As a child, Anton Rubinstein was a virtuoso pianist who toured extensively, even performing for Queen Victoria in London.
Composition History
Anton Rubinstein established the Russian Musical Society in 1859 and the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1862, with the active encouragement of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, a German princess and sister-in-law of the Tsar.
Composition History
Rubinstein's Symphony No. 5 is dedicated to the memory of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, whose support was crucial to his career.
Composer Biography
Anton Rubinstein, a Jewish composer, faced challenges to his reputation due to his racial origins and his cosmopolitan musical style, which was seen as German by Russian nationalists.
Critical Reception
By the end of his life, Anton Rubinstein had lost the respect of the younger generation, and his name became synonymous with kitsch, with the jibe 'c'est du Rubinstein' being common.
Historical Context
The new St. Petersburg Conservatory, founded by Rubinstein, faced immediate opposition from a nationalist group of composers known as the Five, led by Balakirev, who objected to formal German musical training.
Composer Biography
Anton Rubinstein rivaled Liszt in fame as a pianist, though Liszt described him with 'grudging respect' as a 'clever fellow' but also a 'pseudo-Musician of the future'.
