Einstein and Glass on stage

Synopsis

When TIME magazine chose Albert Einstein as its “Person of the Century” for their Millennium issue, their profile catalogued his achievements in physics and philosophy, but made no mention of Einstein’s interest in music—or music’s interest in him. That’s where we come in.

In addition to being a brilliant thinker, Einstein was a talented amateur violinist. On this day in 1934, he even performed the second violin part of Bach’s Double Concerto at a private recital in New York to raise money for scientists who had suffered at the hands of Hitler.

So, was Einstein any good? After his 1934 concert, the Musical America critic wrote, “Representatives of the press had been asked not to criticize Professor Einstein’s playing or to describe his manner on the platform. Unofficially, however, they confessed to being impressed. He played, according to their non-critical report, as all great artists play, with ‘technique,’ ‘expression’ and a complete absorption in his music.”

Einstein was not only inspired by classical music—he’s inspired more than a few musical works himself. The 1976 opera “Einstein on the Beach,” by American composer Philip Glass features a solo violinist dressed as Einstein who wanders in and out of scenes. Music from Glass’s opera was quoted as an in-joke during a TV commercial showing Einstein trying to choose between Coke and Pepsi.

Music Played in Today's Program

Philip Glass (b. 1937) Cadenza and Dance 2, from Einstein on the Beach Philip Glass Ensemble; Michael Riesman, cond. Nonesuch 79323

On This Day

Births

• 1706 - American statesman, composer of string quartets, publisher and inventor of the glass harmonica Benjamin Franklin, in Boston (Gregorian date: Jan. 28);

• 1712 - English composer John Stanley (Gregorian date: Jan. 28);

• 1734 - Belgian composer François-Joseph Gossec, in Vergnies;

• 1907 - Dutch composer Henk Badings, in Bandung, Java;

• 1927 - American composer Donald Erb, in Youngstown, Ohio;

• 1934 - Canadian-born American composer, conductor and clarinetist Sydney Hodkinson, in Winnipeg, Manitoba;

Deaths

• 1738 - French composer and organist Jean François Dandrieu, age c. 56, in Paris;

• 1750 - Italian composer Tomaso Albinoni, age 78, in Venice;

• 1826 - Spanish composer Juan Crisostomo Arriaga, age 19, in Paris;

• 1869 - Russian composer Alexander Dargomizhsky, age 55, in St. Peterburg (Julian date: Jan. 5);

• 1969 - Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz, age 55, in Warsaw;

Premieres

• 1880 - Franck: Piano Quintet in f, in Paris, by the Marsick Quartet, with Camille Saints-Saëns at the piano;

• 1901 - Mascagni: opera "Le Maschere" (The Masks), simultaneously in 6 cities;

• 1944 - Copland: Violin Sonata, at Times Hall in New York, by violinist Ruth Posselt with the composer at the piano;

• 1991 - Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Oboe Concerto, by soloist John Mack, with the Cleveland Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnanyi conducting;

Others

• 1745 - Handel publishes a letter in the London ":Daily Advertiser" offering to return three-fourths money to the subscribers to his current series of concerts, then in progress, suggesting that his attempts to please the public have proved ineffectual; The letter prompts a flurry of support, and Handel resumes the concerts a week later; In all, 16 out of the promised 24 concerts would take place; The series closed on April 23, 1745, with a revival performance of ":Messiah." (Gregorian dates: Jan. 28 and May 4, respectively);

• 1919 - Polish composer and pianist Ignaz Jan Paderewski becomes premiere of Poland.