THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, March 28, 1980 19 The Fabulous Arthur Rubinstein Musical. Genius, Wit Recorded in 'My Many Years -*Nig Arthur Rubinstein is much more than the master musician. His career is highlighted not only on the piano. He is equal to all occasions as a raconteur, possessing a marvelous sense of humor. He is blessed with a memory that makes him an historian in the musical world. He has - worked with the greatest in the musical spheres and his judgments of character provide due account of the per- ,- sonalities who have dominated music most of this century. ,..,These characteristics of this great musician become evident in his autobiography, "My Many Years" (Knopf). The entire book is delightful reading. At the same time it is most informative. Few in this generation could possi- bly offer so may views on the most eminent people in music, ' treating them with frankness, while defining their great gifts to mankind. At 93, Rubinstein gives an account of 64 years of ex.nerience, of travels throughout the world, of shar- 4e limelight with the most eminent of the century, e himself gaining the recognition that gave him world status at the piano. There is charm in every episode depicted in this fas- cinating autobiographical work. Every social function, all events in which he participated, become example of a life that led him to association with the most distinguished of the last half century. He didn't pull punches. In excoriating Nazism he was the vigilant. Confronting his fello -N7 musicians he was the frank and outspoken adherent to views that defined the glories of music. He does not glorify all of the geniuses in music. He had a run-in with Leonard Bernstein, but they soon became great friends. He befriended among others the Detroit Symphony Orchestra conductor Ossip Gabrilowitsch. He describes the anxieties that were felt when Israel was threatened by Nasser and then emerged triumphant in the Six-Day War. Expressing the joy that was experienced with the Is- raeli success in the 1967 conflict, he states among other expressions of cheer: "The cry of admiration and triumph was heard everywhere. We lived one of the greatest moments of our lives . . . Jerusalem, the capital of the Jews, was united again after 2,000 years, and the Old City, - shamelessly desecrated by the Jordanian occupation, was cleared up and shined in glory, thanks to its ad- mirable Mayor Teddy Kollek." He relates about the search for havens in Israel by Jews in that period and he tells: "Many brave Jews flew to Israel, among them my young colleague Daniel Barenboim and his fiance, Jacqueline du Pre, the great cellist; she married him upon arrival and adopted his faith." He gives an interesting account of his presence at the opening of the Frederick Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv. Fred Mann invited him to a dinner at which he shared a table with Albert Einstein. It is a delightfully told tale about a rich man's hosting the distinguished guests. The description of Fred Mann, the poor lad who made good in business, is fabulous. The description of the opening ceremony at the inauguration of the Mann Auditorium is among the fascinating descriptions in Rubinstein's life story. To quote: . It was a proud day for music in Tel Aviv when the beautiful modern hall which would be used only for con- certs was ready. It was Fred Mann of Philadelphia who had taken the initiative by contributing a large sum and ob- taining much larger sums from other American music lov- ers, and these gifts encouraged the city of Tel Aviv and the government of Israel to give the final sums for the construc- tion. , "The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra found, at last, a worthy and steady home. For the inauguration, a great gala took place; Leonard Bernstein conducted, Isaac Stern played a concerto, Piatigorsky should have played but couldn't come, so he was replaced by the fine French cellist Paul Tortelier, and I played the 'Emperor' Concerto by BPathoven. The hall was named after Frederick Mann, who had made the first contribution. Bernstein opened the concert with the Israeli national anthem, which is very moving. T' n Ben-Gurion gave a long inaugural speech in Hebrew, N .11 neither Bernstein, Stern nor I could understand. To our great shame and surprise, Tortelier, the Christian, was the one who translated it for us. He had fallen in love with Israel and lived a whole year with his family in a kibutz. "Fred Mann expected to be introduced to the pub- lic by Ben-Gurion after the speech, but he was not called. The whole program was performed with a long intermission and I had just finished the concert when I noticed that Fred Mann was still waiting in the wings. I felt that something had to be done and, in- stead of giving an encore, I made him come up with me on the stage and introduced him in my best English as the man who had initiated the construction of the hall. After due applause, the gala was over. Rubinstein's friendship with Bronislaw Hubermann is among the very interesting recollections in "My Many Years." Nahum Sokolow and Jan Masaryk are among the not- ables who shared important functions with him. This is a truly great work. It is notable as an autobiog- raphy. It emerges as history for musicians. It is Arthur Rubinstein, at 93, with loss of sight, indelibly recorded in the story of the great of this century. -P.S. 1 PRESCRIPTION OPTICAL CO. PHIL ELLIS INVITES YOU TO INSPECT OUR LARGE SELECTION OF EYE FASHIONS PHIL ELLIS HAPPY PASSOVER to All Our Friends and Patients DAILY 9:30 - 6 P.M THURS. 7 - 9 P.M. 26001 COOLIDGE HWY. 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