Arthur Rubinstein (Lodz, 28.1.1887 – Geneva, 20.12.1982)

A. Róźycki was his first music teacher in Warsaw. He then went to Berlin, where he studied piano under H. Barth, and composition with R. Kahn and M. Bruch. He began his career at the age of 12, playing in a concert with orchestra in Berlin under the direction of J. Joachim. Soon afterwards he performed in Dresden, Hamburg and Warsaw. He also wanted to perfect his skills with Paderewski in Morges, Switzerland, and then began a remarkable career as a pianist, during which he was one of the greatest performers, with a vast repertoire, although he was above all a specialist in Chopin and contemporary music, especially Spanish. In 1905 he played in Paris with the Lamoureux Orchestra. In 1906 he made his first trip to the United States, playing with the Philadelphia Orchestra. During the First World War he gave a series of concerts in England with E. Ysaÿe. In 1916 he travelled to Spain and then to South America. In 1932 he married the daughter of Emil Młynarski. In 1946 he obtained American citizenship. In addition to his solo career, which brought him international fame, he was also active as a chamber musician, in trios with the violinist Heifetz and the cellist Feuermann, later replaced by Piatigorsky, and in various formations with the Guarneri Quartet. After settling in Beverly Hills, California, he returned to Europe, to Paris and then to Switzerland. His ashes were transferred to Jerusalem. In 1976 he was decorated with the ‘United States Medal of Freedom’ and became doctor honoris causa in philosophy of the Weizmann Institute in Tel Aviv. In 1979 he was awarded the prize ‘A Life for Music’ in Venice. He was a member of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome and of the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm. Numerous compositions were dedicated to him, including H. Villa-Lobos’ Rudepoêma, Szymanovski’s Synfonia concertante and M. de Falla’s Fantasía betica. In addition, Stravinsky transcribed two dances from Petrushka for him and wrote Piano Rag Music.