Arthur Rubinstein

Arthur Rubinstein

Born: January 28, 1887
Died: December 20, 1982
in Lódz, Poland
Arthur Rubinstein (Polish: Artur Rubinstein; 28 January 1887 – 20 December 1982) was a Polish-American pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music written by a variety of composers and many regard him as one of the greatest Chopin interpreters of his time. He played in public for eight decades.

Artur Rubinstein was born in Łódź, Congress Poland (part of the Russian Empire for the entire time Rubinstein resided there) on 28 January 1887, to a Jewish family. He was the youngest of seven children of Felicja Blima Fajga (née Heiman) and Izaak Rubinstein. His father owned a small textile factory.

Rubinstein's birth name was to be Leo, but his eight-year-old brother claimed that "His name must be Artur. Since Artur X (a neighbour's son) plays the violin so nicely, the baby may also become a great musician!". Thus, he was called Artur, although in English-speaking countries, he preferred to be known as Arthur Rubinstein. His United States impresario Sol Hurok, however, insisted he be billed as Artur, and records were released in the West under both versions of his name.

At age two, Rubinstein demonstrated absolute pitch and a fascination with the piano, watching his elder sister's piano lessons. By the age of four, he was recognised as a child prodigy. His father had a predilection for the violin and offered Rubinstein a violin; but Rubinstein rejected it because he thought his instinct was for harmony and polyphony. The Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim, on hearing the four-year-old child play the piano, was greatly impressed, telling Arthur's family, "This boy may become a very great musician—he certainly has the talent for it... When the time comes for serious study, bring him to me, and I shall be glad to supervise his artistic education." On 14 December 1894, seven-year-old Arthur Rubinstein had his debut with pieces by Mozart, Schubert and Mendelssohn.

When he became ten years of age, Rubinstein moved to Berlin to continue his studies, and gave his first performance with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1900, at the age of 13. Joseph Joachim recommended Karl Heinrich Barth as the boy's piano teacher. As a student of Barth, Rubinstein inherited a renowned pedagogical lineage: Barth was himself a pupil of Liszt, who had been taught by Czerny, who had in turn been a pupil of Beethoven.

In 1904, Rubinstein moved to Paris to launch his career in earnest, where he met the composers Maurice Ravel and Paul Dukas and the violinist Jacques Thibaud. He also played Camille Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 2 in the presence of the composer. Through the family of Juliusz Wertheim, whose understanding of Chopin's genius inspired Rubinstein, he formed friendships with the violinist Paul Kochanski and composer Karol Szymanowski. ...

Source: Article "Arthur Rubinstein" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for Arthur Rubinstein...

Arthur Rubinstein - Das Abschiedskonzert: Sternstunden der Musik
Title: Arthur Rubinstein - Das Abschiedskonzert: Sternstunden der Musik
Character: piano
Released: November 7, 2021
Type: Movie
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Rostropovich: L'archet Indomptable
Title: Rostropovich: L'archet Indomptable
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: September 8, 2019
Type: Movie
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Artur Rubinstein - Piano Concertos
Title: Artur Rubinstein - Piano Concertos
Character: Self
Released: July 7, 2006
Type: Movie
Arthur Rubinstein performs Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, and Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 with Andre Previn at the London Symphony at Fairfield Hall, Croydon, England.
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The Art of Piano - Great Pianists of 20th Century
Title: The Art of Piano - Great Pianists of 20th Century
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: January 1, 1999
Type: Movie
This is a film that encapsulates the essence of a great pianistic age that married virtuosity and musicianship with the most thrilling aspect of individual showmanship.
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The Golden Age of the Piano
Title: The Golden Age of the Piano
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1993
Type: Movie
Academician and piano expert David Dubal narrates this absorbing documentary chronicling the instrument's history and featuring some of the 20th century's finest pianists via archival film clips. Among the keyboard virtuosos are Vladimir Horowitz, Claudio Arrau, Van Cliburn and Glenn Gould. Extras include Arrau's 1983 performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto no. 4, accompanied by the Philadelphia Orchestra under maestro Riccardo Muti.
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Rubinstein Remembered
Title: Rubinstein Remembered
Character: Self
Released: July 20, 1987
Type: Movie
This program traces Rubinstein's career and features excerpts from his performances of works by Frederic Chopin, his favorite composer. There are also effervescent Rubinstein reminiscences told as only he could tell them, as well as interviews with his family and colleagues. A 100th anniversary tribute to the famous virtuoso pianist, Arthur Rubinstein.
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Villa-Lobos - O Índio de Casaca
Title: Villa-Lobos - O Índio de Casaca
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1987
Type: Movie
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Bachianas Brasileiras: Meu Nome é Villa-Lobos
Title: Bachianas Brasileiras: Meu Nome é Villa-Lobos
Released: January 1, 1979
Type: Movie
German-Brazilian production on the life of Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.
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Rubinstein: In Performance
Title: Rubinstein: In Performance
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1977
Type: Movie
This historic film captures the legendary pianist Artur Rubinstein in rare performance film footage. The first portion of the program features Rubinstein playing solo works. The next segment of the program takes us into his home, with the master playing a program of Chopin. The concluding portion of the film is the result of LIFE Magazine's famous photographic story on the great soloists Rubinstein, Jasha Heifetz and Gregor Piatigorsky in rehearsal together. It is an intimate study of genius at work.
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Rubinstein in Concert
Title: Rubinstein in Concert
Character: Self
Released: June 1, 1973
Type: Movie
Live 1973 concert performances by celebrated Polish-American virtuoso concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein, with the Concertgebouw Orchestra under conductor Bernard Haitink. Filmed in August 1973 at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the performances include Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto, in C minor, op. 37; and Brahms's First Piano Concerto, in D minor, op. 15. These are followed by four short pieces for solo piano, by Schubert, Brahms, and Chopin. The 2008 DVD release by Deutsche Grammophon also includes a short documentary, "Rubinstein at 90", an interview with Robert MacNeil, filmed at Rubinstein's home in Paris in 1977.
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Title: Le Grand Échiquier
Character: Self
Released: January 12, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Le Grand Échiquier
Character: Self - Main Guest
Released: January 12, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Great Performances
Character: Self
Released: January 28, 1971
Type: TV
The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.
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Yehudi Menuhin, chemin de lumière
Title: Yehudi Menuhin, chemin de lumière
Released: January 1, 1970
Type: Movie
Portrait of violin prodigy Yehudi Menuhin: an account of his career, his professional and private life and his profession of faith, inspired by Eastern philosophy.
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Arthur Rubinstein: The Love of Life
Title: Arthur Rubinstein: The Love of Life
Character: Self
Released: June 17, 1969
Type: Movie
Documentary about Polish-American pianist, Arthur Rubinstein.
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Title: The Dick Cavett Show
Character: Self - Guest
Released: June 6, 1968
Type: TV
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks.
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Artur Rubinstein: The Legendary Moscow Recital
Title: Artur Rubinstein: The Legendary Moscow Recital
Character: Self
Released: October 1, 1964
Type: Movie
Arthur Rubinstein's 1964 recital in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, filmed and recorded by Soviet television and preserved in its archives, in a program of work of Chopin and — in encores introduced from the stage by Rubinstein — Schumann, Chopin, Debussy, and Villa-Lobos.
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Of Men and Music
Title: Of Men and Music
Character: Self
Released: February 14, 1951
Type: Movie
A documentary featuring musicians including Artur Rubinstein, Jan Peerce-Nadine Conner, and Jascha Heifetz.
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Night Song
Title: Night Song
Character: Self
Released: January 20, 1948
Type: Movie
A socialite pretends to be poor and blind in her plan to help a blinded pianist.
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Carnegie Hall
Title: Carnegie Hall
Character: Arthur Rubinstein
Released: February 28, 1947
Type: Movie
A young Irishwoman comes to the United States to live and work with her mother as a cleaning lady at Carnegie Hall. She becomes attached to the place as the people she meets there gradually shape her life. The film also includes a variety of performances from some of the foremost musical artists of the times: conductors Bruno Walter & Leopold Stokowski, solists Arthur Rubinstein & Jascha Haifetz, singers Lily Pons & Jan Peerce and bandleader Vaughn Monroe among many others.
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Follow the Boys
Title: Follow the Boys
Character: Artur Rubinstein
Released: May 5, 1944
Type: Movie
During World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star on the lot--often playing themselves--in musical numbers and comedy skits, and were meant as morale-boosters to both the troops overseas and the civilians at home. This was Universal Pictures' effort. It features everyone from Donald O'Connor to the Andrews Sisters to Orson Welles to W.C. Fields to George Raft to Marlene Dietrich, and dozens of other Universal players.
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Arthur Rubinstein
Title: Arthur Rubinstein
Character: Self
Released: December 31, 1969
Type: Movie
The first segment of this program presents Rubinstein at a recording session playing for his children and exhibiting his technique with the music of Liszt, Chopin, and Mendelssohn. The second segment shows the pianist at home in an all-Chopin program. The final segment features Rubinstein, Heifetz, and Piatigorsky interpreting Schubert and Mendelssohn.