Isaac Stern

1920 - 2001

Isaac Stern had a style all his own, the combination of a flawless virtuosity with a tenderness in his playing.  Those of us who had the pleasure of meeting and talking to him knew that he was, not only one of the greatest musicians in the twentieth century but also one of the greatest persons.  A man who rushed from one concert to another all over the world but never was too rushed to be interested in a budding young artist or talk to an elderly admirer. A man with a sense of humor which did not quit. A man who could be just as comfortable performing on the Jack Benny show as he was in Carnegie Hall. He will be very missed by all.  Below are a few vignettes which may not have been covered in the news articles:

I. The wisdom of Isaac Stern

• On the high percentage of Jewish people who are good violinists: Isaac Stern was asked why he thought it was that so many Jewish people excelled on the violin.  He answered that he thought it started when so many Jewish people were confined to ghettos and could be disenfranchised from their land at the drop of a hat.  Thus they moved all their possessions often. "Can you imagine carrying a piano from village to village?" Stern quipped.
  
• At a concert: Mr Stern was once confronted by a gushing fan. "Oh, " said the middle ager, "You play so well - I would give my life to play like you do."  Stern knitted his eyebrows and answered, "That I did!"
  
• On aging: "Which goes first, " asked a reporter of Mr Stern, "the bow arm or the fingering hand?"  With a twinkle in his eye, Stern answered, "The bow arm and you're an SOB for asking this!"
  
• On Jack Benny: Stern's famous quote: "When Benny walks out on the stage, he looks like one of the world's greatest violinists. What a shame he has to play!"

II. SueW's encounter with Isaac Stern

I got a chance to meet Mr Stern when he played in Skokie, IL as a soloist with the Skokie Symphony - this was in 1962.  I was a senior in High School and a student of John Weicher, concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony for 22 years, who had been friends with Isaac Stern for years. At this time, I was Weicher's only student since Weicher had officially retired from teaching a few years before.

Stern played a wonderful concert - as beautifully as he would have with a professional orchestra. And the orchestra did back him up well.

The concert was held in a school auditorium (Skokie High School maybe?) so to get backstage to meet the virtuoso was easier than it would have been in a concert hall.  I stood in line to shake hands with Mr Stern who was talking and visiting with all who waited in line despite the fact he must have been tired after a solo performance.

When he got to me and my mother introduced me, a look of recognition came across his face and I got the feeling he might have heard about me from my teacher, John Weicher.    Mr Stern motioned my mother and me to sit down at a nearby table and wait for him.  Then he continued to greet the other people in line.

After he was done with the line, he came over to the table and sat down with us. He asked me what I was studying and different things about my career plans. He told me about his friendship with my teacher and other things.  He was so encouraging to me. He spent 15-20 minutes visiting with us.  That he took so much time to visit with us was truly, the thrill of a lifetime!  Now, some 40 years later, I still remember him with fondness.  He will be very missed!

SueW, 25 Sept 2001

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