Tues., Dec. 21, 1982 * S.F. EXAMINER D9

Rubinstein: ‘last of great pianists’

Associated Press from that whole period left. He conductor Leonard Bernstein, a long­ The death of pianist Arthur Rubin­ spanned so much. time friend and colleague, when stein closes a chapter in the history of “It is really personally sad for me, reached at home in New York. music and marks “the passing of a but it is also historically important, a “Nobody in our time, it is safe to giant.” according to the virtuoso’s ad­ great loss to a whole tradition. say, communicated the same degree of mirers. “Just meeting Rubinstein was a sheer joy in playing,” said Harold C. “It is the last of the generation of thrill for any pianist. He was a real link Schonberg, a former New York Times the greats. He was an incredible man, a to tradition in Western piano music. music critic. “He loved music, loved complete man,” said Zubin Mehta, di­ He was a friend of Rachmaninoff and playing the piano and was eager to rector of the New York Philharmonic, he knew Debussy,” said Ax, reached at transmit that love.” when told of his friend’s death last home in New York. Tom Shepard, head of the classical night. The death marks "the passing of a division of RCA Records, where Rubin­ Rubinstein, who died in his sleep at giant,” said Mehta. stein recorded from the 1930s until age 95. was “an inspiration to three “Oh my God,” he said when 1977, when he made his last record, generations of pianists,” said Emman- reached in India. “I was with him just said yesterday in New York: "He was ual Ax, winner of the first Arthur two weeks ago,” he said finally, in a the greatest combination I know of a Rubinstein International Piano Compe­ choked voice. “At this moment I have very individual interpreter and yet one tition in Israel in 1974. photos in my hand, and I am looking at who was always respectful and faithful “He was, I guess with (Vladimir) pictures of- us together.” to the composer at the same time. He Horowitz, the last of the grand old men “I will always miss Arthur — my was unique. of the instrument. I shouldn't say old. perfect playmate, whether pla/ing mu­ “On a more personal note, I would just the great pianists. It is a real close sic or being a joyous companion in the say everything he did he did with joy,” to a chapter. There is almost nobody scherzo we call ‘civilized living,' ” said Shepard said. Associated Press Rubinstein dies at 95 Pianist Arthur Rubinstein, called the "last of the generation of the greats,” died in his sleep yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of 95, after months of failing health. Rubinstein, one of the last of the Romantic virtuosos, once summed up his life by saying, “Music is not a hobby, not even a passion with me: music is me.” Stories/Page D9.

Death from a sudden infection has stilled the magic fingers of Arthur Rubinstein at the age of 95