Arthur Rubinstein

Acting

Arthur Rubinstein

Born 1887-01-28 · Lódz, Poland

Arthur Rubinstein (Polish: Artur Rubinstein; 28 January 1887 – 20 December 1982) was a Polish-American pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time. 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 Chopin interpreters of his time. He played in public for eight decades. Artur 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. 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!". 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. 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. When he became ten years of age, Rubinstein moved to Berlin to continue his studies, and gave his first performance with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1900, at the age of 13. Joseph Joachim recommended Karl Heinrich Barth as the boy's piano teacher. As a student of Barth, Rubinstein inherited a renowned pedagogical lineage: Barth was himself a pupil of Liszt, who had been taught by Czerny, who had in turn been a pupil of Beethoven. 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 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. ... Source: Article "Arthur Rubinstein" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Acting credits

Villa-Lobos - O Índio de Casaca poster
9.0

No synopsis available yet.

Villa-Lobos - O Índio de Casaca

1987

Arthur Rubinstein: The Love of Life poster
6.9

Documentary about Polish-American pianist, Arthur Rubinstein.

Arthur Rubinstein: The Love of Life

1969

Follow the Boys poster
5.7

During World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star on the lot--often playing themselves--in musical numbers and comedy skits, and were meant as morale-boosters to both the troops overseas and the civilians at home. This was Universal Pictures' effort. It features everyone from Donald O'Connor to the Andrews Sisters to Orson Welles to W.C. Fields to George Raft to Marlene Dietrich, and dozens of other Universal players.

Follow the Boys

1944

Of Men and Music poster
7.0

A documentary featuring musicians including Artur Rubinstein, Jan Peerce-Nadine Conner, and Jascha Heifetz.

Of Men and Music

1951

Bachianas Brasileiras: Meu Nome é Villa-Lobos poster
NR

German-Brazilian production on the life of Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Bachianas Brasileiras: Meu Nome é Villa-Lobos

1979

Sculptor with a Camera poster
NR

Documentary film based on unique found footage shot in the 1920s by count August Zamoyski. A valuable insight into Polish artistic life between the world wars.

Sculptor with a Camera

2018

Carnegie Hall poster
5.8

A young Irishwoman comes to the United States to live and work with her mother as a cleaning lady at Carnegie Hall. She becomes attached to the place as the people she meets there gradually shape her life. The film also includes a variety of performances from some of the foremost musical artists of the times: conductors Bruno Walter & Leopold Stokowski, solists Arthur Rubinstein & Jascha Haifetz, singers Lily Pons & Jan Peerce and bandleader Vaughn Monroe among many others.

Carnegie Hall

1947

Night Song poster
6.4

A socialite pretends to be poor and blind in her plan to help a blinded pianist.

Night Song

1948

No artwork available
9.5

Portrait of violin prodigy Yehudi Menuhin: an account of his career, his professional and private life and his profession of faith, inspired by Eastern philosophy.

Yehudi Menuhin, chemin de lumière

1970

Rubinstein in Concert poster
7.0

Live 1973 concert performances by celebrated Polish-American virtuoso concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein, with the Concertgebouw Orchestra under conductor Bernard Haitink. Filmed in August 1973 at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the performances include Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto, in C minor, op. 37; and Brahms's First Piano Concerto, in D minor, op. 15. These are followed by four short pieces for solo piano, by Schubert, Brahms, and Chopin. The 2008 DVD release by Deutsche Grammophon also includes a short documentary, "Rubinstein at 90", an interview with Robert MacNeil, filmed at Rubinstein's home in Paris in 1977.

Rubinstein in Concert

1973

Artur Rubinstein - Piano Concertos poster
7.0

Arthur Rubinstein performs Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, and Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 with Andre Previn at the London Symphony at Fairfield Hall, Croydon, England.

Artur Rubinstein - Piano Concertos

2006

Rostropovich: L'archet Indomptable poster
10.0

The Indomitable Bow is a unique portrait of Mstislav Rostropovich, a formidable personality as well as a complex, deeply political musician constantly engaged in a whirlwind of activities. Including unreleased documents, archive films, interviews and concert performances from this key figure of the 20th century, The Indomitable Bow is a remarkable testimony of the life and work of the legendary Slava

Rostropovich: L'archet Indomptable

2019

Rubinstein Remembered poster
NR

This program traces Rubinstein's career and features excerpts from his performances of works by Frederic Chopin, his favorite composer. There are also effervescent Rubinstein reminiscences told as only he could tell them, as well as interviews with his family and colleagues. A 100th anniversary tribute to the famous virtuoso pianist, Arthur Rubinstein.

Rubinstein Remembered

1987

The Art of Piano - Great Pianists of 20th Century poster
9.0

This is a film that encapsulates the essence of a great pianistic age that married virtuosity and musicianship with the most thrilling aspect of individual showmanship.

The Art of Piano - Great Pianists of 20th Century

1999

No artwork available
NR

The first segment of this program presents Rubinstein at a recording session playing for his children and exhibiting his technique with the music of Liszt, Chopin, and Mendelssohn. The second segment shows the pianist at home in an all-Chopin program. The final segment features Rubinstein, Heifetz, and Piatigorsky interpreting Schubert and Mendelssohn.

Arthur Rubinstein

Rubinstein: In Performance poster
NR

This historic film captures the legendary pianist Artur Rubinstein in rare performance film footage. The first portion of the program features Rubinstein playing solo works. The next segment of the program takes us into his home, with the master playing a program of Chopin. The concluding portion of the film is the result of LIFE Magazine's famous photographic story on the great soloists Rubinstein, Jasha Heifetz and Gregor Piatigorsky in rehearsal together. It is an intimate study of genius at work.

Rubinstein: In Performance

1977

The Golden Age of the Piano poster
7.5

Academician and piano expert David Dubal narrates this absorbing documentary chronicling the instrument's history and featuring some of the 20th century's finest pianists via archival film clips. Among the keyboard virtuosos are Vladimir Horowitz, Claudio Arrau, Van Cliburn and Glenn Gould. Extras include Arrau's 1983 performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto no. 4, accompanied by the Philadelphia Orchestra under maestro Riccardo Muti.

The Golden Age of the Piano

1993

Artur Rubinstein: The Legendary Moscow Recital poster
NR

Arthur Rubinstein's 1964 recital in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, filmed and recorded by Soviet television and preserved in its archives, in a program of work of Chopin and — in encores introduced from the stage by Rubinstein — Schumann, Chopin, Debussy, and Villa-Lobos.

Artur Rubinstein: The Legendary Moscow Recital

1964

Arthur Rubinstein Plays Chopin and Rachmaninov poster
NR

In the intimate setting of his home, one of the most celebrated pianists of the 20th century performs an all-Chopin program, with the Mazurka in C Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No. 4; Scherzo in C Sharp Minor, Op. 39; Nocturne in F Sharp Major, Op. 15, No. 2; and Polonaise in A Flat Major ("Grand Polonaise"), Op. 53. Augmenting this 1950 film are two 1956 Producer's Showcase "Festival of Music" performances: a reprise of the A-Flat Polonaise and Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. "Admirers of the legendary Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982) will covet this ... black-and-white salon recital done in Hollywood style, with unidentified guests - including the pianist's wife Eva - caught in medias res, with Rubinstein's playing the last fifteen bars of the Prelude in F# Minor, uncredited. Rubinstein then asks permission to play a mazurka, the piece most representative of Chopin's national character....

Arthur Rubinstein Plays Chopin and Rachmaninov

1950