Classical Composers Datebook: November 28
Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and founder of St Petersburg Conservatory and Russian Musical Society
Anton Rubinstein (Gigor’yevich) (born Vikhvatinets, 28 November 1829 - died Peterhof, 20 November 1894), was a Russian pianist, composer and teacher. His piano playing is often compared to Liszt, was a prolific Russian composer, a child virtuoso and acclaimed as one of the greatest 19th century pianists. He enjoyed enormous international success. Tchaikovsky was among his pupils. One of his popular compositions is the "Album de Peterhof, Op.75" that forms a beautiful musical picture of memories. Peterhof was his favorite summer retreat with his family. He died there 8 days before his birthday anniversary. Rubinstein had two sons and a daughter by his wife Vera Tschekouanoff.
The video below is the most famous music of Rubinstein in the orchestral version. (Paintings by Pierre Auguste Renoir.) Sorry, I don't have info who interpreted the music.
Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894), Russian composer, pianist and teacher, was born in Vikhyatinets, on November 28, 1829, of Slavic-Jewish-German descent. Anton’s music education started with his mother who gave him piano lessons. Nikolay Rubinstein, a known pianist and teacher, is his younger brother. At the age of five, his family moved to Moscow where his father set up a pencil factory. At the age of ten, he had his debut in Moscow then went on European concert tour, including London, but the tour barely paid for itself.
Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and founder of St Petersburg Conservatory and Russian Musical Society
Anton Rubinstein (Gigor’yevich) (born Vikhvatinets, 28 November 1829 - died Peterhof, 20 November 1894), was a Russian pianist, composer and teacher. His piano playing is often compared to Liszt, was a prolific Russian composer, a child virtuoso and acclaimed as one of the greatest 19th century pianists. He enjoyed enormous international success. Tchaikovsky was among his pupils. One of his popular compositions is the "Album de Peterhof, Op.75" that forms a beautiful musical picture of memories. Peterhof was his favorite summer retreat with his family. He died there 8 days before his birthday anniversary. Rubinstein had two sons and a daughter by his wife Vera Tschekouanoff.The video below is the most famous music of Rubinstein in the orchestral version. (Paintings by Pierre Auguste Renoir.) Sorry, I don't have info who interpreted the music.
Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894), Russian composer, pianist and teacher, was born in Vikhyatinets, on November 28, 1829, of Slavic-Jewish-German descent. Anton’s music education started with his mother who gave him piano lessons. Nikolay Rubinstein, a known pianist and teacher, is his younger brother. At the age of five, his family moved to Moscow where his father set up a pencil factory. At the age of ten, he had his debut in Moscow then went on European concert tour, including London, but the tour barely paid for itself.
In Paris, he met Liszt and Chopin. He returned to Moscow in 1843. Then the family decided that together with his brother Nikolay they should go to Berlin for further study in composition. He also studied counterpoint and harmony. Unfortunately, Anton's father died. Rubinstein lived in poverty and met both ends by teaching privately, before returning to Russia in 1848. He was 19.
In later years, Anton Rubinstein went to Germany bringing with him many of his compositions. His music career was also promoted by Mendelssohn. Then in 1858, he settled in St Petersburg and became court pianist and conductor there. A year later, when he founded the Russian Musical Society with his patron the Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, with the purpose of improving Russia's musical education system. In 1862 he founded St. Petersburg Conservatory, the first such school in Russia, and eventually served as its the director. While he was influential, Rubinstein was also a controversial figure in the musical life. Unfortunately, he was much denigraded by his fellow musicians, whether out of anti-semitism prejudice or hostility. In particular, resistance came from the "Mighty Five" group of nationalist composers led by Balakirev. Nevertheless, his work education made its mark on musical standards throughout the country.
Being exceptionally prolific as a composer, he worked in haste and was unable to rise above the commonplace. Only his Melody in F, Op.3 No.1 for Piano (still popular to this day) and the opera Demon (1871) achieved success. Rubinstein's other musical works range from 20 operas (including Demon), 6 symphonies (including Symphony No.2 “Ocean”, in seven movements), piano and violin concertos, some 10 string quartets, and much chamber music, piano pieces and songs.
Suggested listening:
Romance in E-Flat major, Op. 44, No.1
Anton Rubinstein's String Quartet No. 2, Op. 17 (1855). YouTube, uploaded by Bartje Bartmans. Accessed
November 11, 2016.
Anton Rubinstein Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 42 "Ocean". Ensemble: Symphony Orchestra "Klassika" Conductor: Roman Leontiev. Uploaded by Roman Leontiev. Accessed November 11, 2017.
Age Juurikas. Piano Concerto No. 4 in D minor. Uploaded by erpmusic. Age Juurikas, piano (artist of ERP) Anton Rubinstein's Piano Concerto No 4 in D minor Op 70. Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Neeme Järvi. Live from Estonia Concert Hall, Tallinn. Accessed March 5, 2020. (Thanks to my Italian friend Michela di Candia for the info.)
List of Compositions:
Here. (From Wiki)
Video Credit:
Anton Rubinstein : Melody in F major op.3 n.1 for Orchestra - ( Paintings by Renoir ). Youtube, uploaded by NEWKINGOFWALTZER. Accessed 28 Nov 2017.
Photo Credit:
Anton Rubinstein. Public Domain.
Resources:
The Grove concise Dictionary
of Music, edited by Stanley Sadie, Macmillan (1994)
The Oxford Companion to Music,
edited by Alison Latham, OUP (2002)
Note: I originally published this piece in full at Suite101.com, 29 February 2008. It's been abridged for this post. / Tel
(c) June 2008. Updated March 5, 2020. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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