Charles Reiner Collection Marvin Duchow Music Library McGill University Montréal, Québec, Canada 2010 Finding Aid Prepared by Elliott Cairns Edited by Cynthia A. Leive Latest Revision: July 2010 Collection Summary Title: Charles Reiner Collection Span Dates: 1924?–2006 Bulk Dates: (bulk 1950–1989) Call No.: Creator: Reiner, Charles, 1924–2006 Size: Language: Collection material in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, and Hungarian Repository: Marvin Duchow Music Library, Schulich School of Music, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada Abstract: The Charles Reiner Collection consists of correspondence, newspaper reviews and clippings, performance programmes, personal documents including legal material, photographs, writings, published and unpublished music by Reiner and other composers, audio and visual recordings of Reiner and other performers, books, and awards. Of particular interest is correspondence from Rudolf Serkin, Alfred Cortot, and Kurt Waldheim; legal documents from both before and after Reiner’s immigration to Canada; and the extensive collection of programmes and newspaper clippings that document Reiner’s extensive performance career. Selected Search Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalogue. They are grouped by name of person or organisation, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein. Personal Names Blume, Helmut, 1914–1998—Correspondence. 1 Brott, Alexander, 1915–2005—Correspondence. Brott, Lotte, 1922–1998—Correspondence. Cortot, Alfred, 1877–1962—Correspondence. Duchow, Rebecca—Correspondence. Firkusny, Rudolf, 1912–1994—Correspondence. Janigro, Antonio, 1918–1989—Correspondence. Reiner, Charles, 1924–2006—Archives. Reiner, Charles, 1924–2006—Autographs. Reiner, Charles, 1924–2006—Correspondence. Ricci, Ruggiero, 1918– —Correspondence. Serkin, Irene, 1917–1998—Correspondence. Serkin, Rudolf, 1903–1991—Correspondence. Szeryng, Henryk, 1918–1988—Autographs. Szeryng, Henryk, 1918–1988—Correspondence. Szeryng, Waltraud—Correspondence. Turbide, Nadia—Correspondence. Waldheim, Kurt, 1918–2007—Correspondence. Subjects Musicians—Canada. Musicians—Correspondence. Musicians—Jewish. Titles Reiner collection, 1924?–2006. Administrative Information Provenance Gift; Charles Reiner estate; 2009. Accruals No further accruals are expected. Processing History The Charles Reiner Collection was processed in 2010 by Elliott Cairns. This Finding Aid was prepared with Microsoft Word 2003. Transfers Sound recordings and moving images were transferred to the Marvin Duchow Music Library, Audio/Visual Division. 2 Copyright Status The status of copyright on the materials of the Charles Reiner Collection is governed by the Copyright Law of Canada. Restrictions The Charles Reiner Collection is open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Marvin Duchow Music Library prior to visiting ([email protected]; 514-398-4694) Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply. Preferred Citation Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: container number, Charles Reiner Collection, Marvin Duchow Music Library, McGill University, Montréal, Québec. Biographical Sketch Date Event 1924 7 April Born in Budapest, Hungary. 1944–1945 Interned at the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. 1947 Received concert diploma from Franz Liszt Academy, Budapest. 1948 Won International Competition for Music Performers, Geneva. 1949 Awarded first prize for virtuosity by Geneva Conservatory. 1950 First prize in International Refugees Organization competition (UN-sponsored). 1951 Moved to Montréal, Québec, Canada. 1951 27 November Canadian recital debut at Ritz Carlton Hotel, Montréal. 1954 Joined Faculty of Music at McGill University. 1954 11 February Television debut. 1956 Naturalised Canadian. 1963 Founding member of Canadian Piano Quartet. 1965 Joined Conservatoire de Trois-Rivières. 1967 Left Conservatoire de Trois-Rivières. 1971 Founding member of Musica Camerata Montréal. 1982 Began teaching at The Quartet Program. 1985 Invited to teach and perform at Shanghai Conservatory. 3 1994 Left McGill University. 2006 19 August Died at Royal Victoria Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Scope and Content Note The Charles Reiner Collection consists of correspondence, performance programmes, photographs, autographs and copies of his compositions, writings, professional papers, datebooks, books, and biographical material that document both the personal and musical lives of former pianist and educator Charles Reiner. The bulk of the collection contains materials that document his career as a solo and collaborative pianist. Reiner is most well known for his work with virtuoso violinist Henryk Szeryng during the 1960s–1980s. Charles Reiner came to Canada in 1951 as part of the Jewish diaspora caused by persecution in his native Hungary. Before he left Europe, he was interned at the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria from 1944–1945. Afterwards, he returned to Hungary where he attended the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, studying with Arpad Hanak, Arnold Szekely, and Bela Böszörmenyi-Nagy. He won the International Compeition for Music Performers in Geneva in 1947 and was awarded the first prize for virtuosity by the Geneva Conservatory the following year. After he came to Canada, Reiner established himself as a successful concert artist and educator. He was particularly adept at collaboration, performing with Hymen Bress, Maureen Forrester, Antonio Janigro, Arthur LeBlanc, Igor Oistrakh, Ruggiero Ricci, Henryk Szeryng, and Richard Verreau, among many others. He was a professor at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for 40 years. Reiner was married twice and he did not have any children. Organisation of the Charles Reiner Collection The Charles Reiner Collection is organised into five series: Correspondence Programmes Reviews/Clippings Biography Photographs Box Content BOX 1 CORRESPONDENCE, 1949–2000s. The Correspondence Series contains letters to or by Charles Reiner, in addition to correspondence about him or pertaining to his career. Arranged chronologically by time period as indicated. BOX-FOLDER 1/1 Correspondence 1949–1959. Includes letters from Alfred Cortot (1949), Rudolf Firkusny (1954), Irene Serkin (1957), and Rudolf Serkin (n.d.), and a letter to Sir Ernest MacMillan (1951). 4 BOX-FOLDER 1/2 Correspondence 1960s. Includes letters from Helmut Blume (1968) and Henryk Szeryng (1968). BOX-FOLDER 1/3 Correspondence 1970s. Includes a letter from U. N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim (1973). BOX-FOLDER 1/4 Correspondence 1980–1981. Includes letters from Lotte and Alexander Brott (1981), Rebecca Duchow (1981), Antonio Janigro (1981), Ruggiero Ricci (1981). BOX-FOLDER 1/5 Correspondence 1982–1989. BOX-FOLDER 1/6 Correspondence 1990s. Includes a letter from Waltraud Szeryng (1993). BOX-FOLDER 1/7 Correspondence 2000s. BOX-FOLDER 1/8 Correspondence Date Unknown. Box Content BOX 2–8 PROGRAMMES, 1950–1999. The Programmes Series contains concert programmes of his performances from 1950 to 1999 as well as programmes from performances that he attended and kept. The programmes are arranged chronologically. BOX 2 Programmes, 1950s. Includes signed programme by Charles Reiner and Henryk Szeryng; programme for the ―Grande Concert de Gala‖ of the International Refugee Organization; programmes for solo performances; listings of radio broadcasts; and programmes for collaborative performances with: François D’Albert, Hyman Bress, Alexander Brott, Lotta Brott, Ross Campbell, Leslie Chabay, Louis Charbonneau, Maureen Forrester, Arthur Garami, Rose Goldblatt, Gerrard Jarry, Guy Lachapelle, Arthur LeBlanc, Claudette LeBlanc, Carl Little, Armas Maiste, Anna Malenfant, Raffaele Masella, Janine Micheau, Ruggiero Ricci, Robert Savoie, Meyer Stolow, Henryk Szeryng, Laszlo Varga, and Zvi Zeitlin. BOX 3 Programmes, 1960–64. Includes invitations and programme for a recital by Henryk Szeryng and Charles Reiner at the Hall of the Americas (Pan American Union, Washington, D.C.); 5 programme for a recital by Henryk Szeryng and Charles Reiner at Tanglewood; programme for performance as soloist with the Montreal Chamber Orchestra; programmes for solo performances; listings of radio broadcasts; and programmes for collaborative performances with: Helen Boatwright, Colette Boky, Hyman Bress, Jules Bruyere, Mario Duschene, Maureen Forrester, Arthur Garami, Ann Golden, Sara Hayden, Antonio Janigro, Walter Joachim, Eugene Kash, Philip Maero, Kerstin Meyer, Jean Morin, Joan Patenaude, Guy Plamondon, Svetlana Rajewsky, Heinz Rehfuss, Elinor Ross, Joseph Rouleau, Mary Simmons, Teresa Stratas, Henryk Szeryng, Robert Verebes, Richard Verreau, and the Canadian Piano Quartet. BOX 4 Programmes, 1965–69, 1960s – date unknown. BOX 4 (front) Programmes, 1965–69. Includes leaflets for recitals by Talmon Herz and Charles Reiner, Arthur Garami and Charles Reiner, and Henryk Szeryng and Charles Reiner at Carnegie Hall; programmes for recitals by Hyman Bress and Charles Reiner at Philharmonic Hall (Lincoln Center); programmes for performances as soloist with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Symphony Orchestra and the CBC Ottawa Area Radio Studio Orchestra; programme for performance as part of the Amati Trio (with Arthur Garami and Denis Brott) as soloists with the Lakehead Box Content Symphony; programmes for solo performances; listings of radio broadcasts; and programmes for collaborative