ENTRY ELEVEN
THE TRAGIC VIRTUOSI
The world of classical music has witnessed a handful of promising musicians whose careers were short-lived due to unfortunate circumstances. There is one who immediately comes to mind: Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987), one of the greatest cellists to have ever graced the stage. As a pianist who frequently collaborates with cellists, I find myself consulting her recordings for inspiration. Not only did she play alongside the world’s finest orchestras; she was also married to and frequently performed with Daniel Barenboim, whose name — I hope — is known by us pianists (and, frankly, all musicians). Du Pré developed multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease that greatly reduced the sensitivity and strength of her extremities, particularly her hands and fingers. After more than a decade without any performances, she died at the age of 42.
Even earlier than her passing was the death of Dinu Lipatti (1917-1950), a Romanian pianist who I didn’t even know about until my film professor in college told me about him. When I looked up Lipatti’s name, a recording of Chopin’s Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58 came up, and… not many other results appeared. I kind of expected that, given his career was at its peak during a time of limited and/or developing recording technology. I haven’t even come across any video footage of him playing at the piano. What I wasn’t expecting to learn of him, however, was his shockingly short lifespan due to Hodgkin’s disease. He was only 33 years old.
Although there are several more like them, the last of the tragic virtuosi whom I’d like to discuss is the American violinist Michael Rabin (1936-1972). During my annual physical exam a few years ago, my doctor mentioned that he used to be a serious violinist before ultimately going to med school, and he told me to “go listen to some recordings by Michael Rabin.” Doctor’s orders. I searched the violinist’s name, and — again — not many results showed up. Out of the few recordings that were available, there was only one of a piece that I was familiar with: the beloved “Meditation” from Jules Massenet’s opera Thaïs. The moment I hit the “play” button on that recording, the only expectation I had was what the notes will be since I knew the composition itself. I had no expectations of the sound quality, and certainly no expectations for what Michael Rabin’s interpretation would sound like. Heck, I didn’t even know of him until my own doctor mentioned his name. As soon as I heard the violinist’s first note, that sustained F-sharp, I instantly knew it would be a sublime performance. Throughout the rest of the recording, I slowly came to the realization that I had never heard any other violinist sound like that. Not only was his intonation flawless, but Rabin also employed such a bel canto style, making his instrument truly sound like a singing voice. The way he tastefully did the most subtle, upward glissandi to the long notes was just impeccable. For example, if the note on the score was a C-sharp, then he would purposefully play the note a hair flat for a millisecond and then gently “slide” up to the correct pitch. He did that sparingly throughout the piece, but those moments added so much more emotional depth to his interpretation. It sounded as if his violin was crying out a song in anguish with its final breaths, like a swan who sings his one and only song shortly before his death in Greek mythology. It very well could have been, because Rabin’s career as a performer would soon come to an end. During one of his performances shortly thereafter, he lost his balance and fell. That incident was the first of many indicators of a neurological condition which he would have to suffer with for the rest of his life. A few years later, with almost no new recordings nor many public appearances, he experienced an epileptic reaction inside his home, causing him to collapse and suffer a head injury upon impact from falling. He died at the age of 35 years. To my knowledge, the details of his neurological illness remain a mystery, but there is nothing mysterious about what could have been with such a promising musician like him. My eyes fill with some tears whenever I hear his playing. A real pity, really.