Artur Rubinstein

Artur Rubinstein (born January 28, 1887, Łódź, Poland, Russian Empire—died December 20, 1982, Geneva, Switzerland) was a Polish American virtuoso pianist regarded by many as the 20th century’s foremost interpreter of the repertoire.

Rubinstein began study at the age of three and at the age of eight studied at the Warsaw Conservatory. The following year he became a pupil of Heinrich Barth in Berlin. Rubinstein was seven when he made his first public appearance, and he made his European debut in Berlin at 13. In 1906 he made his American debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at Carnegie Hall but received a cool reception because of his youth. During World War I Rubinstein, who was fluent in eight languages, served as a military interpreter in London and performed there with the violinist Eugène Ysaÿe. From 1916 to 1918 he visited Spain and South America and created a sensation by introducing works by Manuel de Falla, Isaac Albéniz, and Enrique Granados. Another trip to the United States in 1919 proved to be lacklustre, however.

During the 1920s Rubinstein developed a reputation as a cosmopolitan socialite, but in 1932 he married Aniela Młynarski and began to seriously analyze his artistry. He renewed his dedication to music, practiced 12 to 16 hours a day, and brought a new discipline to his already brilliant technique. When he returned once again to the United States in 1937 and performed at Carnegie Hall, he was hailed as a genius.

Throughout the rest of his career, Rubinstein retained a high artistic reputation and had a huge repertoire that included works by landmark 18th- and 19th-century composers Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin, as well as important 20th-century figures such as Albéniz, Maurice Ravel, and Igor Stravinsky. Rubinstein was considered a master interpreter of Chopin’s work. He moved to the United States during World War II and was granted citizenship in 1946. Rubinstein was known as a witty extrovert and an irrepressible raconteur, but he was also a serious musician whose stage presence enhanced his playing. He made more than 200 recordings. Rubinstein was awarded the United States Medal of Freedom in 1976.

He wrote a two-volume autobiography, My Young Years (1973) and My Many Years (1980).