s. THF.FFFLYORK TIMES, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1970 Rubinstein and the Guarneri Quartet The Program was something of a thrill to GUARNERI STRING QUARTET, with see his venerable figure at Artur Rubinstein, piano. At Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium, Metropol- the piano, quiet and full of litan Museum of Art. concentration, playing along Piano Quintet...... Brahms Piano Quintet ...... Schumann with the youngsters of the Piano Quartet in C minor...... Faure Guarneri quartet — Arnold By HAROLD C. SCHONBERG Steinhardt and John Dailey, violins, Michael Tree, viola, Artur rubinstein may and David Soyer, cello. well be the most glam But there was nothing reti orous solo pianist of the gen cent or venerable about Mr. eration, but he also likes to Rubinstein’s playing. It was play chamber music. He al not that he took charge or ways has liked chamber mu tried to assert his own per sic. In the 1930’s he re sonality. He is too experi corded with the Pro Arte enced a musician to do that Quartet, and he made an in this kind of literature. even more famous series Rather, it was that there was with Jascha Heifetz and an ardent glow to his play Emanuel Feuermann. Nor did ing—the kind of youthful ro he stop there. His discogra manticism that the string phy is dotted with the mas players themselves had. terworks of the chamber repertory. • Shortly after the Guarneri In the Brahms F minor String Quartet came out of Quintet the playing, from all Marlboro a few years ago, concerned, was rugged, pro Mr. Rubinstein heard the Eva Rubenstein pulsive and full of the solid, group. His high estimate of Artur Rubinstein oak-tree quality of the young those four young players Brahms. The Schumann Pi was endorsed by other musi ano Quintet was all color, cians and the public. In a of Art. Sviatoslav Richter, freedom and burnished melo short time, the Guarneri David Oistrakh, Birgit Nil dic shapes. And the lovely quartet has become the most sson and the Istomin-Stern- Fauré Piano Quartet in C famous American ensemble Rose Trio will follow. For minor, for which Mr. Stein since the Juilliard String these concerts, the tariff is hardt absented himself, re Quartet came into being $15 a ticket. This price did ceived a suave and elegant . after World War II. Mr. not intimidate anybody on performance. Mr. Rubinstein Saturday evening. Not only . Rubinstein was so impressed listened to the other players was every seat of the small with the caliber of the and they listened to him, auditorium occupied, but in with mutual give and take ; Guarneri that he started a addition provision was made ■ series of recording sessions and with a unanimity of ap for about 75 more seats on proach that included respect with the quartet. And on the stage. j Saturday evening, at the for each others’ point of Grace Rainey Rogers Audi • view. It was an evening of torium, he appeared with On the program were three accomplishment, of charm them for the first time, pub works especially close to Mr. and, considering the youth- licly, in New York. Rubinstein. He has recorded and-old-age aspects, of senti The event was the first in each, and to each work he ment. a series of five special con- brings a different kind of ' certs to honor the centennial approach. He was in splendid Other music reviews ap of the Metropolitan Museum form for this concert, and it pear on Page 24.