Artur Rubinstein was born in Lithuania in 1887. He was a prodigy from an early age, and at the age of 22, he was already established as a concert pianist. In 1912 Rubinstein moved to Berlin to pursue a career as a concert pianist, but quickly abandoned this goal because he believed he would have more success as a composer. He soon became famous as a composer and pianist and gave concerts throughout Europe and Russia, including his first recital in New York City in 1920
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In 1922, Rubinstein moved to Paris where he met the celebrated violinist Joseph Szigeti. The two became close friends and collaborated on many musical compositions, including the famed Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major which is now considered one of the finest concertos written for violin and orchestra.
In 1926, Rubinstein was awarded the "Prix du Disque" for his work "Deux Poemes de Chopin". He lived in France until 1938, when he left for the United States with his wife Alice (née Greenberg). Rubinstein performed concerts throughout America until 1940, when World War II began.
Rubinstein performed his last concert on December 31, 1941 at Carnegie Hall; he died later that year of heart failure on June 26, 1942.
