AN 80/90 PROFILE

Artur Rubinstein:

by ANTHONY MORRIS

rtur rubinstein, one of the he was “a brilliant pianist and musician ^greatest pianists of our time, is 91 who should have been heard oftener on Ayears old, deaf in one ear, and goingthis side of the ocean.” blind. Yet he enjoys interviews, dresses Rubinstein gave his last concert in immaculately, and loves to chat about London in November 1978. “I said to my his own life and those of the other great family then,” he recalls, “that if I should men he has known from Pablo Picasso ever get the crazy notion to continue to Albert Einstein. performing in public, I would deserve “The company about me is thinning to be shot. Look, when I was a young out,” he smiles a bit ruefully as he sits in man I heard the great violin virtuoso his Paris apartment on a side street off Eugene Ysaye in Berlin. I waited for the elegant Avenue Foch. ‘‘As for myself, hours in the freezing cold outside the I don’t really miss the applause, the artists’ entrance to kiss his hand. I went crowds, and the travels of my concert to almost any length not to miss the life. I have lived in heaven, and now I am great pianist Alfred Cortot when he was quite content to hear the little bell of in town—and then I had to watch how Paradise from time to time.” they were literally carried onto the plat­ One of the most remarkable aspects form. They were so old ... they were of Rubiiistein’s musical life is that, al- past it... they had no idea of what they though'he began playing the piano as a were playing.... They7 had allowed child, it wasn’t until he reached the age themselves to go on 10 years too long. I of 50 that he became a success in the swore then I wasn’t going to end like United States. that.” So although you can still hear Artur Critical pans Rubinstein’s art on the many recordings Actually, Rubinstein, after achieving a he has made—more than 125 are read­ considerable reputation as a young ily available on the RCA label—you are man, first decided to conquer America not likely again to be privileged to at­ in 1906, when he was 19 years old. tend a recital by him in the concert hall. When he made his debut at New York’s But although he has given up playing Carnegie Hall, the New York Times , in public, he has not given up music. In dourly commented: “His talent at pres­ fact, he’s catching up on his listening. ent seems to reside chiefly in his fingers “It took me 90 years to recognize truly ... [with] no thought of any deeper sig­ divine music,” he says. “During my ac­ nificance that lies behind the notes.” tive career I simply had no time to listen Rubinstein made a second try at and relax. But now, it’s different. Yester­ America when he was 35 years old, but day, for instance, I heard the most again the critics and public were slow to wonderful concerto by Mozart for oboe, respond. He might never have come clarinet, horn, and bassoon. I listened to here again had it not been for the urg- three different recordings of it! Nowa­ ings of impresario Sol Hurok, (no days I even have time to go to the spring chicken himself) who believed in opera—at last!” Master pianist Artur Rubinstein is in still trying at the half-century’ mark. In Rubinstein was born in Lodz, Poland. highly select company among nonoge- 1937 Rubinstein returned, and this time His father, a Jewish textile merchant, narian musicians, but he ruefully adds, everybody was ready, including the had six other children. "I was the last,” “Until now I’ve had no time to relax.” Times, which suddenly discovered that he says. “By the time I arrived my eldest 40 July 1979/50 PLUS sister was already- 20. My family nick­ much dancing about on the podium.” named me ‘little accident.’ ” If he were to appear on the concert Rubinstein has recounted some of his stage just one more, final time, what sort career in a best-selling autobiography of program could we expea to hear? entitled My Young Years, published in “Sometimes I dream about playing in 1973- It’s a lively book filled with many public again, but then I know that I fascinating episodes, for Rubinstein would be tempted to go on for another makes no secret of having been a lusty five years without stopping. It isn’t easy young man interested in wine and to give up something you really love. women as well as song. He still likes to No, I’d better stick to listening to my recall one of the most unusual perfor­ records. mances he was ever called upon to give: “If I could start all over again I would “When I was a young fellow I was do many things differently. I would try- once asked to give a Chopin recital for a to be better, more mature. I’m not al­ duchess in Rome. I was to play for 90 ways happy when I listen to my own minutes in what I thought was going to recordings. I think my last concert was be some private musical soiree. The probably my best—not just because of grand piano w’as positioned in front of a the nostalgia I felt at the time, but be­ cause I had finally reached maturity.” CONDOMINIUM heavy brocade curtain which was • • LARGE HEATED POOL drawn. A flunkey kept on filling my glass Next: memoirs, part two • • ALL ELECTRIC WITH of champagne, and while I played I CENTRAL AIR + HEAT could hear strange exultant noises Right now Rubinstein is busy writing • • OCEANVIEW BALCONY coming from behind the closed curtain. the second part of his memoirs, and • • COVERED CARPORT after that he would like to write a book • • 7 MILES TO PATRICK A novel way of appreciating Chopin, I AIR FORCE BASE thought. on Chopin, whose piano music has • • 1 & 2 BEDROOMS “After my recital a footman drew back always had a special place in his the curtain and there was the duchess in repertoire. FROM $39,900 bed with a handsome young lover! I Has he any advice for younger peo­ ple, specifically younger pianists? No recreation or land lease couldn’t make up my mind whether to 2020 N.ATLANTIC AVE. feel insulted or honored to have been of well,” he has said, “you sometimes talk COCOA BEACH, FLA. assistance to the lady in achieving ulti­ to a 20-year-old boy and he is bitter PHONE: (305) 783-2435 mate bliss.” because he is not on top already. I do think a young pianist should try to de­ Proud of his family velop culturally as a person. They prac­ Rubinstein, who still- enjoys a daily tice and praaice and play and play, but cigar, loves to show off pictures of his in music people feel the whole impaa two sons (one of them is Broadway and of your personality, not just your TV actor John Rubinstein), his two playing. daughters, and his six grandchildren. “My own life proves this. I’m lazy and He is also candid about many of the always was. But that doesn’t mean I sat 'bonds' musical figures of today, although he around and twiddled my thumbs. I read. insists, “I’m not a critic, merely an old I went to museums and the theater. I pianist” Among conductors he admires: met people. I developed my person­ dentures Herbert von Karajan and Karl Bohm. ality.’ Asked about Leonard Bernstein, he says: Today, at 91, Artur Rubinstein is still “Pretty good, but a bit of a clown. Too doing just that. O gum-tight all day 0 Holds all day S’Gum-tight comfort [if No messy clean-ups B'Tasteless, odorless

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vArthur Rubinstein’s not playing John’s song

After-dinner recitals by precocious off­ out, they would be uncomfortable.” spring are trial enough for guests, but Still, the family was close. “My par­ in the salon of piano virtuoso Arthur Ru­ ents bestowed enormous love on us,” binstein they were agony for the kids says John, the youngest of four. In too. “We were on the front lines,” re­ return, Arthur found he had sired his se­ calls composer and actor John verest critics. "I heard him play one Rubinstein, 32, about the impromptu piece maybe 800 times,” John reports. concerts he and his older sister, Lolly, “So when people were raving, I might were required to deliver. “My father come and tell him that he had done it hung out with people like Stravinsky. too slowly—and he would know it too.” Dinner didn’t mean chicken and Young John gradually shifted his in­ noodles. It meant who did we have to terests to acting. After dropping out of play for this time.” UCLA, he starred in the movie Zach- Despite those evenings, John was a ariah, played the title role in the staunch promoter of his dad’s career. Broadway musical Pippin and ap­ In music shops he often slyly moved peared often on TV's Family. (Arthur Rubinstein albums into the front of tries never to miss any of his son’s per­ the racks. Arthur performed as formances.) In recent years John—now many as 100 concerts a year and was married taactress Judi West and the constantly off in some foreign city. father of two—has also begun writing “I am very guilty,” admits Rubinstein, orchestral music—for movies like 92. “I didn’t find much time for the The Candidate and Jeremiah Johnson children, unfortunately.” Moreover, and for TV in The Ordeal of Patty there was what John calls the “Eu­ Hearst. Would he consider dashing off ropean” distance between his Polish- something for the old man? Arthur an­ born parents and the children. “If I swers for his son with a shrug: “He were to sit down and pour my heart doesn’t write my kind of music.” □