Rubinstein Remembered.
- A Film about a great pianist.
I think it was during the 1960’s that I attended the final concert given in San Francisco by Artur Rubinstein. It was a solo recital, and I remember the concert today, even though it is more than fifty years later. The concert hall was packed, although tickets were very expensive even back at those days. Mr. Rubinstein appeared in a burgundy-colored jacket; very distinguished.
He played a beautiful and varied program. Mr. Rubinstein was born January 28, 1887 and he died on December 20, 1982. Just imagine that amazing life-span, and the changes that took place on this planet during his years.
Give some thought to the World Wars, and other wars that took place. And think about the heads of state, Presidents and other leaders that lived and died during Rubinstein’s life: Roosevelt, Kennedy, Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and Churchill. He also was part of the Sputnik era, and he experienced the moon landing of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on July 20, 1969.
The music in this film is, of course, all performed by Artur Rubinstein. This astonishing documentary about the great pianist’s life features interviews, newsreels, home movies, TV interviews and performance footage, narrated by his son, John Rubinstein. Originally this film was broadcast as part of Public Television’s award-winning “American Masters” series.
This tribute traces the pianist’s life from his birth in Łódz´, Poland, through his final concert there in 1975. This DVD is scheduled to be released at the end of July, 2014.
Here is Artur Rubinstein performing the Chopin Étude op 25/11 “Winter Storm” – “How it should sound”:
And next, here is an interview with Mr. Rubinstein at age 90:
I will end with Arthur Rubinstein playing the second and 3rd movements of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata #14 Op. 27 #2 ( Moonlight.):
