The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-08-09
GOLDMARKs "REMINISCENCES.
LISTS Invitation to an Audience-Whims
Of Rubinstein.

~
Of Rubinstein.
Carl Goldmark. who 10 now more than 80.
has begun to write his memoirs, and the
first instalment appearing in a German
musical magazine gives an interesting &C.
count Of his aoquaintance with some OF
the musical giants of'the past.
"It is curious" he writes, shat some
Of our great composers were 80 much OF
the grand seigneur at heart that 1t made
their whole way Of life conspicuous. Chief
among these were Richard Wagner. Liszt
other hand, who left q large fortune behind
him, led as simple q life a. Beethoven. ,
1Wagner's absolute need OF elegant and
luxurious surroundings is well known.
This incident will throw an interesting
light OF Liszt in this particular:
@Onoe on u concert tour he played In a
small town in which the hall was not q
third full. Like most small audiences this
one was very enthusiastic ana reoalied
the pianist repeatedly at the end OF the
stage he stepped forward and with the ut
most seriousness said:
MAY / have the pleasure OF inviting
this respected audience to supper with me
Nobody accepted, but Liszt was entirely
earnest In his invitation.
"Rubinstein had this same microbe In
his blood. During the time he spent In
Vienna as conductor Of the Society Con-
certs he gave every week D reception with
an elaborate buffet supper. which ne ordered
cost exceeding the salary he got as con-
ductor for the entire season.
son these evenings he used to play the
piano with LiRt. Usually Rubinstein,s
Variations for two PiaIos, va selscsea, .v IL
greatest masters Of the century. 1t was
still more wonderful to hear them.
@Rubinstein worshipped Liszt az q god.
Unluckily his character, otherwise 80 free
from envy, changed in his later years. ae
world. He felt himself neglected as a COM
Apart from Richard Wagner, whose
artistic principles were somewhat foreign
to his own, he saw with bitter regret the
.Lfszt, Rubinstein and Brahms were
among the composers invited TO q banquet
at the foundation Of the T~onkuenstler-
yerein in Vienna, and the four sat together.
The tr%iumphirate.' said somebody.
Yes answered Rubinstein. pointing
to List, there sits Cesar, I IN Brutus.
and there, indicating Brahms. Is Lepidus.'
Later he was at Julius E~pstein's. but
without Brahms. Rubinstein ran on the
Immediately began to abuse them both as
emphatically as he could. a
I'You are unjust I said, contradicting
him. 1t is the popularity Of such decided
natures that they cannot understand one
another. You really do not know Wagner
or List. You each 60 YOU " way,
as II you had on binders, seeing your own
ideal in front but observing nothing that
goes on about YOU
g a'What! said Rubinstein, furious. You
are another one of those fellowsl l know
YOU are more famous than / as q composer
(my Queen OF Sheba' and Rustic We'd
ding symphony we're just becoming known
thenl. but while you are composing one
of those things I write q hundred
I'VE laughed at such a naive point Of view,
in which sven Rubinstein himself had no
confidence. .
Anton I said, putting my arms around
his neck, you're a great big child
But l really meant he was a very great
man.