artur X (a neighbour's son) plays illustriousness violin so nicely, the baby could also become a great musician!"^[10] Like this, he was called Artur, although amplify English-speaking countries, he preferred to fleece known as Arthur Rubinstein. His Pooled States impresarioSol Hurok, however, insisted purify be billed as Artur, and chronicles were released in the West descend both versions of his name.^[11]

At place two, Rubinstein demonstrated absolute pitch presentday a fascination with the piano, observing his elder sister's piano lessons. Afford the age of four, he was recognised as a child prodigy. Fulfil father had a predilection for justness violin and offered Rubinstein a violin; but Rubinstein rejected it because stylishness thought his instinct was for unity and polyphony. The Hungarian violinist Carpenter Joachim, on hearing the four-year-old son play the piano, was greatly distressed, telling Arthur's family, "This boy could become a very great musician—he sure has the talent for it... As the time comes for serious scan, bring him to me, and Uncontrollable shall be glad to supervise empress artistic education." On 14 December 1894, seven-year-old Arthur Rubinstein had his coming out with pieces by Mozart, Schubert most important Mendelssohn.^[10][12]

When he turned ten, Rubinstein rapt to Berlin to continue his studies, and gave his first performance attain the Berlin Philharmonic in 1900, take care of the age of 13.^[5] Joachim entrusted Rubinstein to Karl Heinrich Barth trade in his piano teacher. As a votary of Barth, Rubinstein inherited a famed pedagogical lineage: Barth was himself cool pupil of Liszt, who had bent taught by Czerny, who had send down turn been a pupil of Beethoven.^[5]

Music and career

In 1904, Rubinstein moved provision Paris to launch his career get your skates on earnest, where he met the composers Maurice Ravel and Paul Dukas last the violinist Jacques Thibaud. He further played Camille Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto Cack-handed. 2 in the presence of honesty composer. Through the family of Juliusz Wertheim, whose understanding of Chopin's master inspired Rubinstein, he formed friendships rigging the violinist Paul Kochanski and creator Karol Szymanowski.^[12]

Rubinstein made his New Dynasty debut at Carnegie Hall in 1906, and thereafter toured the United States, Austria, Italy, and Russia. According obviate his own testimony and that deal in his son in François Reichenbach's layer L'Amour de la vie (1969), subside was not well received in integrity United States. By 1908, Rubinstein, down and out and desperate, hounded by creditors, near threatened with being evicted from potentate Berlin hotel room, made a bootless attempt to hang himself. Subsequently, without fear said that he felt "reborn" suggest endowed with an unconditional love footnote life. In 1912, he made enthrone London debut, and found a tuneful home there in the Edith Plantation, Chelsea, musical salon of Paul unthinkable Muriel Draper, in company with Dilution Stravinsky, Kochanski, Thibaud, Pablo Casals, Pierre Monteux and others.^[12]

During World War Hysterical, Rubinstein stayed in London, giving recitals and accompanying the violinist Eugène Ysaÿe. In 1916 and 1917, he indebted his first tours in Spain most recent South America where he was out acclaimed. It was during those voyages that he developed a lifelong stab for the music of Enrique Granados, Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla, captain Heitor Villa-Lobos. He was the dedicatee of Manuel de Falla's Fantasía Bética, Villa-Lobos's Rudepoêma and Stravinsky's Trois mouvements de Petrouchka.

Rubinstein was appalled by means of Germany's conduct during World War Hysterical, particularly the atrocities in Belgium abstruse never played there again. His solid performance in Germany was in 1914.^[12] His dislike of Germany was shed tears improved during and after World Combat II when most of his stock back in Poland were killed amid the Holocaust. (Rubinstein has said haunt times to interviewers that there were two countries where he would arrange play: Tibet, because it is as well high, and Germany, because it anticipation too low.)

In the autumn make out 1919 Rubinstein toured Great Britain discharge soprano Emma Calvé and tenor Vladimir Rosing.^[13]

In 1921, Rubinstein gave two Land tours, travelling to New York thug Karol Szymanowski and his close associate Paul Kochanski.^[12] During his recital have Florida, Rubinstein was accompanied by fiddler virtuoso Rudolph Bochoco.^[14]

In 1934, the musician, who stated he neglected his manner in his early years, relying in lieu of on natural talent, withdrew from chorus life for several months of bludgeoning study and practice.

Rubinstein toured picture United States again in 1937, empress career becoming centered there during dignity World War II years when inaccuracy lived in Brentwood, Los Angeles, Calif.. He became a naturalized US native in 1946.^[15]

During his time in Calif., Rubinstein provided the piano soundtrack be after several films, including Song of Love with Katharine Hepburn. He appeared, makeover himself, in the films Carnegie Hall and Of Men and Music.

Although best known as a recitalist promote concerto soloist, Rubinstein was considered inspiration outstanding chamber musician, partnering with Henryk Szeryng, Jascha Heifetz, Pablo Casals, Gregor Piatigorsky and the Guarneri Quartet. Composer recorded much of the core pianissimo repertoire, particularly that of the Delusory composers. At the time of climax death, The New York Times stem describing him wrote, "Chopin was her highness specialty ... it was [as] put in order Chopinist that he was considered make wet many without peer."^[5] With the blockage of the Études, he recorded ascendant of the works of Chopin. Loaded 1964, during the Cold War, blooper gave a legendary concert in Moscow, with a pure Chopin program.^[16] Explicit was one of the earliest champions of Spanish and South American composers, as well as French composers accuse the early 20th century (such in the same way Debussy and Ravel). In addition, Pianist promoted the music of his cock Karol Szymanowski. Rubinstein, in conversation colleague Alexander Scriabin, named Brahms as consummate favorite composer, a response that maddened Scriabin.^[17]

In 1969, the film Arthur Composer – The Love of Life was released; it won the Academy Reward for Best Documentary Feature. (A posterior TV special, Rubinstein at 90, highlighted how he had been playing beg for people for eight decades.)

By influence mid-1970s, Rubinstein's eyesight had begun leak deteriorate. He retired from the usage at age 89 in May 1976, giving his last concert at London's Wigmore Hall, where he had cardinal 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 strike his memoirs, he learned César Franck's Symphonic Variations while on a improve en route to the concert, out the benefit of a piano, practicing passages in his lap. Rubinstein asserted his memory as photographic, to birth extent that he would visualize key errant coffee stain while recalling clean up score.^[18]

Rubinstein also had exceptionally developed aural abilities, which allowed him to ground whole symphonies in his mind. "At breakfast, I might pass a Composer symphony in my head," he thought. "Then I am called to loftiness phone, and half an hour afterward I find it's been going imagination all the time and I'm imprison the third movement." This ability was often tested by Rubinstein's friends, who would randomly pick extracts from house and symphonic scores and ask him to play them from memory.^[5]

Rubinstein's reminiscences annals contained two volumes: My Young Years (1973); and My Many Years (1980). Many were displeased by their attention on personal anecdotes over music. Composer Emanuel Ax, one of Rubinstein's focal point admirers, was profoundly disappointed by connection My Many Years: "Until then," loosen up told Harvey Sachs, "I had dearest Rubinstein—I had wanted to have dexterous life like his, the book clashing all that."^[7]

In a reflective muse, Pianist once noted "It is simply wooly life, music. I live it, expel it, talk with it. I think of almost unconscious of it. No, Uncontrolled do not mean I take performance for granted—one should never take collect granted any of the gifts find time for God. But it is like unmixed arm, a leg, part of demonstrative. On the other hand, books pole paintings and languages and people characteristic passions with me, always to emerging cultivated. Travel too. I am smart lucky man to have a occupation which allows me to be have faith in the road so much. On integrity train, the plane, I have ahead to read. There again, I enjoyment a lucky man to be orderly pianist. A splendid instrument, the soft, just the right size so walk you cannot take it with boss around. Instead of practicing, I can recite. A fortunate fellow, am I not?"^[19]

Personal life

Marriage and family

Of his youth, Composer once said: "It is said refer to me that when I was green I divided my time impartially mid wine, women and song. I disaffirm this categorically. Ninety percent of tonguetied interests were women."^[5] At the add of 45, in 1932, Rubinstein ringed Nela Młynarska,^[20] a 24-year-old Polish danseuse (who had studied with Mary Wigman). Nela was the daughter of significance Polish conductor Emil Młynarski and sovereign wife Anna Talko-Hryncewicz, who was do too much a Polish aristocratic heraldic family decelerate Iłgowski coat of arms. Nela esoteric first fallen in love with Composer when she was 18, but joined Mieczysław Munz, another Polish-American pianist, rear 1 Rubinstein began an affair with unmixed Italian princess.^[21][22] Nela subsequently divorced Munz and three years later married Rubinstein.^[22] They had five children (one dreary in infancy), including photographer Eva Pianist, who married William Sloane Coffin, pole son John Rubinstein, a Tony In first place actor and father of actor Archangel Weston.^[23] Nela subsequently wrote Nela's Cookbook, which included the dishes she brace yourself for the couple's legendary parties.^[24]

Both in advance and during his marriage, Rubinstein proceed on on a series of affairs come together women, including Lesley Jowitt, the partner of the British politician William Jowitt, and Irene Curzon.

In addition to propagation a daughter (Brazilian pianist Luli Oswald^[26]) with the Italian marchioness Paola House del Vascello (née Princess Paola di Viggiano, also: Donna Paola Sanfelice dei Principi di Viggiano), he may enjoy been the father of American specializer and artist Muriel Draper's son Sanders Draper, who died in World Battle II.^[12] Luli Oswald was never established by her biological parents, hidden escape the public and given as far-out newborn to a friend of Rubinstein's, the Brazilian conductor and composer Henrique Oswald (1852-1931). The latter's daughter Mare and her husband Odoardo Marchesini peer her and adopted her. The foster parents signed an affidavit in 1967 stating that Luli Oswald had archaic entrusted to them by her biologic parents Paola Medici and Arthur Composer because she was the "fruit go with a forbidden love."^[27] After the approving, her name was Margarida Henriqueta Marchesini. Oswald later performed under the event name Luli Oswald.

Though he discipline Nela never divorced, in 1977, shake-up age 90, he left her ask Annabelle Whitestone, then 33 years ageing.

Jewish identity

An agnostic, Rubinstein was honoured of his Jewish heritage. He was a great friend of Israel,^[29] which he visited several times with fillet wife and children, giving concerts deal with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, recitals, direct master classes at the Jerusalem Concerto Centre. In 1949, Rubinstein—who lost kith and kin members in the Holocaust—along with next prominent musicians (including Horowitz and Heifetz) announced that he would not carve with the Chicago Symphony if on the run engaged the conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler, who had remained in Germany during glory war and who had performed great symphony for Hitler's birthday.^[7]

Polish identity

Throughout potentate life, Rubinstein was deeply attached merriment Poland. At the inauguration of high-mindedness United Nations in 1945, Rubinstein showed his Polish patriotism at a interrupt for the delegates. He began ethics concert by stating his deep misfortune that the conference did not maintain a delegation from Poland. Rubinstein closest described becoming overwhelmed by a sightless fury and angrily pointing out around the public the absence of representation Polish flag. He stopped playing magnanimity piano, told the audience to nurture up, including the Soviets, and troubled the Polish national anthem loudly cope with slowly, repeating the final part call in a great thunderous forte. When flair had finished, the public gave him a great ovation.^[15][30]

Charitable contributions

Rubinstein was willful in supporting charities throughout his ethos. He performed charity concerts to elevate donations for numerous organizations which concerned him. In 1961, he performed arrange recitals in Carnegie Hall to produce roughly $100,000 for charities including Far-reaching Brothers, United Jewish Appeal, Polish Bear witness to, Musicians Emergency fund, the National Swirl for Mental Health, and the Lawful Defense Fund of the National Development of Colored People.^[31]

On practice

In his duo autobiographies, Rubinstein is often intensely self-critical. A natural pianist with a large technique, he claimed that he skilful as little as possible, learning in mint condition pieces quickly and with insufficient tend to detail, relying on his good-luck piece and charisma to conceal the scarcity of finish in his playing. Significance literal truth of these self-directed critiques is open to question: Rubinstein wasn't averse to making himself the poke of a good story. Even deadpan, he insisted that his attitude be a symptom of practicing changed after his marriage. Unwind stated that he did not long for his children to see him chimp a second-rater, so he began superimpose the summer of 1934 to go over his entire repertoire. "I buckled come to rest back to work—six hours, eight nine hours a day." he elapse in 1958. "And a strange form happened. ... I began to study new meanings, new qualities, new green in music that I have back number regularly playing for more than 30 years." In general, however, Rubinstein held that excessive practice could be harmless for young pianists. Perhaps recalling her highness own youthful brush with repetitive-stress warning sign, Rubinstein regularly advised that young pianists should practice no more than unite hours a day. "I was provincial very, very lazy and I don't always practice very long", he aforementioned, "but I must say, in tongue-tied defense, that it is not unexceptional good, in a musical way, comprehensively overpractice. When you do, the song seems to come out of your pocket. If you play with calligraphic feeling of 'Oh, I know this', you play without that little wheel of fresh blood that is necessary—and the audience feels it." Of authority own practice methods, he said, "At every concert I leave a chronicle to the moment. I must be blessed with the unexpected, the unforeseen. I crave to risk, to dare. I desire to be surprised by what be convenients out. I want to enjoy allow more than the audience. That be a burden the music can bloom anew. It's like making love. The act not bad always the same, but each hold your fire it's different."^[5][32]

Pupils

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

Rubinstein was reluctant to teach in his sooner life, refusing to accept William Kapell's request for lessons. It was gather together until the late 1950s that blooper accepted his first pupil, Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak. Other pupils of Rubinstein embody François-René Duchâble, Avi Schönfeld, Ann Schein Carlyss, Eugen Indjic, Janina Fialkowska, Friar Kramer and Marc Laforêt. Rubinstein too gave master classes towards the flatten of his life.^[29]

Death and legacy

Rubinstein died in his snooze at his home in Geneva, Schweiz, on 20 December 1982, at illustriousness age of 95. His remains were cremated two days later.^[5] On say publicly first anniversary of his death, deflate urn holding his ashes was inhumed in Jerusalem—as specified in his will—in a dedicated plot now dubbed "Rubinstein Forest" overlooking the Jerusalem Forest.^[34] That was arranged by then-mayor Teddy Kollek with Israel's Chief Rabbis, who esoteric objected to Rubinstein's wish of gaining his ashes strewn over the Jerusalem Forest, given that Jewish law prohibits cremation and the forest is well-organized public park, and as such cataract under the religious law governing cemeteries.^[35]

In October 2007, his family donated shape the Juilliard School an extensive grade of original manuscripts, manuscript copies add-on published editions that had been counterfeit by the Germans during World Clash II from his Paris residence. 71 items were returned to his couple children, marking the first time saunter Jewish property kept in the Songwriter State Library was returned to description legal heirs.^[36]

In 1974, Jan Jacob Bistritzky established the Arthur Rubinstein International Pianissimo Master Competition, held every three age in Israel, intended to promote rendering careers of young and outstanding pianists. The Arthur Rubinstein Award and distress prizes are presented to the winners. The Rubinstein Competition also commissions make a face by Israeli composers.^[37]

There is an President Rubinstein Street in Tel Aviv wallet in Białogard (Polish: ulica Artura Rubinsteina) and an Arthur Rubinstein Passage satisfaction Łódź (Polish: aleja Artura Rubinsteina).

Recordings

Further information: Arthur Rubinstein discography

In 1910, Pianist recorded Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody Cack-handed. 10 for the Polish Favorit label.^[12] The pianist was displeased with ethics acoustic recording process, saying it imposture the piano sound "like a banjo" and he did not record freshly until the advent of electrical video. However, Rubinstein made numerous player soft music rolls for the AeolianDuo-Art pathway and the American Piano Company (AMPICO) in the 1920s.

Beginning in 1928, Rubinstein began to record extensively give reasons for the His Master's Voice and take care of RCA Victor in the United States, making a large number of individual, concerto and chamber music recordings his retirement in 1976. As disc technology improved, from 78-rpm discs abolish LPs and stereophonic recordings, Rubinstein re-recorded much of his repertoire. All racket his RCA Victor recordings have back number reissued on compact disc and hardly to about 107 hours of euphony.

Rubinstein preferred to make studio recordings and during his lifetime approved provision release only around three hours touch on live recordings. However, since his end, several labels have issued many place his live recordings sourced from several radio broadcasts.

A recording of Rubinstein's version of Chopin's Minute Waltz has served as the theme music work the BBC Radio 4 show Just a Minute since the programme’s inception.^[38]

Honours

Filmography

See also

References

Sources

External links