One of the gifts of fate was an opportunity to meet Geroge Riabikov, who happened to be a nephew of Sergei Rachmaninov and also a relative of Tchaikovsky. His mother was Ekaterina Sarusskaya, formerly of Kielce, Poland. his father was Pavel Riabikov, formerly of Ukraine.
At the end of my recital in Southern Pines, North Carolina, a lady ran up to me saying, that there's rachmaninov's nephew living there in SP.
The facts I found out about George were simply astounding! He was born in Kiev and showed himself off at the very early age as a child prodigy pianist.
His friend Wasyl Shut (1899-1982), a composer, worked in the theatres of Kiev in the 1930s before
emigrating to Chicago in 1950, he composed some piano pieces for george.
his fingers were crashed with a steel door. he helped hiding Jews in the caves near the kiev before they could be removed into a safe remote place. But he was too famous, and once someone denounced him to the Gestapo.
So
He managed to make his own way from under the piles of corpses out of the pit and escape. He was picked up by the local peasants barely alive.
But he had a bad luck again. He managed to find his mother only to be taken to the concentration camp.
The Nazis burned his father alive when he tried to help them to escape from there.
In 1945 he and his mother were rescued by the Allied troops. Riabikov met with Field Marshal Montgomery, who in turn introduced him to General Eisenhower.
Through faith, determination and long, agonizing practice, he regained use of his hands and began to play again.
He was a concert pianist in the American Special Service and gave many concerts for the U.S. and British Armies. At the same time, Riabikov continued his studies withb Walter Gieseking and Conrad Hansen. He played in Europe and at the Salzburg and other world music festivals.
In 1949 George Riabikov finally moved to the United States with his mother from the Displace Perons British Zone in Hannover, Germany.. Nina Mitchell of Shepherdstown, W. Va sponsored the Riabikovs and they lived in her home. Here he continued his piano studies in New York with Claudio Arrau and Gina Bachauer(Rachmaninov's pupil), who wrote:
Of all the young pianists I have heard, I find that Gerogi Riabikov has not only the best inborn musical talent, but also great poetry, imagination and temperament in his playing. he is different from the others, with something quite exceptional. his depth of feeling, his inner spark and warmth were acquired only through long siffering, which have made him a real and great artist. I am confident that he will have a great future which he so well deserves.
Often a guest at the White House, Georgi Riabikov played for Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon.
He miraculously recovered and resumed his concert activities in the US giving a recital in Carnegie Hall
He performed in the presence of JFK in Dallas on the night before his assassination.
he remains bedridden already for several years
His last recital took place at the Sandhills Community College on July 24, 1995. After it he received a great leeter of appreciation from the Professor of Piano Mr. Marc Israel.
I saw him last time on October 31, 2004. Impressed by my playing he gave me away a pile of his scores, mostly the Soviet editions of the 1960s, the ones he ordered from the American stores. His friend Mr. israel asked the doctors not to give him morphium so that he could see me and we could talk a bit. But I felt lost. He could barely whisper something unclear into my ear. It was all pretty sad.
OBITUARY
George Riabikov, 80, of Southern Pines, formerly of Kiev, Russia, died on Monday, nov 8, 2004 at St.Joseph of the Pines health center after seven years of care.
A graveside memorial service will be conducted in Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Mr. Riabikov was orthodox Christian.
Mr. Riabikov was a concert pianist. His mentors and teachers included Conrad hanses, Walter Gieseking, Claudio Arrau and Gina Bachauer. He first performed at Sandhills Community College in 1972. Since then, he performed eleven other concerts in the sandhills. His last concert was in 1995 at Sandhills Community College...
(received on November 17 FROM JOAN BARRETT, Southern Pines, NC)
Mr. Riabikov's friend, Mr. Marc Israel, is now preparing to give his archive tot eh University of Kentucky in Louisville. Hoever, some materials might be available in copies or duplicates.