Arthur Rubinstein

Polish-American classical pianist (1887-1982) · United States · Musicians · Died at 95

Arthur Rubinstein is read about 678 times a day, in 58 languages.

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A pianist who played in public for eighty years and made Chopin sound like the only composer who ever mattered - though he could turn Beethoven, Liszt, and a dozen others into events worth crossing oceans for.

Musicians Singer / Musician Music 20th Century

A life in dates

1994Grammy Lifetime Achievement AwardAward1982Died20 December 1982“Just meeting Rubinstein was a thrill for any pianist. He was a real link to tradition in western piano music. He was a friend of Rachmaninoff and he knew Debussy.”In their words21 December 1982The Washington Post, p, December 21, 1982Read the whole statement

“Yes, I am very lucky, but I have a little theory about this.”In their words13 August 1982The, August 13, 1982Read the whole statement

1981“Rubinstein was wonderful. For three days he spent hours playing the piano in my room, and then asking me what I thought of this and that.”In their words28 July 1981The Washington Post, p, July 28, 1981Read the whole statement

“My father, good or bad, mistakes or no, had a direct line from his heart to the music to the people, to the audience. He played with logic and his own inner truth.”In their words22 February 1981John Rubinstein - reported in Kevin Kelly (February 22, 1981) "Rubinstein a Chip Off Rubinstein: John Says His Father's Music Shaped HisRead the whole statement

1980“Arthur Rubinstein once said to me that he couldn't think when he played, that something else took over.”In their words21 April 1980Boston Globe, April 21, 1980Read the whole statement

1978Kennedy Center HonorsAward1977“I'm a free person; I feel terribly free. They could put me in chains and I still would be free because my thoughts would be mine - and that's all I want to have.”In their words26 January 1977Quoted from a 1977 interview by Robert MacNeil in the documentary Rubinstein at 90 - reported in Alan M. Kriegsmen (January 26, 1977) "TheRead the whole statement

1976Presidential Medal of FreedomAward1971Léonie Sonning Music PrizeAward1963Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the WiseAward1961Royal Philharmonic Society Gold MedalAward1887Born28 January 1887

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Arthur Rubinstein (1971)

03-19-1960 17142 Arthur Rubinstein (5023986640)

1924-12-06, El Imparcial, Los grandes artistas, El pianista Arturo Rubinstein, Pellicer

Zaproszenie na Festiwal Polski w Paryżu

Arthur Rubinstein (1963) by Erling Mandelmann - 2

Arthur Rubinstein (1963) by Erling Mandelmann

Arthur Rubinstein 1

Arthur Rubinstein 1906

In their own words 10

Arthur Rubinstein

10 statements, newest first

Just meeting Rubinstein was a thrill for any pianist. He was a real link to tradition in western piano music. He was a friend of Rachmaninoff and he knew Debussy.
Dec 21, 1982, The Washington Post, p, December 21, 1982, Own words
Yes, I am very lucky, but I have a little theory about this.
Aug 13, 1982, The, August 13, 1982, Own words
Rubinstein was wonderful. For three days he spent hours playing the piano in my room, and then asking me what I thought of this and that.
Jul 28, 1981, The Washington Post, p, July 28, 1981, Own words

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Albums 24

RORavel: Trio in A minor / Mendelssohn: Trio no. 1 in D minor, op. 42011

RARubinstein: The Liszt Album2011

VIValses - Impromptus2011

CPConcerto pour piano No. 2, Op. 21 / Polonaises2010

MPMazurkas, Nocturnes & Preludes2010

PTPiano Trio2009

TLThe Chopin I Love2008

SRSonata No. 3 / Intermezzo / Romance2008

TNTchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto no. 22007

TPThe Rubinstein Collection, Volume 48: Chopin Polonaises2006

TMThe Rubinstein Collection, Volume 50: Chopin: 51 Marzurkas2006

PNPiano Concertos nos. 1 & 22005

TNThe Rubinstein collection: Piano Concerto No. 12005

CNConcerto No. 2 / Concerto No. 12004

TSThe Chopin Scherzos2003

APArthur Rubinstein: The Piano2003

VSViolin Sonatas2003

TNThe Rubinstein Collection, Volume 44: Chopin: Piano Concertos nos. 1 & 22003

HRHall of Fame: Arthur Rubinstein2002

PNPiano Concerto no. 22002

WB14 Waltzes / Impromptus / Bolero2001

TCThe Rubinstein Collection, Volume 22: Brahms: Piano Concerto no. 2 / Grieg: Piano Concerto2001

TFThe Rubinstein Collection, Volume 51: Carnaval / Fantasiestücke2001

ACAu cœur de la musique de chambre2001

Awards

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award1994

Kennedy Center Honors1978

Presidential Medal of Freedom1976

Léonie Sonning Music Prize1971

Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise1963

Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal1961

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour

Grand Officer of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword

Officer of the Order of Leopold

Grammy Awards

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Officer of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword

Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta

Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta

Family

Arthur Rubinstein

Partners

Spouse Nela Rubinstein

Children

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About this person

Arthur Rubinstein was born in Poland on 28 January 1887 and spent the next eight decades at the keyboard. He became known internationally for his interpretations of classical repertoire, with Chopin at the center and a wide circle around it: Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns, Schumann. He played until 1982, the year he died on 20 December, by which point he'd outlasted most of his contemporaries and several entire schools of pianism.

Country

United States

In common with Arthur

Jascha HeifetzAlso in Carnegie Hall (1947)

Carmen AmayaAlso in Follow the Boys (1944)

Maria MontezAlso in Follow the Boys (1944)

Bruno WalterAlso in Carnegie Hall (1947)

Donald O'ConnorAlso in Follow the Boys (1944)

Leopold StokowskiAlso in Carnegie Hall (1947)

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