The Israelchamberorchestra
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The Rubinstein International Music Society THE ISRAEL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Founded by Gari Bertini Music Director: Yoav Talmi The 22nd Season 1987 — 8 Mim Cuma ffflM FOUNDED BY GARI BERTINI MUSIC DIRECTOR: YOAV TALMI In cooperation with The Arthur Rubinstein International Music Society HOMMAGE TO ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN Christoph Eschenbach conductor and pianist Tzimon Barto conductor and pianist “Tones and Voices”- Concert no. 1 Haifa, Haifa Auditorium Monday, 7 September 1987 Jerusalem, Jerusalen Theatre Tuesday, 8 September 1987 Tel-Aviv, The Fredric R. Mann Auditorium All Series: Thursday, 10 September 1987 at 8.30 p.m. ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN by Emanuel Krasovsky Photo by Lotte Meitner-Graf, London In the Jerusalem forest, near Kennedy memorial, aptitude, inimitable mastery of the sound, sincere there is a breathtaking spot overlooking the and profound feeling, crystalline clarity and majestic Judean Hills and, at a distance, the healthy fortitude blended into interpretations Golden City itself. This is where - after long, directed at the very hearts of the listeners. glorious life as a veritable citizen of the world - Indeed, playing from the heart and to the heart Arthur Rubinstein was laid to eternal rest. He had was the quintessence of Rubinstein’s optimistic, willed it so. life-loving art. During his last visit here, the 92- Hardly an artist on our century’s musical scene year-old pianist gave a master-class to his young had enjoyed so towering a position in his lifetime. Israeli colleagues. “Play simply, from your His playing has been studied, admired, extolled - heart”, was his insistent, oft-repeated advice. but so was the work of numerous other The music lovers never failed to respond. musicians. Rubinstein the artist, however, was Whether he played in pace-setting world’s music above all loved. His overwhelming instrumental centres or in far-away towns of South America and Oceania, Rubinstein’s concerts sold out long the conductor - Leonard Bernstein. The violin in advance, with additional performances soloist was Isaac Stern, the cellist - Paul scheduled whenever possible. Tortelier. Rubenstein loved his public, giving on the stage Rubinstein, whom the Israeli audiences adored all of himself. “I am sure my love to them with an ever-increasing passion, held his communicates through my music.” he said in an listeners here in high esteem indeed. “Before interview. His other phrase, “Don’t tell Sol Hurok every concert in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, Arthur (Rubinstein’s manager), but I enjoy my recitals so was nervous as if appearing for the first time”, much that I could play them for free”, has reminisced his widow, Nela, in a conversation become a legend. with this writer last January. “It was not easy: It is impossible to separate Rubinstein the artist even though he knew people loved him, he felt he and Rubinstein the human being. Born 28 had to prove himself each time anew. Whereas in January, 1887 in Lodz, Poland, he lived through a London, for example, once they liked you, they tortured period of human history. The pianist saw remained yours forever”. two world wars and the repeated rape of his It was not surprising, therefore, that Rubinstein’s homeland. He witnessed the Holocaust - albeit feat of a project during the mid-1950’s - the from afar - in which almost all the members of his performance of 16 piano concertos on five extensive family had perished. He did not seek a consecutive nights - presented in New York, refuge in an ivory tower. For artists who London and Paris, was brought to Israel in 1958 maintained that art and politics should not be as a present on its tenth independence mixed, he had neither respect nor patience . anniversary. With the IPO, again under Singer’s “What kind of people are they ? How can they baton, the pianist played in October all the disregard the constant struggle of humanity Beethoven, Brahms and Chopin concertos, the against suppression? Their world is small and Schumann, Rachmaninoffs Second and Rhapsody on a Paganini theme, Saint-Saens’s tiny - and it shows on them when they go on Second, Mozart’s A major and Tchaikovsky. stage”. Also during that stay, Rubinstein auditioned the For Rubinstein, taking unequivocal stand was a best young Israeli pianists for whom he had life-time principle. His attitude towards the established a scholarship fund. (Additional collaborators of Holocaust perpetrators, auditions took place in 1961,63,64,66, and 67). whoever and wherever they were, remained The pianist’s involvement in this country’s life uncompromising. His public statements in the grew. In 1964, he endowed the Chair in late 1960s became a rallying force for the artists Musicology at the Hebrew University in and intellectuals protesting the situation in Jerusalem. In 1972, the Arthur and Nela Czechoslovakia and Poland. Yet never did Rubinstein Arthritis Research Unit at Tel Aviv’s Rubinstein’s voice ring firmer than when he Ichilov hospital began functioning. The proceeds spoke in defence of Israel. The proud and loyal of his Jerusalem recital were earmarked for the son of the Jewish people loved this country with programme bringing young people to all his heart. performances at the Sherover theatre. The long chapter on Rubinstein’s Israel Coming to Israel became a need. “As always, I connection - artistic, emotional, human - was am looking forward to return to my beloved marked by singular warmth and devotion. He first Israel”, reads the last sentence of a business played here when Israel still was the mandatory communication to the IPO. Palestine and Tel Aviv the newly-built suburb of Jaffa. From 1966 to 1971, every IPO season was Some 20 years later, in the winter of 1951, he opened by Rubinstein’s concerto and recital performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra appearances. Unfailingly sold-out, these conducted by Georg Singer the Brahms B-flat Rubinstein festivals remain a unique and major concerto and gave several recitals. The unmatched treasure of our cultural past. unique chemistry - even by Rubinstein’s With incomparable generosity, Rubinstein standards - may have started right then. The unveiled before the spell-bound music lovers his glowing press accounts on the pianist’s success immense repertory. He played Schubert (the last contain a shade of astonishment at the emotional sonata and Impromtus), Schumann, Brahms, intensity of the public’s response. Bach-Busoni, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Granados, When the Fredric Mann Auditorium, the IPO Villa-Lobos, de Falla, Stravinsky and, of course, permanent home, was to be opened in Tel Aviv, lots of Chopin. there was no question whatsoever who the During the Mann Auditorium tenth anniversary pianist at the festive concert would be. This time, celebrations, he afforded a glimpse of his the concerto was Beethoven’s "Emperor” and beautiful chamber-music art, performing with Stern and Tortelier Beethoven (“Archduke”) and everyone, at a lesser contest, would easily have Brahms trios. won a first prize”. Rubinstein’s influence on this country’s musical This year, on Rubinstein’s birth centennial, the culture is difficult to overestimate: a generation of entire music world salutes the memory of the performers and teachers were exposed year in Maestro. In January, the Israel Philharmonic and year out to the shine of his uniquely civilized Orchestra held a series of 7 concens and 5 art - at once inspiring and setting lofty practical recitals during which, with Zubin Mehta on the goals. The fact that young Israeli pianists have podium, 17 concertos were performed by twelve been doing increasingly well on the international from among today’s most famous pianists. The circuit may have much to do with this. Jerusalem Symphony featured Leon Fleisher in a The grateful nation paid the Maestro in kind. In special performance under Sergiu Comissiona. 1973 , the Tel Aviv University bestowed upon The Arthur Rubinstein International Music Rubinstein its honorary doctorate. A year later Society, with relevant bodies worldwide, the Hebrew University followed suit. In 1976, his sponsored a series of events entitled “Hommage 90th birthday approaching, the Maestro was à Rubinstein”. On 7 October, 1986, a piano given the honorary PhD of the Weizmann Institute recital by Nikita Magaloff in Madrid served an and the Freedom of City of Tel Aviv. A grove was occasion for formation of Arthur Rubinstein planted in his honour by the IPO in the Jerusalem Music Society in Spain. On 25 January, a Forest. Rubinstein Memorial Day was held at the London Turning the great artist’s legacy into a vital, Royal Festival Hall, in the course of which the continuous component of this country’s cultural Polish Requiem by Penderecki was performed by life remains the paramount goal of the Arthur the B.B.C Orchestra conducted by the Rubinstein International Music Society, composer, a piano recital was given by Françoise established in Israel in 1981. Duchable, with an exhibition and films The plans include holding seminars and complementing the offering. Also in January, symposia, sponsoring summer courses and memorial events were held in Rome and Venice - master-classes with world famous artists, both cities with strong Rubinstein ties. making scholarships available to outstanding The gala Hommage recital by Alicia de Larrocha young musicians, establishing a Chair in Piano at the Real Theatre in Madrid in June took place Performance at an Israeli University, and so on. In under the patronage of Queen Sophia. On that that effort, the Society requires and deserves all occasion an auspicious exhibit, “Rubinstein and the support from the authorities, artistic Spain”, was mounted. Also in Spain, this year’s institutions and the people of Israel. Paloma O’Shea Piano Competition in Santander was dedicated to Rubinstein’s memory. In September 1984, the first International Piano Later this month, the soloists of tonight’s “Hom Master Competition, bearing Rubinstein’s name mage à Rubinstein”, Christoph Eschenbach and was held in Israel.