Rubinstein saw himself as the heir of Schubert and Chopin, and was even nicknamed 'Van the Second' by Franz Liszt due to his resemblance to Beethoven.
Composer Biography
Anton Rubinstein, the composer, was known for his phenomenal dual talent as both a pianist and a composer, though his compositional legacy was often overshadowed by his pianistic fame.
Composition History
Rubinstein dedicated his Second Piano Concerto to his boyhood friend Carl Lewy, who assisted him in founding the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1862.
Composer Biography
Peter Tchaikovsky, a student of Anton Rubinstein, admired his teacher's noble character and teaching, even referring to him as the lodestar of his career.
Composer Biography
Rubinstein's publisher, Bartholf Senff, once groaned that Rubinstein's compositions suffered from 'superfluity' rather than 'paucity' due to their luxuriant force.
Critical Reception
Hans von Bülow, a strict advocate of textual fidelity, found Rubinstein's incorrect playing more interesting than a thousand others playing correctly, calling him a 'god of thunder' and 'artisan of fire'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rubinstein believed he concertized to live and lived to compose, finding the greatest fulfillment where these two spheres intersected, such as in his piano concertos.
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