Seymour Bernstein bestowed this gift link to his list of loyal followers, students, friends, et al, and I was fortunate to be one of the recipients.
The 27-minute film featured on You Tube, captures Rubinstein’s embracing personality and joie de vivre. A celebrated raconteur, he intersperses colorful comments and stories at the drop of a note.
Above all, viewers will experience the pianist’s artistry in full bloom, as he tries out a familiar Hamburg Steinway that had repair work done by factory technicians. They wrap themselves around him like fawning parents as he “improvises” and then plays snippets from the following works:
“Chopin: Etude in A-Flat Major, Op. 25 No. 1;
” Etude in C Major, Op. 10 No. 1;
” Etude in A minor, Op. 10 No. 2;
” Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23;
“Szymanowsky: Symphonie Concertante, Op. 60;
“Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales;
“Schubert: Sonata in B-Flat Major, D. 960.”
No further introduction is needed, except to say that the film will draw you back for repeated viewings.
Oh, and don’t forget to click CC on the screen bottom to activate English sub-titles.
I don’t cry at movies…….but that left me teary. Beautiful, and hiss expressions while playing says it all. Glad you posted this!
Thanks, it was a rare you tube find.
that’s a very interesting documentary I didn’t know about. Rubinstein did not want to perform in Germany because of what happened in WWII. thank you for sharing this
thanks for your kind note.. I remain a faithful partisan of Rubenstein’s exquisite playing memorialized in recordings and through touching documentaries like this one.