Biography
During the nineteenth century, Rubinstein ranked among the era's leading pianists, a stature that frequently prompted direct comparisons with Liszt. Anton's earliest instruction came from his mother; in the 1840s he advanced his technique under Villoing and pursued counterpoint with Dehn. Extensive tours took him across most of Europe, as well as to England, the United States, Norway, Sweden, and Germany. Although he resided for long periods in Germany—where audiences invariably regarded him as Russian—he returned permanently to Russia in 1858, only to find himself viewed there as German. The following year he established the Russian Musical Society alongside the grand duchess, an initiative aimed at overhauling musical training throughout the country. Rubinstein went on to create the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1862 and served as its director for the next five years. The bulk of his own works reflected the styles of Mendelssohn and Meyerbeer, often appearing imitative. Roughly twenty operas numbered among his output, “The Demon” the best known; he also produced six symphonies, of which the “Ocean” stands out, together with two cello concertos, ten string quartets, five piano concertos, and a wide array of additional scores. Only the piano miniature “Melody in F” maintained steady public attention. His pieces frequently gave the impression of having been dashed off, as though their creator counted on his performing reputation to secure their acceptance.
Albums