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{{short description|Polish-American pianist (1887–1982)}}
{{About|the Polish-American pianist|the unrelated Russian pianist/composer/conductor|Anton Rubinstein|the American film and television composer|Arthur B. Rubinstein}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
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[[File:Arthur Rubinstein.jpg|thumb|Arthur Rubinstein in 1937, by [[Carl Van Vechten]]]]
'''Arthur Rubinstein''' [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]] [[OMRI]] ({{langx|pl|Artur Rubinstein}}; 28 January 1887 – 20 December 1982) was a [[Polish Americans|Polish-American]] pianist.<ref name=EB>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Artur-Rubinstein "Artur Rubinstein"], ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''</ref> He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-04-18|title=The 10 Greatest Pianists of All Time - Classical Music - Limelight Magazine|url=http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/Article/306444,the-10-greatest-pianists-of-all-time.aspx/7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418145023/http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/Article/306444,the-10-greatest-pianists-of-all-time.aspx/7|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-04-18|access-date=2020-12-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The 25 best piano players of all time|url=https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/instruments/piano/best-pianists-ever/|access-date=2020-06-21|website=Classic FM|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The 20 Greatest Pianists of all time|url=https://www.classical-music.com/features/artists/20-greatest-pianists-all-time/|access-date=2021-10-24|website=Classical Music|language=en}}</ref> 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 [[Frédéric Chopin|Chopin]] interpreters of his time.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|date=21 November 1982|title=Arthur Rubinstein Dies in Geneva at 95|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0128.html|url-status=live|access-date=6 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114073950/http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0128.html|archive-date=14 November 2013}}</ref><ref>[[Schonberg, Harold C.]] (1987) ''The great pianists''. Simon & Schuster. {{ISBN|0671638378}}</ref> He played in public for eight decades.<ref name="Teachout, Terry 1996">{{cite journal|last=Teachout|first=Terry|author-link=Terry Teachout|url=http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/whatever-happened-to-arthur-rubinstein/|title=Whatever Happened to Arthur Rubinstein|journal=Commentary|volume=101|issue= 2 |year=1996|pages=48–51}}</ref> His repertoire also included the works of [[Beethoven]], [[Mozart]], [[Schubert]], [[Liszt]], [[Tchaikovsky]], [[Saint-Saëns]], [[Schumann]] and more.

== Early life ==
[[File:SM Łódź Piotrkowska 78 2017 (0) ID 613239.jpg|thumb|Childhood home of Artur Rubinstein at [[Piotrkowska Street]], [[Łódź]], Poland]]

Arthur 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.<ref>[http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907361,00.html "Intoxicated with Romance."] ''Time'' 101, no. 23 (4 June 1973): 73.</ref><ref>[http://www.geni.com/people/Artur-Rubinstein/6000000004707085011 Artur Rubinstein]. geni.com</ref>

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!"<ref name="Rubinstein, Artur 1973">{{harvnb|Rubinstein|1973|p=[https://archive.org/details/myyoungyears00rubi/page/4/mode/2up 4].}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Rubinstein|1973|p=[https://archive.org/details/myyoungyears00rubi/page/4/mode/2up 4]}}: "In later years, my manager Sol Hurok used the h-less 'Artur' for my publicity, but I sign 'Arthur' in countries where it is common practice, 'Arturo' in Spain and Italy, and 'Artur' in the Slav countries".</ref>

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]].<ref name="Rubinstein, Artur 1973"/><ref name="Sachs 1997"/>

When he turned ten, Rubinstein moved to [[Berlin]] to continue his studies, and gave his first performance with the [[Berlin Philharmonic]] in 1900, at the age of 13.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> Joachim entrusted Rubinstein to [[Karl Heinrich Barth]] as his piano teacher. As a student of Barth, Rubinstein inherited a renowned pedagogical lineage: Barth was himself a pupil of [[Franz Liszt|Liszt]], who had been taught by [[Carl Czerny|Czerny]], who had in turn been a pupil of [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]].<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

==Music and career==
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 (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]].<ref name="Sachs 1997">{{harvnb|Sachs|1995|p={{page needed|date=April 2020}}}}</ref>
[[File:Arthur Rubinstein 1906.jpg|thumb|Rubinstein, age 19, in 1906]]
Rubinstein made his New York debut at [[Carnegie Hall]] in 1906, and thereafter toured the United States, Austria, Italy, and Russia. According to his own testimony and that of his son in [[François Reichenbach]]'s film ''[[L'Amour de la vie]]'' (1969), he was not well received in the United States. By 1908, Rubinstein, destitute and desperate, hounded by creditors, and threatened with being evicted from his Berlin hotel room, made a failed attempt to hang himself. Subsequently, he said that he felt "reborn" and endowed with an unconditional love of life. In 1912, he made his London debut, and found a musical home there in the Edith Grove, [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], musical salon of Paul and Muriel Draper, in company with [[Igor Stravinsky]], Kochanski, Thibaud, [[Pablo Casals]], [[Pierre Monteux]] and others.<ref name="Sachs 1997"/>

During World War I, Rubinstein stayed in London, giving recitals and accompanying the violinist [[Eugène Ysaÿe]]. In 1916 and 1917, he made his first tours in Spain and South America where he was widely acclaimed. It was during those tours that he developed a lifelong enthusiasm for the music of [[Enrique Granados]], [[Isaac Albéniz]], [[Manuel de Falla]], and [[Heitor Villa-Lobos]]. He was the dedicatee of Manuel de Falla's ''[[Fantasía Bética]]'', Villa-Lobos's ''[[Rudepoêma]]'' and Stravinsky's ''[[Trois mouvements de Petrouchka]]''.

Rubinstein was appalled by Germany's conduct during World War I, particularly [[Rape of Belgium|the atrocities in Belgium]] and never played there again. His last performance in Germany was in 1914.<ref name="Sachs 1997" /> His dislike of Germany was not improved during and after World War II when most of his family back in Poland were killed during the [[Holocaust]]. (Rubinstein has said many times to interviewers that there were two countries where he would not play: [[Tibet]], because it is too high, and Germany, because it is too low.)

In the autumn of 1919 Rubinstein toured Great Britain with soprano [[Emma Calvé]] and tenor [[Vladimir Rosing]].<ref>[[Ivor Newton|Newton, Ivor]] (1966). ''At the Piano – the World of an Accompanist''. London: Hamish Hamilton Ltd. p.&nbsp;44.</ref>

In 1921, Rubinstein gave two American tours, travelling to New York City with Karol Szymanowski and his close friend Paul Kochanski.<ref name="Sachs 1997"/> During his recital in Florida, Rubinstein was accompanied by violinist virtuoso Rudolph Bochoco.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119441817/rudolph-bochco-accompanies-arthur-rubens/ ''Noted Pianist Coming to the Casino'' The Tampa Tribune. 1 Mar 1921 p.&nbsp;8. </ref>

In 1934, the pianist, who stated he neglected his technique in his early years, relying instead on natural talent, withdrew from concert life for several months of intensive study and practice.

Rubinstein toured the United States again in 1937, his career becoming centered there during the [[World War II]] years when he lived in [[Brentwood, Los Angeles|Brentwood]], Los Angeles, California. He became a naturalized US citizen in 1946.<ref name="sachs"/>
[[File:Odlew dłoni Artura Rubinsteina.JPG|thumb|A cast of the pianist's hands, at the [[Łódź]] museum]]

During his time in California, Rubinstein provided the piano soundtrack for several films, including ''[[Song of Love (1947 film)|Song of Love]]'' with [[Katharine Hepburn]]. He appeared, as himself, in the films ''[[Carnegie Hall (film)|Carnegie Hall]]'' and ''Of Men and Music''.

Although best known as a recitalist and concerto soloist, Rubinstein was considered an outstanding chamber musician, partnering with [[Henryk Szeryng]], [[Jascha Heifetz]], [[Pablo Casals]], [[Gregor Piatigorsky]] and the [[Guarneri Quartet]]. Rubinstein recorded much of the core piano repertoire, particularly that of the [[Romantic music|Romantic]] composers. At the time of his death, ''[[The New York Times]]'' in describing him wrote, "[[Frédéric Chopin|Chopin]] was his specialty ... it was [as] a Chopinist that he was considered by many without peer."<ref name="nytimes.com"/> With the exception of the [[Études (Chopin)|Études]], he recorded most of the works of Chopin. In 1964, during the [[Cold War]], he gave a legendary concert in Moscow, with a pure Chopin program.<ref>This presentation is well-documented on an audio CD edited by [[Joachim Kaiser]], ''Klavier Kaiser'', Sueddeutsche-Zeitung Co., Munich 2004.</ref> He was one of the earliest champions of Spanish and South American composers, as well as French composers of the early 20th century (such as [[Claude Debussy|Debussy]] and [[Maurice Ravel|Ravel]]). In addition, Rubinstein promoted the music of his compatriot [[Karol Szymanowski]]. Rubinstein, in conversation with [[Alexander Scriabin]], named [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]] as his favorite composer, a response that enraged Scriabin.<ref>{{harvnb|Rubinstein|1973}}, quoted in Norman Lebrecht, ''The Book of Musical Anecdotes''</ref>

In 1969, the film ''[[Arthur Rubinstein – The Love of Life]]'' was released; it won the [[Academy Award]] for Best Documentary Feature. (A later TV special, ''Rubinstein at 90'', highlighted how he had been playing for people for eight decades.)

By the mid-1970s, Rubinstein's eyesight had begun to deteriorate. He retired from the stage at age 89 in May 1976, giving his last concert at London's [[Wigmore Hall]], where he had first played nearly 70 years before.

Rubinstein, who was fluent in eight languages,<ref name="sachs">{{harvnb|Sachs|1995|pp=223-224}}</ref> held much of the repertoire (and not only that of the piano) in his formidable memory.<ref name=sachs /> According to his memoirs, he learned [[César Franck]]'s ''[[Symphonic Variations (Franck)|Symphonic Variations]]'' while on a train en route to the concert, without the benefit of a piano, practicing passages in his lap. Rubinstein described his memory as [[eidetic memory|photographic]], to the extent that he would visualize an errant coffee stain while recalling a score.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,835163-3,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104115032/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,835163-3,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 4, 2012 | magazine=Time | title=Pianists: The Undeniable Romantic | date=25 February 1966 | access-date=25 April 2010}}</ref>

Rubinstein also had exceptionally developed aural abilities, which allowed him to play whole symphonies in his mind. "At breakfast, I might pass a Brahms symphony in my head," he said. "Then I am called to the phone, and half an hour later I find it's been going on all the time and I'm in the third movement." This ability was often tested by Rubinstein's friends, who would randomly pick extracts from opera and symphonic scores and ask him to play them from memory.<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

Rubinstein's autobiography contained two volumes: ''My Young Years'' (1973); and ''My Many Years'' (1980). Many were displeased by their emphasis on personal anecdotes over music. Pianist [[Emanuel Ax]], one of Rubinstein's greatest admirers, was profoundly disappointed by reading ''My Many Years'': "Until then," he told [[Harvey Sachs]], "I had idolized Rubinstein—I had wanted to have a life like his, the book changed all that."<ref name="Teachout, Terry 1996" />

In a reflective muse, Rubinstein once noted "It is simply my life, music. I live it, breathe it, talk with it. I am almost unconscious of it. No, I do not mean I take it for granted—one should never take for granted any of the gifts of God. But it is like an arm, a leg, part of me. On the other hand, books and paintings and languages and people are passions with me, always to be cultivated. Travel too. I am a lucky man to have a business which allows me to be on the road so much. On the train, the plane, I have time to read. There again, I am a lucky man to be a pianist. A splendid instrument, the piano, just the right size so that you cannot take it with you. Instead of practicing, I can read. A fortunate fellow, am I not?"<ref>The Rubinstein Story (as told to Clifton Fadiman), Radio Corporation of America, 1959.</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Arthur Rubinstein (1963) by Erling Mandelmann.jpg|thumb|Rubinstein in 1963]]

===Marriage and family===
Of his youth, Rubinstein once said: "It is said of me that when I was young I divided my time impartially among wine, women and song. I deny this categorically. Ninety percent of my interests were women."<ref name="nytimes.com"/> At the age of 45, in 1932, Rubinstein married Nela Młynarska,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Angela |date=1983-12-12 |title=NELA RUBINSTEIN: MAKING A LIFE OF HER OWN |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/12/style/nela-rubinstein-making-a-life-of-her-own.html |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> a 24-year-old Polish [[ballerina]] (who had studied with [[Mary Wigman]]). Nela was the daughter of the Polish conductor [[Emil Młynarski]] and his wife Anna Talko-Hryncewicz, who was from a Polish aristocratic [[Polish heraldry|heraldic family]] of Iłgowski coat of arms. Nela had first fallen in love with Rubinstein when she was 18, but married [[Mieczysław Munz]], another Polish-American pianist, after Rubinstein began an affair with an Italian princess.<ref>Taylor, Angela (12 December 1983) [https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/12/style/nela-rubinstein-making-a-life-of-her-own.html "Nela Rubinstein: Making a Life of Her Own"]. ''The New York Times'', Section B, p. 22.</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">[http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20086380,00.html "After 50 Years of Pots and Chopins with Husband Arthur, Nela Rubinstein Rolls Out Her Own Cookbook"]. ''People Magazine'', 14 November 1983 Vol. 20, No. 20</ref> Nela subsequently divorced Munz and three years later married Rubinstein.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> They had five children (one died in infancy), including photographer [[Eva Rubinstein]], who married [[William Sloane Coffin]], and son [[John Rubinstein]], a [[Tony Award]]-winning actor and father of actor [[Michael Weston]].<ref>{{cite web | title=John Rubinstein Biography | url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/82/John-Rubinstein.html | work=filmreference | year=2008 | access-date=April 10, 2008}}</ref> Nela subsequently wrote ''Nela's Cookbook'', which included the dishes she prepared for the couple's legendary parties.<ref>Rubinstein, Nela (1983) ''Nela's Cookbook''. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. {{ISBN|039451761X}}</ref>

Both before and during his marriage, Rubinstein carried on a series of affairs with women, including Lesley Jowitt, the wife of the British politician [[William Jowitt, 1st Earl Jowitt|William Jowitt]], and [[Irene Curzon, 2nd Baroness Ravensdale|Irene Curzon]].{{sfn|Sachs|1995|pp=[https://archive.org/details/rubinsteinlife00sach/page/188/mode/2up?view=theater 189–90], [https://archive.org/details/rubinsteinlife00sach/page/246/mode/2up?view=theater 246–47].}}

In addition to fathering a daughter (Brazilian pianist [[Luli Oswald]]<ref>See on German Wikipedia: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luli_Oswald, sighted on 12 March 2022.</ref>) with the Italian marchioness Paola Medici del Vascello (née Princess Paola di Viggiano, also: Donna Paola Sanfelice dei Principi di Viggiano), he may have been the father of American decorator and artist [[Muriel Draper]]'s son [[Raimund Sanders Draper|Sanders Draper]], who died in World War II.<ref name="Sachs 1997"/> Luli Oswald was never recognised by her biological parents, hidden from the public and given as a newborn to a friend of Rubinstein's, the Brazilian conductor and composer [[Henrique Oswald]] (1852-1931). The latter's daughter Maria and her husband Odoardo Marchesini raised her and adopted her. The adoptive parents signed an affidavit in 1967 stating that Luli Oswald had been entrusted to them by her biological parents Paola Medici and Arthur Rubinstein because she was the "fruit of a forbidden love."<ref>{{harvnb|Sachs|1995|pp=223-224}}</ref> After the adoption, her name was Margarida Henriqueta Marchesini. Oswald later performed under the stage name Luli Oswald.

Though he and Nela never divorced, in 1977, at age 90, he left her for [[Annabelle Whitestone]], then 33 years old.

===Jewish identity===
An [[agnostic]], Rubinstein was proud of his Jewish heritage.{{sfn|Sachs|1995|p=[https://archive.org/details/rubinsteinlife00sach/page/12/mode/2up?view=theater 13]}} He was a great friend of Israel,<ref name=manyyears/> which he visited several times with his wife and children, giving concerts with the [[Israel Philharmonic Orchestra]], recitals, and master classes at the [[Jerusalem Music Centre]].
In 1949, Rubinstein—who lost family members in [[the Holocaust]]—along with other prominent musicians (including [[Vladimir Horowitz|Horowitz]] and [[Jascha Heifetz|Heifetz]]) announced that he would not appear with the [[Chicago Symphony]] if it engaged the conductor [[Wilhelm Furtwängler]], who had remained in Germany during the war and who had performed a symphony for Hitler's birthday.<ref name="Teachout, Terry 1996"/>

===Polish identity===
{{external media|video1=[https://archive.org/details/BPSuperShowArthurRubinstein Rubinstein performing] in 1964:<br />Chopin's [[Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53]],<br />Debussy's waltz ''[[La plus que lente]]'', L. 121 and Prelude in A-minor,<br />[[Alexander Scriabin]]'s Nocturne for the Left Hand, No. 2 of Op. 9,<br />[[Heitor Villa-Lobos]]'s ''O Polichinelo'',<br />de Falla's ''[[Ritual Fire Dance|Danza Ritual del Fuego]]''}}

Throughout his life, Rubinstein was deeply attached to Poland. At the inauguration of the [[United Nations]] in 1945, Rubinstein showed his Polish patriotism at a concert for the delegates. He began the concert by stating his deep disappointment that the conference did not have a delegation from Poland. Rubinstein later described becoming overwhelmed by a blind fury and angrily pointing out to the public the absence of the Polish flag. He stopped playing the piano, told the audience to stand up, including the Soviets, and played the [[Poland Is Not Yet Lost|Polish national anthem]] loudly and slowly, repeating the final part in a great thunderous ''forte''. When he had finished, the public gave him a great ovation.<ref name="sachs"/><ref>Ulanowska, Elżbieta "''Na cześć Artura Rubinsteina: Pianistyczna gala w Łodzi''" ("In Honor of Artur Rubinstein: Piano Gala in [[Łódź]]"), ''[[Gwiazda Polarna]]'' (''The Pole Star'', a Polish-American biweekly), vol. 99, no. 21 (11 October 2008), p.&nbsp;18.</ref>

=== Charitable contributions ===

Rubinstein was active in supporting charities throughout his life. He performed charity concerts to raise donations for numerous organizations which interested him. In 1961, he performed ten recitals in Carnegie Hall to raise roughly $100,000 for charities including [[Big Brothers Big Sisters of America|Big Brothers]], [[United Jewish Appeal]], [[Polish Assistance]], Musicians Emergency fund, the [[National Association for Mental Health]], and the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People|Legal Defense Fund of the National Advancement of Colored People]].<ref>[[Ross Parmenter|Parmenter, Ross]] (December 11, 1961) "Music: A Grand Finale". ''The New York Times''.</ref>

=== On practice ===
[[File:Artur Rubenstein 1968.JPG|thumb|Rubinstein in 1968]]
In his two autobiographies, Rubinstein is often intensely self-critical. A natural pianist with a big technique, he claimed that he practiced as little as possible, learning new pieces quickly and with insufficient attention to detail, relying on his charm and charisma to conceal the lack of finish in his playing. The literal truth of these self-directed critiques is open to question: Rubinstein wasn't averse to making himself the butt of a good story. Even so, he insisted that his attitude toward practicing changed after his marriage. He stated that he did not want his children to see him as a second-rater, so he began in the summer of 1934 to restudy his entire repertoire. "I buckled down back to work—six hours, eight hours, nine hours a day." he recalled in 1958. "And a strange thing happened. ... I began to discover new meanings, new qualities, new possibilities in music that I have been regularly playing for more than 30 years." In general, however, Rubinstein believed that excessive practice could be dangerous for young pianists. Perhaps recalling his own youthful brush with repetitive-stress syndrome, Rubinstein regularly advised that young pianists should practice no more than three hours a day. "I was born very, very lazy and I don't always practice very long", he said, "but I must say, in my defense, that it is not so good, in a musical way, to overpractice. When you do, the music seems to come out of your pocket. If you play with a feeling of 'Oh, I know this', you play without that little drop of fresh blood that is necessary—and the audience feels it." Of his own practice methods, he said, "At every concert I leave a lot to the moment. I must have the unexpected, the unforeseen. I want to risk, to dare. I want to be surprised by what comes out. I want to enjoy it more than the audience. That way the music can bloom anew. It's like making love. The act is always the same, but each time it's different."<ref name="nytimes.com" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.klre.org/notes/4091-pianist-arthur-rubinstein.html?print |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804090634/http://www.klre.org/notes/4091-pianist-arthur-rubinstein.html?print |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 4, 2012 |title=UALR Public Radio – KLRE Classical 90.5 – Pianist Arthur Rubinstein |publisher=Klre.org |access-date=7 January 2012 }}</ref>

=== Pupils ===
{{For LMST|Arthur|Rubinstein}}

Rubinstein was reluctant to teach in his earlier life, refusing to accept [[William Kapell]]'s request for lessons. It was not until the late 1950s that he accepted his first pupil, [[Dubravka Tomšič Srebotnjak]]. Other pupils of Rubinstein include [[François-René Duchâble]], [[Avi Schönfeld]], [[Ann Schein Carlyss]], [[Eugen Indjic]], [[Janina Fialkowska]], [[Dean Kramer]] and Marc Laforêt. Rubinstein also gave master classes towards the end of his life.<ref name=manyyears>{{harvnb|Rubinstein|1980|p={{page needed|date=April 2020}}}}</ref>

==Death and legacy==
{|class="toccolours" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 85%; background:#white; color:black; width:30em; max-width: 40%;" cellspacing="5"
|style="text-align: left;"| "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back..."
"People are always setting conditions for happiness... I love life without condition."
|-
|style="text-align: left;" |— Arthur Rubinstein<ref>''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'', 5 April 1948</ref>
|}
[[File:Grave of Arthur Rubinstein.jpg|thumb|Grave of Arthur Rubinstein at Arthur Rubinstein forest near Jerusalem]]
Rubinstein died in his sleep at his home in [[Geneva]], Switzerland, on 20 December 1982, at the age of 95. His remains were [[cremation|cremated]] two days later.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> On the first anniversary of his death, an urn holding his ashes was buried in Jerusalem—as specified in his will—in a dedicated plot now dubbed "Rubinstein Forest" overlooking the [[Jerusalem Forest]].<ref>{{cite news |agency= Associated Press |title= Arthur Rubinstein Remains Are Buried in Jerusalem Plot |work= The New York Times |date= December 22, 1983 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/22/arts/arthur-rubinstein-remains-are-buried-in-jerusalem-plot.html |access-date= 27 August 2007}}</ref> This was arranged by then-mayor [[Teddy Kollek]] with [[Chief Rabbinate of Israel|Israel's Chief Rabbis]], who had objected to Rubinstein's wish of having his ashes strewn over the Jerusalem Forest, given that Jewish law prohibits cremation and the forest is a public park, and as such falls under the religious law governing cemeteries.<ref>"[https://www.cfhu.org/news/writer-re-visits-arthur-rubinsteins-boundless-love-of-israel-and-link-to-hebrew-u/ Writer Re-Visits Arthur Rubinstein’s Boundless Love of Israel and Link to Hebrew U]", by Saul Jay Singer, 15 May 2019, for the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University website. Accessed 3 July 2022.</ref>

In October 2007, his family donated to the [[Juilliard School]] an extensive collection of original manuscripts, manuscript copies and published editions that had been seized by the Germans during World War II from his Paris residence. Seventy-one items were returned to his four children, marking the first time that Jewish property kept in the [[Berlin State Library]] was returned to the legal heirs.<ref>Juilliard News. October 15, 2007</ref>

In 1974, Jan Jacob Bistritzky established the [[Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition]], held every three years in Israel, intended to promote the careers of young and outstanding pianists. The Arthur Rubinstein Award and other prizes are presented to the winners. The Rubinstein Competition also commissions works by Israeli composers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arims.org.il/competition2011/pages/english/about.php |title=About |publisher=The Arthur Rubinstein International Music Society |year=2012 |access-date=February 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424054657/http://www.arims.org.il/competition2011/pages/english/about.php |archive-date=24 April 2012 }}</ref>

There is an Arthur Rubinstein Street in [[Tel Aviv]] and in [[Białogard]] (Polish: ''ulica Artura Rubinsteina'') and an Arthur Rubinstein Passage in [[Łódź]] (Polish: ''aleja Artura Rubinsteina'').

==Recordings==

{{details|Arthur Rubinstein discography}}

{{external media|audio1=[https://archive.org/details/LisztConcertoForPianoNo.1InEFlatMajor/02_quasiAdagio.mp3 Rubinstein performing in 1947] Liszt's [[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Liszt)|Piano Concerto No. 1]] with [[Antal Doráti]] conducting the [[Dallas Symphony Orchestra]]}}

In 1910, Rubinstein recorded [[Franz Liszt]]'s [[Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10]] for the Polish Favorite label.<ref name="Sachs 1997"/> The pianist was displeased with the [[Sound recording and reproduction#Disc phonograph|acoustic recording]] process, saying it made the piano sound "like a [[banjo]]" and he did not record again until the advent of [[Sound recording and reproduction#Electrical|electrical recording]]. However, Rubinstein made numerous [[player piano]] music rolls for the [[Aeolian Company|Aeolian]] [[Duo-Art]] system and the [[American Piano Company]] (AMPICO) in the 1920s.

Beginning in 1928, Rubinstein began to record extensively for the [[His Master's Voice (British record label)|His Master's Voice]] and for [[RCA Red Seal|RCA Victor]] in the United States, making a large number of solo, concerto and [[chamber music]] recordings until his retirement in 1976. As recording technology improved, from 78-rpm discs to LPs and stereophonic recordings, Rubinstein re-recorded much of his repertoire. All of his RCA Victor recordings have been reissued on [[compact disc]] and amount to about 107 hours of music.

Rubinstein preferred to make studio recordings and during his lifetime approved for release only around three hours of live recordings. However, since his death, several labels have issued many of his live recordings sourced from various radio broadcasts.

A recording of Rubinstein's version of Chopin's [[Minute Waltz]] has served as the theme music for the [[BBC Radio 4]] show ''[[Just a Minute]]'' since the programme's inception.<ref>{{cite web|website=[[BBC.com]] |title=History of the BBC: Just a Minute first transmitted |url=https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/december/just-a-minute/ |access-date=12 October 2023}}</ref>

==Honours==
[[File:Pomnik Rubisteina Lodz.jpg|thumb|Sculpture of Arthur Rubinstein on Piotrkowska Street, in [[Łódź]], Poland, where Rubinstein was born]]
*[[File:PRT Order of Saint James of the Sword - Officer BAR.svg|80px]] Officer of the [[Order of Saint James of the Sword]], Portugal (31 May 1958)<ref name="OrdHonPor">{{cite web|title=Cidadãos Estrangeiros Agraciados com Ordens Portuguesas|url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=154|website=Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas|access-date=20 March 2019}}</ref>
* [[Sonning Award]] of [[Denmark]] (1971)
*[[File:PRT Order of Saint James of the Sword - Grand Officer BAR.svg|80px]] Grand-Officer of the [[Order of Saint James of the Sword]], Portugal (9 May 1972)<ref name="OrdHonPor"/>
* [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] of the US presented by President [[Gerald Ford]] (1 April 1976)
* [[List of honorary British knights|Honorary]] [[Order of the British Empire|Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]] (KBE) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1977)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://culture.pl/en/article/2007-the-year-of-artur-rubinstein |title=2007: the Year of Artur Rubinstein |publisher= Culture.pl |date=December 31, 2007 |access-date=November 6, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Kennedy Center Honors]] of the United States of America (1978)
* Grand-Officier of the [[National Order of the Legion of Honour]] of France
* Officer's Cross (Krzyż Oficerski) of the [[Order of Polonia Restituta]] of Poland
* [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic|Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] of Italy<ref>{{cite web |title=Maestro Arthur Rubinstein |url=https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/36124 |website=[[Quirinale.it]] |access-date=19 October 2023}}</ref>
* Member of the [[Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise]] of Spain
* Officier of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]] of Belgium
* Voted into ''[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]''{{'}}s Hall of Fame in 2012<ref>{{cite web|title=Arthur Rubinstein (pianist)|url=http://www.gramophone.co.uk/HallofFame/ArtistPage/Rubinstein|publisher=Gramophone|access-date=April 12, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance]]:
** [[Pierre Fournier]], Arthur Rubinstein & [[Henryk Szeryng]] for ''[[Franz Schubert|Schubert]]: Trios Nos. 1 in B-flat, Op.&nbsp;99 and 2 in E-flat, Op.&nbsp;100 (Piano Trios)'' ([[Grammy Awards of 1976]])
** Pierre Fournier, Arthur Rubinstein & Henryk Szeryng for ''[[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]]: Trios (Complete)/[[Robert Schumann|Schumann]]: Trio No. 1 in D Minor'' ([[Grammy Awards of 1975]])
*[[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra)]]:
** Arthur Rubinstein for 'Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat/[[Robert Schumann|Schumann]]: ''[[Fantasiestücke]]'', Op.&nbsp;12 ([[Grammy Awards of 1978]])
** Arthur Rubinstein for ''Beethoven: Sonatas No. 21 in C (Waldstein) and No. 18 in E-flat'' ([[Grammy Awards of 1960]])
*[[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]] (1994)

==Filmography==
* ''[[Night Song (1948 film)|Night Song]]'' (1948)
* ''[[Arthur Rubinstein – The Love of Life]]'' (''L'Amour de la vie – Artur Rubinstein'', 1969)

==See also==
{{Portal|Music}}
* [[List of Polish people#Music|List of Polish people (music)]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

'''Sources'''
* {{cite book|last=Rubinstein|first=Arthur|title=My Young Years|location=New York|url-access=registration|publisher=Knopf|year=1973|isbn=0-394-46890-2|url=https://archive.org/details/myyoungyears00rubi}}
* {{cite book|last=Rubinstein|first=Arthur|title=My Many Years|location=New York|year=1980|isbn=0-394-42253-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Sachs|first=Harvey|author-link=Harvey Sachs|title=Rubinstein: A Life|url=https://archive.org/details/rubinsteinlife00sach|url-access=registration|year=1995|publisher=Grove Press|isbn=978-0-8021-1579-9}}

==External links==
{{Archival records|title=Artur Rubinstein correspondence, 1921-1984|location= [[Library of Congress]]|description_URL=https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu017005}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Arthur Rubinstein}}
*[https://www.sonyclassical.com/artists/artist-products/arthur-rubinstein-1 Website at Sony Classical] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811131028/https://www.sonyclassical.com/artists/artist-products/arthur-rubinstein-1 |date=August 11, 2022 }}
*{{wikiquote-inline}}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=q5381}}
* [https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/arthur-rubinstein-about-arthur-rubinstein/693/ Arthur Rubinstein profile] at [[PBS]] American Masters
* [https://www.wnyc.org/story/arthur-rubinstein-conversation-wqxrs-abram-chasins Rubinstein interviewed by WQXR's Abram Chasins on February 2, 1960] published by NYPR Archives & Preservation 

{{Léonie Sonning Music Prize laureates}}
{{Kennedy Center Honorees 1970s}}
{{Gramophone Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Classical music|Biography}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rubinstein, Arthur}}
[[Category:1887 births]]
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century Polish Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century classical pianists]]
[[Category:20th-century Polish Jews]]
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[[Category:American classical pianists]]
[[Category:American male classical pianists]]
[[Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners]]
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[[Category:Polish classical pianists]]
[[Category:Polish emigrants to the United States]]
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[[Category:Recipients of the Léonie Sonning Music Prize]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise]]
[[Category:Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medallists]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]
[[Category:Grand Officers of the Order of Saint James of the Sword]]