Anton Grigoryevich Rubinstein, though born in what is now Ukraine, is revered as a pioneer of Russian music and music education, having laid the foundations for serious musical education in Russia.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rubinstein's influence on succeeding generations of Russian composers was vast, due to his grasp of Western musical forms, excellent craftsmanship, and melodic fluency.
Critical Reception
Rubinstein's music fell into almost total obscurity outside Russia from the early 1920s, but has seen a revival in recent years, largely thanks to the recording industry.
Composer Biography
Rubinstein's family, Jewish in origin, was essentially converted by force to Christianity, a religious dichotomy reflected in his choice of Biblical subjects for his operas.
Composition History
The Piano Quartet in F major Op 55bis is dedicated to Berthold Damcke, a music critic who championed Rubinstein during a public argument fomented by critic Aleksandr Serov, whose taunts were fueled by antisemitism.
Composer Biography
Anton Rubinstein was a prominent conductor and, in his day, the most renowned pianist in the world, often compared to Liszt.
Recording & Production
This album features the first recording of the version of the Piano Quartet in F major Op 55bis with strings, and the first recording of the Piano Quartet in C major Op 66.
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