Arthur Rubinstein
A Polish-American pianist whose passionate and lyrical interpretations, particularly of Chopin, brought Romantic music to life for a global audience.
1887–1982 (age 95)·Polish pianist·Birthday: January 28·The Lost Generation
Biography
Arthur Rubinstein's life was a century-spanning love affair with the piano. Born in Łódź, Poland, in 1887, he was a child prodigy who made his Berlin debut at age 13. Early success was tempered by a reputation for casual preparation, but a personal crisis in middle age led him to recommit to his art with ferocious discipline. He emerged with a deeper, more authoritative technique and a philosophy that music should be, above all, a joyful communication. Rubinstein became the definitive interpreter of Chopin, playing the composer's works with a warmth and rhythmic freedom that banished salon preciousness. His career, lasting over eight decades, was built on extensive global touring and a vast recorded legacy that introduced classical music to millions. Fleeing the Nazis, he became an American citizen and was a passionate advocate for Israel. He played into his late 80s, his concerts radiating an unquenchable vitality that made him one of the most beloved musical figures of his time.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Arthur was born in 1887, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arthur Was Born
The biggest hits of 1887
Arthur's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1887Born
President: Grover Cleveland
1892Started school
President: Benjamin Harrison
1900Became a teenager
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1903Could drive
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1905Could vote
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Turned 21
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1917Turned 30
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 40
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 50
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 60
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 70
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 80
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1982Died at 95
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
Key Achievements
- Recorded the complete works of Chopin, setting a benchmark for interpretation that influenced generations of pianists.
- Performed publicly for over eight decades, from his 1894 debut as a child to his final concert in 1976 at age 89.
- Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1976 for his contributions to culture and the arts.
- Was one of the first classical musicians to fully embrace and benefit from the era of commercial recording, leaving an immense discography.
- Awarded multiple Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994, over a decade after his death.
Did You Know?
He was a noted polyglot, fluent in eight languages: Polish, German, French, English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
During World War II, he lived in the United States and performed over 300 concerts for Allied troops.
He had a famous rivalry with fellow pianist Vladimir Horowitz, though it was largely a creation of the press and fans.
He lost most of his eyesight to macular degeneration in his later years but continued to perform from memory.
He was a great lover of good food, cigars, and beautiful company, famously stating he was 'in love with life'.
““I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.””
