Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Russia

Birth

:

November 28, 1829 in Vikhvatinets, Russia

Death

:

November 20, 1894 in Peterhof, Russia

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Anton Rubinstein was a Russian pianist, composer, and conductor who was born on November 28, 1829, in Vikhvatinets, Russia. He was the youngest of six children in a Jewish family. His father, Ilya Rubinstein, was a successful merchant who encouraged his children to pursue music. Anton's older brother, Nikolai, was also a talented pianist and composer. Anton began his musical education at the age of three, when his brother Nikolai started teaching him the piano. By the age of six, Anton was already performing in public concerts. In 1840, at the age of eleven, he was accepted into the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, where he studied piano with Alexander Villoing and composition with Anton Wilhelm von Weber. In 1844, Rubinstein made his debut as a pianist in Saint Petersburg, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1. He quickly gained a reputation as one of the most talented pianists of his generation. He toured extensively throughout Europe, performing in major cities such as Paris, London, and Berlin. In addition to his career as a pianist, Rubinstein was also a prolific composer. He wrote over 200 works, including operas, symphonies, chamber music, and solo piano pieces. His most famous works include his Piano Concerto No. 4, his Symphony No. 2, and his opera The Demon. Rubinstein was also a dedicated teacher and founded the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in 1862. He served as the conservatory's director until 1867 and then again from 1887 until his death in 1894. He was known for his strict teaching methods and for his emphasis on technique and discipline. Rubinstein was a controversial figure in the music world. He was known for his flamboyant personality and his tendency to make grandiose statements. He was also criticized for his conservative musical tastes and for his opposition to the music of Richard Wagner. Despite these controversies, Rubinstein's contributions to the world of classical music were significant. He helped to establish the Saint Petersburg Conservatory as one of the leading music schools in the world, and he inspired generations of pianists and composers with his virtuosic performances and his innovative compositions. Rubinstein died on November 20, 1894, in Peterhof, Russia. He was buried in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in Saint Petersburg. His legacy lives on through his music and through the countless musicians who have been inspired by his work.

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