New-York tribune., 1873-06-28

| tions.
Anton Rubinstein agrees with me. lie Is seated
at my left. and looks like the remains Oh former
greatness. He is in a state of eclipse, and am
heather enough to rejoice, for at sea misery hkcs
company derive inoxpressible comfort IN behold
| inc ocnins reduced TO my own level. The sea is
Democratic in its tendencies II is no respecter OF
/ narsons else il wonld spare the great pianist who
has done so much 10 elevate the musical standard
in America and whose great oDJectlon TO our
country is that 1t is 5000 watery miles from Europe.
An II il were not for that r he exclaims, extend
inc his arms toward the restless monster surging
and foaming around u.s. America would be possible;
but the thought of repeating this journey OF com
mitting myself to an awful ocean with chance OF
being swallowed mp by it, unknown to my family
this thought, combined with my physical wretchod-
ness. will prevent my return" But you will go
to us agaInf' l exposulate. 81 do not say
| will not for who dares predict the future;
but never will l 60 as a pianist" And thus il
is learn of Rubinstens ambition and plans for
the next ten years Aged 49, he has been playing in
public for 80 years. Put to the piano for amuse-
ment, at six Rubnstein developed such extraordi-
nary love and ability that his parents soon decided
upon his career. Studying never more than three
hours day, young Anton appeared publicly at ten
years of age, 81 played, but never practced after
was 13," confesses the pianist, whom Robert Brown
ing, fine musical critic, rightly pronounces - the
greatest of them all' What terrible shock this IS
to ploddeIs. Patience seeks without finding, and
genius finds without seeking. Rat Rubinstein ls
exceptional He is fired by musical passion. You
fancy that he possesses enormous power IN ms
arms. 1t is all in his wrists and in his
passion. When he is inspired no becomes
blind and is sure to injure himself He has played
for us once on board our good steamer. Como, we
viii 60 now," he said one afternoon beckonlng TO
few. and entering the ladies' saloon he sat down to
an upright Erard and played the Erl King IN a
way that caused tears to come. From passion he
passed to the delicious sentiment of Schnberts
' Auf dem Wasser" as exquisite poem as melody
ever sang then dashed into brilliant waltz, and
finally, being wrought up to the music, gave such a
rendering of the finale of the third act of The HUI
gueuots," as made every operatic performance Of 1t
puere. II was not a pianoforte arrangement
1t was Meyerbeer without the voices, and yet Meyer
beer in all his glory, for every note received ITS true
Interpretation and for the first time realized the
intensity of that famous duo for bass and soprano
1t was a tremendous performance. Rubnsten
ceased to sec the keyboard, and upon concluding.
blood was upon the keys. He had IN some impoSsl-
be manner hurt his right thumb. Ialways do some
thing of the kind when grow blind he said rising
quietly from the piano showing himself then as at
all other times the most unassuming Of men. And
he is immensely clever. pianist may be stupid
outside of his art, but to be composer is TO create
and creation necessitates thought. " l shall cease
being pianist" says Rubnstein 1t is better to
bid farewell to the public than to wait mtil tho
public bids farewell TO You. want to be forgotten
by the world l shall return to ST. Petersburg and
devote myself to composition. All, yes, have had
a dream for many years. 1t has grown with my
growth 1t is part of me. 1t is my desire, my in
tention my Will, to write sacred operas. Oratorio
as now delivered is a mistake. Think of Moses
Elijah and the finest biblical characters, stupidity
singing in dress-cOatS on a barren platform! Han
del never wrote with any such design Public opin-
ion forced him into the concert room. If live.
shall dedicate the next ten or fifteen years to the
composition Of seven sacred operas"
And the subjects. Masetro Rubinstein :"
"They will be the grandest, for to Inc they are the
most interesting. First, Eve; here Is superb oppor
tuuitv. Second. Moses l shall include his entire
history. saving the scene Mount Sinai. Third,
Job; fourth CanticleS fifth, Maccabees; sixth,
David; seventh, Jesus Christ, i'll which last shall
be most absorbed OF course these operas win not
he equally long some requiring a few hours only,
others demanding two representations for coTDpete
rendition. Nor shall one be brought out until all
are ready. for will not be judged by compost
tion. must stand or fall by all. This is my work.
1t will be varied by lighter compositions. I0aJ9Hs
perdrir is bad Diet
Then. Maestro Rubinstein, see how you can be
lured to America. 1t i, a long time to wait, and
hope fate will send you to sooner than you dream
but if the worst happens, you must promise TO super
intend the production of your sacred operas in the
United States
All there you have me. don't say no. am
drawn TO America. Ii Is a growing country. l like
your public infinitely better than the English. You
are appreciatiye and quick to learn was delighted
with the NewYork audiences that assisted at my
rectas. Indeed the attention on the Beethoven
day absolutely charmed me. You think l did well
to conclude with the funeral march 1t was at the
request of a lady who had lost her son in your civil
war. and wanted me to play it in his honor. ! did.
wished all the concerts TO be rectas. Perhaps the
manager was right in entertaining different Opiu-
ion but could not leave the country without de-
rnonstratng the history OF pano-forte music and see
how well il was received You think had a mo-
tive in playing Thalberg's and Liszts fantasies on
Don Giovanni, one after the other OF course had
You saw Immediately Thalbergs inconsequence and
LISTS mastery of the subject Well, to return TO
the operas. They for theatrical performance
with the aid Of magnificent accessories Yours is
the country of new IDEAS There should have no
established religion to combat, and there would be
the best place to bring them out"
| So, American public, if you properly appreciate
! Anton Rubinstein, you viii tell him through your
potent press that whenever his operas are ready YOU
will welcome them with all the heartiness peculiar
! to the new world.
| But why not come to America TO lyel You love
your art. You can advance it much more in New
| York than in ST. Petersburg"
Rublnstein looks at the sea, shrugs hIs shoulders
and replies: If my wife would 20 to America,
would 90. | am a Russian Of Russians, but am also
Republican, and America is the land for those who