Arthur Rubinstein (January 28, 1887 – December 20, 1982) was a Polish-American pianist. His first recording was made in 1910, but his major recording career was between 1928 and 1976.

Overview

Rubinstein's first recording was made in 1910; he recorded Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10 for the Polish "Favorit" label. The pianist was displeased with the acoustic recording process, which he said made the piano sound “like a banjo” and did not record again until after the advent of electrical recording in 1925. However, Rubinstein made numerous player piano music rolls for the Aeolian Duo-Art system and the American Piano Company (AMPICO) in the 1920s.

Beginning in 1928, Rubinstein began to record extensively for the Victor Talking Machine Company/RCA Victor in the United States and the Gramophone Company/EMI Records (also known as His Master's Voice) in England. Rubinstein made a large number of solo, concerto and chamber music recordings regularly until his retirement in 1976. As recording technology improved, from 78rpm records, to LPs, and from monophonic to stereophonic recordings, Rubinstein rerecorded much of his repertoire. Thus, there are often three or more recordings of Rubinstein playing the same works. In 1985, RCA began releasing some of his recordings on compact disc. Most of his monophonic recordings were not issued on CD until 1999, when RCA issued a boxed set of 94 discs containing his complete recordings for that company (along with a recording of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1 which was originally released by Decca/London). From 1937 onward, he was billed as Artur Rubinstein on concert engagements and RCA Victor's American issued recordings at the instruction of his manager, Sol Hurok. Since 1999, all CD reissues have used the Arthur spelling, which the pianist preferred and used.

Rubinstein preferred to record in the studio, and during his lifetime only approved for release around three hours of live recordings. However, since the pianist's death, several labels have issued live recordings taken from radio broadcasts.

This discography contains only CD reissues of his recordings. Original issues on 78 rpm, LP and tape formats are not included.

Albums

Year of issueAlbum detailsRecording date(s)Record label 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 1 Brahms: Piano Concerto in B-flat major, Op. 83* Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23+ London Symphony Orchestra, Albert Coates, conductor* London Symphony Orchestra, John Barbirolli, conductor+ 1929/1932 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 2 Chopin: Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 34, No. 1 / Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 / Mazurka in D major, Op. 33, No. 2 / Mazurka in C minor, Op. 56, No. 3 / Mazurka in B major, Op. 63, No. 1 Liszt: Consolation in D-flat major, S. 172, No. 3 / Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10 in E major, S. 244, No. 10 / Liebesträume in A-flat major, S. 541, No. 3 Rachmaninoff: Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2 Debussy: Preludes, Book I: La cathédrale engloutie; Danseuses de Delphes Ravel: Forlane, from Le tombeau de Couperin Granados: The Maiden and the Nightingale Falla: Dance of Terror / Ritual Fire Dance (both from El amor brujo) Villa-Lobos: A Prole do bebê, Book I: Moreninha / A pobrezinha / O Polichinelo 1928–1937 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 3 Brahms: Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25* / Sonata for Violin & Piano in D minor, Op. 108+ / Cello Sonata in E minor, Op. 38^ Members of the Pro Arte Quartet* Paul Kochanski, violin+ Gregor Piatigorsky, cello^ 1932/1936 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 4 Chopin: 6 Polonaises / Polonaise-Fantasie, Op. 61 / Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise in E-flat major, Op. 22 / Barcarolle, Op. 60 / Berceuse, Op. 57 1928–1935 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 5 Chopin: Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11* / Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 21* / 19 Nocturnes London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli, conductor* 1931–1937 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 6 Chopin: 51 Mazurkas / 4 Scherzos 1932/1938 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 7 Franck: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major* Fauré: Nocturne in A-flat major, Op.33, No. 3 Poulenc: Trois mouvements perpétuels / Napoli Albéniz: Córdoba / Sevillanas / Evocación / Triana / Navarra Jascha Heifetz, violin* 1929–1947 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 8 Bach: Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564 (arr. Busoni) Schubert: Impromptu in a-flat major, D. 899, No. 4 / Minuetto from Sonata in G major, D. 894 Schumann: Romance in F-sharp major, Op. 28, No. 2 / Arabeske in C major, Op. 18 / Träumerei / Widmung (arr. Liszt) Brahms: Capriccio in B minor, Op. 76, No. 2 / Rhapsody in G minor, Op. 79, No. 2 / Wiegenlied, Op. 49, No. 4 Anton Rubinstein: Waltz-Caprice, in E-flat major 1928–1947 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 9 Mozart: Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488* Beethoven: Piano Concerto in G major, Op. 58+ Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43^ London Symphony Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli, conductor* Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham, conductor+ London Philharmonia Orchestra, Walter Susskind, conductor^ 1931/1947 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 10 Beethoven: Sonata in C minor, Op. 13 Pathétique Brahms: Rhapsody in E-flat major, Op. 119, No. 4 / Intermezzo in E-flat major, Op. 117, No. 1 / Intermezzo in B-flat minor, Op. 117, No. 2 / Intermezzo in A major, Op.118, No. 2 / Intermezzo in E-flat minor, Op. 118, No. 6 / Intermezzo in C major, Op.119, No. 3 / Rhapsody in B minor, Op. 79, No. 1 / Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, No. 7 / Rhapsody in G minor, Op. 79, No. 2 / Ballade in G minor, Op. 118, No. 3 / Hungarian Dance in F minor, WoO 1, No. 4 / Wiegenlied, Op. 49, No. 4 1941–1947 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 11 Beethoven: Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a Les Adieux / Moderato e grazioso from Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 31, No. 3 Franck: Prélude, Chorale, and Fugue, M. 21 Villa-Lobos: A Prole do bebê, Book 1, A. 140 / Alegria na horta, from Suite Floral, A. 117, No. 3 Szymanowski: Mazurkas, Op. 50, Nos. 1–4 Milhaud: Saudades do Brasil: Ipanema; Sumaré; Larenjeiras Gershwin: Prelude No. 2 Liszt: Valse oubliée No. 1, S. 215, No. 1 1940–1946 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 12 Beethoven: Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97 Archduke Schubert: Piano Trio in B-flat major, D. 898 Jascha Heifetz, violin Emanuel Feuermann, cello 1941 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 13 Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16* / Ballade in G minor, Op. 24 / Album Leaf in C-sharp minor, Op. 28, No. 4 / At the Cradle, Op. 68, No. 5 / Spring Dance, Op. 47, No. 6 / Berceuse, Op. 38, No. 1 / Folk Song, Op. 38, No. 2 / Butterfly, Op. 43, No. 1 / Spring Dance, Op. 38, No. 5 / Shepherd Boy, Op. 54, No. 1 / Little Bird, Op. 43, No. 4 / Folk Song, Op. 12, No. 5 / Elves' Dance, Op. 12, No. 4 / March of the Dwarfs, Op. 54, No. 3 Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, conductor* 1942/1953 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 14 Beethoven: Piano Concerto in C minor, Op. 37* / Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 31, No. 3 / Sonata in F minor, Op. 57 Appassionata NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini, conductor* 1944–1946 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 15 Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18* Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23+ NBC Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Golschmann, conductor* Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Dimitri Mitropoulos, conductor+ 1946 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 16 Chopin: Preludes, Op. 28 / Sonata in B-flat minor, Op. 35 / Berceuse, Op. 16 / Barcarolle, Op. 60 / Impromptu in G-flat major, Op. 51 1946 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 17 Chopin: Piano Concerto in E minor, Op. 11* / Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 21 Los Angeles Philharmonic, Alfred Wallenstein, conductor* NBC Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg, conductor+ 1946/1953 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 18 Granados: Andaluza, from Spanish Dances, Op. 37 / The Maiden and the Nightingale, from Goyescas / Falla: Miller's Dance / Andaluza / Dance of Terror / Ritual Fire Dance / Nights in the Gardens of Spain* Albéniz: Córdoba / Evocación, from Iberia / Navarra / Sevillanas Mompou: Cançones i dansas Nos. 1 & 6 St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Golschmann, conductor* 1941–1955 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 19 Mozart: Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488* Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54+ / The Prophet Bird, from Waldszenen, Op. 82 / Arabeske, Op. 18 / Träumerei, from Kinderszenen, Op. 15 / Widmung (arr. Liszt) St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Golschmann, conductor* RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg, conductor+ 1946–1949 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 20 Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9 / Novellette in F major, Op. 21, No. 1 / Nachtstück in F major, Op. 23, No. 4 / Romance in F-sharp major, Op. 28, No. 2 / Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 1949/1953 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 21 Brahms: Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5 / Capriccio in B minor, Op. 76, No. 2 / Intermezzo in B-flat minor, Op. 117, No. 2 / Rhapsodies, Op. 79 / Rhapsody in E-flat major, Op. 119, No. 4 1949/1953 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 22 Brahms: Piano Concerto in B-flat major, Op. 83* Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch, conductor* RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati, conductor 1949/1952 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 23 Fauré: Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 15 Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44 Paganini Quartet 1949 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 24 Brahms: Piano Trio in B major, Op. 8* Mendelssohn: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 49 Jascha Heifetz, violin Emanuel Feuermann, cello* Gregor Piatigorsky, cello 1941/1950 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 25 Ravel: Piano Trio in A minor Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50 Jascha Heifetz, violin Gregor Piatigorsky, cello 1950 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 26 Chopin: 21 Nocturnes / 4 Scherzos / Trois Nouvelles Etudes / Fantasie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 1950–1958 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 27 Chopin: 51 Mazurkas / 4 Impromptus 1952–1957 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 28 Chopin: 6 Polonaises / Polonaise-Fantasie, Op. 61 / Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise in E-flat major, Op. 22 1950 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 29 Chopin: 14 Waltzes / Fantasie, Op. 49 / Barcarolle, Op. 60 / Berceuse, Op. 57 1953–1958 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 30 Franck: Prelude, Chorale, and Fugue, M. 21 Debussy: La plus que lente / Hommage à Rameau / Poissons d'or / Preludes, Book I: La fille aux cheveux de lin; La cathédrale engloutie; Minstrels / Preludes, Book II: La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune; Ondine / Masques Granados: The Maiden and the Nightingale Liszt: Liebesträume, in A-flat major, S. 541, No. 3 Schubert: Impromptu in G-flat major, D. 899, No. 3 / Impromptu in A-flat major, D. 899, No. 4 Mendelssohn: Spinning Song, Op. 67, No. 4 1950–1953 RCA Red Seal1999Arthur Rubinstein Plays Great Piano Concertos (Sony Classical)1953RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 31 Liszt: Funérailles, S.173, No. 7 / Valse-Impromptu, S. 213 / Valse oubliée No. 1, S. 215, No. 1 / Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S. 514 / Liebesträume in A-flat major, S. 541, No. 3 / Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10 in E major, S.244, No. 10 / Consolation in D-flat major, S. 172, No. 3 / Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-sharp minor, S. 244, No. 12 Anton Rubinstein: Barcarolle No. 3 in G minor, Op. 50, No. 3 / Barcarolle No. 4 in G major / Waltz-Caprice in E-flat major 1950–1955 RCA Red Seal 1999 Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 32