Rubinstein, Artur

Rubinstein, Artur

(born Jan. 28, 1887, Lodz, Pol.—died Dec. 20, 1982, Geneva, Switz.) Polish-U.S. pianist. His studies with Joseph Joachim led to a debut in Berlin in 1900. He later studied with Ignacy Jan Paderewski as well and performed with moderate success. After some years accompanying the violinist Eugène Ysaye (1858–1931), he stopped performing for five years (1932–37) to improve his technique and reemerged as a giant of 20th-century music. Moving to the U.S., he became equally noted as soloist and chamber musician, with such partners as Jascha Heifetz and Gregor Piatigorsky (1903–76). Active through his 80s, his repertoire ranged from Johann Sebastian Bach to 20th-century Spanish composers; his playing of Frédéric Chopin and Johannes Brahms was particularly admired.