Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

Poland

Birth

:

January 28, 1887 in Lódz, Poland

Death

:

December 20, 1982 in Geneva, Switzerland

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Concerto

 

Artur Rubinstein was a Polish-American classical pianist who was widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. He was born on January 28, 1887, in Łódź, Poland, to a Jewish family. His father, Ignacy Rubinstein, was a successful businessman, and his mother, Felicja Rubinstein, was a talented pianist who gave Artur his first piano lessons. Artur showed an early aptitude for music and began performing in public at the age of seven. He made his debut in Berlin in 1900, and his first major success came in 1904 when he won the Anton Rubinstein Competition in Paris. He continued to perform throughout Europe, and in 1906 he made his debut in the United States, playing with the New York Philharmonic. Rubinstein's career continued to flourish, and he became known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to interpret a wide range of musical styles. He was particularly renowned for his performances of the works of Chopin, and he recorded the complete Chopin piano works three times over the course of his career. Rubinstein's career was interrupted by World War I, during which he served in the Polish army. After the war, he resumed his career and continued to perform throughout Europe and the United States. In 1932, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Rubinstein's career reached new heights in the 1940s and 1950s, when he performed with some of the world's leading orchestras and conductors. He also made numerous recordings during this period, including his famous recordings of the Chopin piano concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Previn. Rubinstein's career continued to flourish into the 1960s and 1970s, and he remained an active performer until his death in 1982 at the age of 95. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time, and his recordings continue to be highly regarded by music lovers and critics alike. Throughout his career, Rubinstein received numerous awards and honors. He was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1928, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Richard Nixon in 1976. He was also awarded honorary degrees from several universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Oxford. Rubinstein's legacy continues to be felt in the world of classical music. His recordings remain popular, and his interpretations of the works of Chopin are still considered some of the definitive performances of these pieces. He is remembered as a virtuoso pianist and a master interpreter of classical music, and his contributions to the world of music will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

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