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For the 19th century Russian pianist and composer, see Anton Rubinstein. This article is about the 19th century Russian pianist and composer
Arthur Rubinstein
photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1937
photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1937
Background information
Born January 28, 1887
Łódź, Congress Poland
Died December 20, 1982 (age 95)
Geneva, Switzerland
Genre(s) Classical
Occupation(s) Pianist
Instrument(s) Piano
Years active 1900-1976

Artur [Arthur] Rubinstein KBE (January 28, 1887 – December 20, 1982) was a Polish-American pianist who is widely considered as one of the greatest piano virtuosi of the 20th century. Carl Van Vechten ( June 17, 1880 &ndash December 21, 1964) was an American Writer and Photographer who was a Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Łódź is Poland 's third largest city with population of 753192 in 2007 (lost its second rank to Krakow in 2007 Congress Poland Kongresówka, officially and formally Kingdom of Poland (Królestwo Polskie {{IPA-pl|'|p|o|l|s|kʲ|e}} Царство Польское Tsarstvo Polskoye Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Geneva (Genève is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French -speaking Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers A virtuoso (from Italian virtuoso, late Latin virtuosus, Latin virtus meaning skill manliness excellence is an individual The twentieth century of the Common Era began on He received international acclaim for his performances of Frédéric Chopin and Johannes Brahms and his championing of Spanish music. Johannes Brahms ( pronounced ˈbʁaːms (May 7 1833 &ndash April 3 1897 was a German Composer Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with Flamenco, an Andalusian musical genre which contrary to popular belief is not widespread outside that region

Contents

Biography

Artur Rubinstein was born on January 28, 1887, the eldest son of a businessman from the large Jewish community of Łódź, Congress Poland, today's Poland. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Łódź is Poland 's third largest city with population of 753192 in 2007 (lost its second rank to Krakow in 2007 Congress Poland Kongresówka, officially and formally Kingdom of Poland (Królestwo Polskie {{IPA-pl|'|p|o|l|s|kʲ|e}} Царство Польское Tsarstvo Polskoye Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland He was not related to the earlier Russian pianist-composer Anton Rubinstein, nor his Polish near contemporary, the cosmetics giant Helena Rubinstein. This article is about the 19th century Russian pianist and composer Helena Rubinstein ( December 25, 1870 – April 1, 1965) was a Polish - American Cosmetics industrialist

Aside from his early and singular fascination with the piano, another interesting childhood trait is that Rubinstein didn't begin speaking until some time around the age of three. Until the time that he developed speech, Rubinstein would entertain his family by imitating non-speech sounds. [1] The descriptions of Rubinstein's delayed speech, his early childhood tantrums and his later virtuosity closely follow a similar pattern of development of other famous late-talkers, such as fellow pianist Clara Schumann and physicist (and sometimes-musician) Albert Einstein, among others. Clara Josephine Wieck Schumann (September 13 1819 &ndash May 20 1896 was a German musician one of the most distinguished Pianists of the Romantic era, as Albert Einstein ( German: ˈalbɐt ˈaɪ̯nʃtaɪ̯n; English: ˈælbɝt ˈaɪnstaɪn (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955 was a German -born theoretical [2]

Beginning at the piano when he was still two years of age, Rubinstein first studied in Warsaw. Warsaw (Warszawa; also known by other names) is the Capital and Largest city of Poland. At the age of four he played for the great German violinist Joseph Joachim who was greatly impressed and began to play the role of mentor for the young prodigy. Joseph Joachim (June 28 1831 &ndash August 15 1907 (ˈjoʊɑːxɪːm was a Hungarian Violinist, conductor, Composer and teacher By age ten Rubinstein moved to Berlin to continue his studies. In 1900, at the age of thirteen, he made his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic, followed by appearances in Germany and Poland and further study with Karl Heinrich Barth. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. In 1904, he moved to Paris to launch his career in earnest. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city There he met the composers Maurice Ravel, Paul Dukas, and the violinist Jacques Thibaud. Paul Abraham Dukas (October 1 1865 &ndash May 17 1935 was a Parisian born French Composer and teacher of classical music. Jacques Thibaud ( September 27, 1880 - September 1, 1953) was a French Violinist. He also played Camille Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 2 in the presence of the composer. Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (/ʃaʁl kamij sɛ̃sɑ̃s/ (9 October 1835 &ndash 16 December 1921 was a French Composer, Organist, conductor, and The Piano Concerto No 2 in G minor, Op 22 by Camille Saint-Saëns, was composed in 1868 and is probably Saint-Saëns' most popular Piano concerto Through the family of Juliusz Wertheim (to whose understanding of Chopin's genius he attributed his own inspiration in the works of that composer) he formed a friendship with the violinist Paweł Kochański, which led later to artistic and social involvement with Karol Szymanowski. Juliusz Edward Wertheim (b Warsaw, 24 September 1880 d 6 May 1928 sometimes known as Jules Wertheim, was a Polish Pianist, conductor Paweł Kochański ( 14 September 1887 &ndash 12 January 1934) also called Paul Kochanski, was a Polish Violinist Karol Maciej Szymanowski (3 October 1882 in Tymoszówka (present-day Ukraine) – 28 March 1937 was a Polish Composer and Pianist [3]

Rubinstein made his New York debut at Carnegie Hall in 1906, and thereafter toured the United States, Austria, Italy, and Russia. Carnegie Hall (generally ˌkɑrnɨgi ˈhɔːl is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending According to his own testimony and that of his son in François Reichenbach's film L'Amour de la vie (1969), however, he was not well received in the United States, and in 1907, when he found himself destitute and desperate in a Berlin hotel room, hounded by creditors and threatened with being thrown out into the street, he tried to hang himself, but failed, and then felt "reborn" with a great love of life. In 1912, he made his London debut, and was frequently in London until 1914 in the musical salon of Paul and Muriel Draper, in company with Kochanski, Stravinsky, Jacques Thibaud, Pablo Casals, Pierre Monteux and others. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (Игорь Фёдорович Стравинский) ( &ndash 6 April 1971 was a Russian born Composer, considered by many to Jacques Thibaud ( September 27, 1880 - September 1, 1953) was a French Violinist. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Pierre Monteux ( April 4, 1875 &ndash July [4]

During World War I Rubinstein lived mainly in London, accompanying the violinist Eugène Ysaÿe. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Eugène Ysaÿe ( July 16 1858 &ndash May 12 1931) was a Belgian Violinist, Composer and conductor From 1916 to 1917, he toured Spain and South America, developing an enthusiasm for the music of Enrique Granados, Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla, and Heitor Villa-Lobos. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Pantaléon Enrique Costanzo Granados y Campiña (27 July 1867 &ndash 24 March 1916 was a Spanish pianist and Composer of classical music. Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz i Pascual (iˈsak alˈβeniθ ( May 29, 1860 &ndash May 18, 1909) was a Spanish Pianist Manuel de Falla y Matheu ( November 23, 1876 &ndash November 14, 1946) was a Spanish Composer of classical music Heitor Villa-Lobos (March 5 1887 &ndash November 17 1959 was a Brazilian Composer, possibly the best-known classical composer born in South America He was the dedicatee of Villa-Lobos's Rudepoêma and Stravinsky's Trois mouvements de Petrouchka. Rudepoêma, or Savage Poem, is a composition by Heitor Villa-Lobos. Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (Игорь Фёдорович Стравинский) ( &ndash 6 April 1971 was a Russian born Composer, considered by many to Trois mouvements de Petrouchka, an Arrangement for Piano of music from the ballet Petrushka, is one of the two pieces which Igor

After 1914 Rubinstein never again played in Germany.

In 1917, Rubinstein left Cádiz, Spain with his music manager Ernesto de Quesada, on the Infanta Isabel to South America. Cádiz ( Spanish:) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the province of the same name, a province which is one of eight Ernesto de Quesada López Chaves ( 1 November, 1886 — 1972 was the Cuban born Impresario who founded Conciertos Daniel, the South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a He debuted on July 2, 1917 in the Teatro Odéon, in Buenos Aires. The Teatro Odeón ( Odeon Theater in Spanish) is a Theater in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern This tour included concerts in Buenos Aires, Montevideo,Uruguay, Santiago de Chile and Valparaíso, Chile. Montevideo (monteβi'ðeo is the largest city the capital and chief port of Uruguay. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America Santiago ( (litteraly in spanish Saint James) is the Capital of Chile, and the center of its largest Conurbation ( Greater Santiago Valparaíso (literally in Spanish: Valle Paraíso (Paradise Valley and also called "Valpo" locally is a major city in Chile

In 1921 he made two American tours, travelling to New York with Paweł Kochański (who remained his lifelong friend) and Karol Szymanowski. The autumn voyage was the occasion of Kochański's permanent migration to the USA. [5]

Rubinstein made numerous live-recording player piano music rolls for the Aeolian Duo-Art system and the American Piano Company (AMPICO), all of which survive today and can be heard. The player piano is a self-playing Piano, containing a pneumatic mechanism that plays on the piano action pre-programmed Music via perforated paper rolls In 1932, he withdrew from concert life for several months to work on his technique and repertoire. Astor Piazzolla cites a Rubinstein concert staged in Buenos Aires in 1939 as one his first great impressions, which led the 18-year-old to write and dedicate to Rubinstein a piano "concerto", a definition that Rubinstein was to debate with the young composer. Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla ( March 11, 1921 &ndash July 4, 1992) was an Argentine tango Composer and Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern

During World War II, the Germans looted his home in Paris, and his career became centered in the United States. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Impresario Sol Hurok insisted Rubinstein be billed as Artur for his American concerts, even though the pianist referred to himself as Arthur when in English speaking countries. Sol Hurok ( Solomon Isiaevich Hurok; born Solomon Izrailevich Gurkov Russian Соломон Израилевич Гурков ( April 9, 1888 He became a naturalized citizen in 1946. He refused to play in post-war Germany because of the Nazi extermination of most of his family. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. While never becoming an observant Jew, he was a passionate supporter of Israel. He retired from the stage in 1976, as his eyesight and hearing were rapidly deteriorating. He became almost blind in later life.

Although best known as a recitalist and concerto soloist, Rubinstein was also considered an outstanding chamber musician, partnering with such luminaries as Henryk Szeryng, Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorsky, and the Guarneri Quartet. Henryk Szeryng ( September 22, 1918 &ndash March 8, 1988) was a Violin Virtuoso of Polish and Jewish Jascha Heifetz (ˈhaɪfɪts was a Lithuanian born American Violin Virtuoso ( &ndash December 10, 1987) Gregor Piatigorsky (Ukrainian Григорий Павлович Пятигорский Grigoriy Pavlovich Pyatigorskiy; April 17, 1903 &ndash August The Guarneri Quartet is an American String quartet originally founded in 1964 Of the piano solo repertoire Rubinstein recorded a vast portion, including innumerable Romantic composers. Romantic Music is a Musicological term referring to a particular period theory compositional practice and canon in European music history from about 1815 to 1910 He recorded nearly all the works of Chopin. He was one of the earliest champions of the Spanish and South American composers and of French composers who, in the early 20th century, were still considered "modern" such as Debussy and Dukas. In addition, Rubinstein was the first champion of the music of his compatriot Karol Szymanowski. Karol Maciej Szymanowski (3 October 1882 in Tymoszówka (present-day Ukraine) – 28 March 1937 was a Polish Composer and Pianist Rubinstein, in conversation with Alexander Scriabin, named Brahms as his favorite composer, a response that enraged Scriabin. Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (Алекса́ндр Никола́евич Скря́бин Aleksandr Nikolaevič Skrjabin; sometimes transliterated as Skriabin [6]

Rubinstein was fluent in eight languages. [1] His photographic memory of much of the repertoire, not simply that of the piano, was formidable. [1] According to his memoirs, the pianist learned César Franck’s Symphonic Variations while on a train en route to the concert, without the benefit of a piano. César Franck (December 10 1822 – November 8 1890 a Composer, Organist and music teacher of Belgian and German origin who lived in France

Marriage and death

Rubinstein was married in 1932 to Aniela (Nela) Mlynarska, daughter of conductor Emil Mlynarski and ex-wife of Mieczyslaw Munz. Emil Szymon Młynarski ( July 18, 1870 – April 5, 1935) was a Polish conductor, Violinist, Composer Mieczysław Munz ( October 31, 1900, Kraków - August 25, 1976) was a Polish -US Pianist. They had four children: their daughter Eva married William Sloane Coffin; their son John Rubinstein is a Tony Award winning actor. Rev William Sloane Coffin Jr ( June 1, 1924 – April 12, 2006) was a liberal Christian clergyman and long-time John Arthur Rubinstein (born December 8, 1946) is an American film Broadway and television actor a composer of film and theatre music and a director The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented [7] Rubinstein also fathered a daughter with a South American woman. Rubinstein carried on a series of affairs during his marriage, including with Mary Irene Curzon and, in 1977 at age 90, left his wife for the young Annabelle Whitestone, though he and Nela never divorced. Mary Irene Curzon 2nd Baroness Ravensdale' and Baroness Ravensdale of Kedleston CBE (20 January 1896 – 9 February 1966 was the eldest child of George Annabelle Whitestone, Lady Weidenfeld, is an English former Concert manager and promoter for Classical music Impresarios

Rubinstein was proud of being a Jew and was a great friend of Israel, which he visited several times with his wife and children, giving concerts with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, recitals, and master classes at the Jerusalem Music Center. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (abbreviation IPO; Hebrew: התזמורת הפילהרמונית הישראלית ha-Tizmoret ha-Filharmonit ha-Yisre'elit In his will, he asked to be buried in Jerusalem. Rubinstein died in Geneva, Switzerland, on December 20, 1982, at the age of 95, and his body was cremated. Geneva (Genève is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French -speaking Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation On the first anniversary of his death, an urn holding his ashes was buried in Jerusalem, Israel, in a dedicated plot now dubbed "Rubinstein Forest" overlooking the Jerusalem Forest. Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. The Jerusalem Forest is a Pine forest located in the Judean Mountains west of Jerusalem. This was arranged with the rabbis so that the main forest wouldn't fall under religious laws governing cemeteries. Israel now has an Arthur Rubinstein International Music Society which holds the triennial Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition [8]

Recordings

Rubenstein recorded extensively for RCA Victor, making a large number of chamber, concerto and solo recordings from 1928 to 1976. RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. He recorded Edvard Grieg's piano concerto with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra in the 78-rpm format. WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Eugene Ormandy ( November 18, 1899 &ndash March The Philadelphia Orchestra is an Orchestra based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, in the United States. He also recorded all five of Beethoven's piano concertos thrice, including the first stereophonic set with Josef Krips and the Symphony of the Air in 1956. Ludwig van Beethoven ( English ˈlʊdvɪg væn ˈbeɪtoʊvən, 16 December 1770 &ndash 26 March 1827 was a German Composer and Pianist. Stereophonic sound, commonly called stereo, is the reproduction of Sound, using two or more independent audio channels through a Symmetrical Josef Alois Krips ( April 8, 1902 &ndash October 13 1974) was an Austrian conductor and Violinist. The NBC Symphony Orchestra was a Radio orchestra established by David Sarnoff of the National Broadcasting Company especially for conductor Arturo All of his recordings, which include many of Chopin's solo works, have been released on compact disc.

Honours and awards

Sculpture of Artur Rubinstein on Piotrkowska Street in Łódź
Sculpture of Artur Rubinstein on Piotrkowska Street in Łódź

In 1977, he was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). The Léonie Sonning Music Prize, or Sonning Award, which is recognized as Denmark 's highest musical honor is given annually to an international Musician The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe This is an incomplete list of people who have been created honorary Knights (or Dames by the British crown as well as those who have been raised to the two comparable Orders of Chivalry ( Order The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V.

Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance:

Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra):

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1994)

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ a b c Sachs, Harvey (1995). Rubinstein: A Life. New York: Grove Press, p. 8. ISBN 0802115799.  
  2. ^ Sowell, Thomas (2001). The Einstein Syndrome: Bright Children Who Talk Late. Basic Books, pp. 89-150. ISBN 0465081401.  
  3. ^ Sachs 1997,
  4. ^ Sachs, ibid.
  5. ^ Sachs 1997, 200-212.
  6. ^ Artur Rubinstein, My Young Years, quoted in Norman Lebrecht, The Book of Musical Anecdotes
  7. ^ John Rubinstein Biography. filmreference (2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-10. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama
  8. ^ Associated Press. "Arthur Rubinstein Remains Are Buried in Jerusalem Plot", The New York Times, 22 Dec 1983. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan  

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