Rubinstein: A Life in Music

by Harvey Sachs

Book Overview

A biography of Arthur Rubinstein's private life, including his love affairs, his rivalry with Vladimir Horowitz, and his relationships with the rich and powerful. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802115799
• ISBN13: 9780802115799
• Release Date: October 1995
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 525 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Definitive...

Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982) was a complicated man. His two-volume autobiography was an interesting read, but only revealed the portions of the pianist's life which he wanted known, was filled with numerous omissions and errors, contained a great deal of petty score settling (his comments about Heifetz, Schnabel and Horowitz were especially cutting), and remarkably little discussion of music. Harvey Sachs, whose acclaimed biography of Arturo Toscanini is required reading for all musicians, has produced a meticulously researched and balanced look at the pianist's life and music.As Sachs recounts Rubinstein's unusual childhood and early musical progress, it's clear that the pianist's early years (he left his parents before adolescence) set a pattern of devotion and abandonment which would scar his entire life.Rubinstein had difficult relations with his entire family, particularly his wife and children. His eldest son had no communication with his father from 1969 onward, and in 1976, at the age of 89, Rubinstein left Nela, his wife of 44 years, for a woman young enough to be his granddaughter. In a sense, Rubinstein considered his adoring public to be his family, and when his biological family was not equally adoring, the pianist's reaction could be volcanic (he once loudly castigated his son, Paul--who was ill--for dozing in the green room during one of his concerts). The book reveals a man who was fundamentally generous (in 1960, he gave a series of ten recitals entirely for charity), but highly insecure, obsessed with position, and always needing to be at the center of attention-onstage or off.Sachs has reconciled the frequent errors in Rubinstein's memoirs with regard to names, dates, and events. He also interviewed nearly everyone still alive who knew Rubinstein. The tangled story of Rubinstein's affair with Annabelle Whitestone, which lasted until his death, is handled with fairness and sympathy toward all parties.Musicians and Rubinstein fans will find Donald Manildi's discography very useful-especially as the complete Rubinstein recordings have now been reissued by RCA. Sachs is a knowledgeable musician, but he occasionally lets his biases creep into his appraisal of Rubinstein's recorded legacy. He is notably critical of Rubinstein's Beethoven on several fronts, but the gist of his complaints is that the pianist didn't play it the way Toscanini conducted it. For the most part, however, Sachs' comments on Rubinstein's recordings are noted for their fairness, clarity, and objectivity.On the whole, Harvey Sachs has done an excellent job of recounting Rubinstein's long and eventful life. As with his biography of Toscanini, this book should be read by anyone who loves great music or has ever bought a Rubinstein recording.

Brilliant on Rubinstein's connection with Brazil and Villa-

I would like to contact the author, as am presently effecting a research on Villa-Lobos, and not-at this stage- write a review. I believe there are a few minor mistakes with respect to brazilian personalities (eg the brazilian pianist Antonieta Rudge had no connection whatsoever with Pound's friend, the american violinist Olga Rudge) , and precisions with respect to dates, programs of Rubinstein's concerts in the 1920s, which I believe could be of interest to the author. I found the book fascinating, and would very much benefit from the possibility of discussing some points with the author.

Quite informative for Rubinstein devotees but tedious.

Arthur Rubinstein's tone and interpretations are legendary, and this book is filled with rich details of this keyboard master's life. He captures Rubinstein's complexity and emergence into a true joy in living and a love for playing for his audiences. Nonetheless, many sections require persistence and are tedious. I liked this book, but I have seen other biographies of great musicians that flowed more easily. Overall, worth the effort.