Metadata: A. G. Rubinshtein
Collection
- Country:
- Russia
- Holding institution:
- The National Library of Russia
- Holding institution (official language):
- Российская национальная библиотека. Отдел рукописей.
- Postal address:
- 91069, Russia, St. Petersburg, ul. Sadovaia, д. 18, main building
- Phone number:
- (812) 310-28-56
- Web address:
- http://www.nlr.ru
- Email:
- office@nlr.ru
- Reference number:
- F. 654
- Title:
- A. G. Rubinshtein
- Title (official language):
- РУБИНШТЕЙН А. Г.
- Creator/accumulator:
- A. G. Rubinshtein
- Date(s):
- 1854/1915
- Language:
- Russian
- French
- German
- English
- Italian
- Extent:
- 135 storage units
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Graphic material
- Scope and content:
- The fonds contains biographical materials, including as pertain to A. G. Rubinshtein’s concert activities (1885-95); jubilee celebrations (1883-89); the holding of A. G. Rubinshtein music competitions (1886-90); manuscripts of musical works; correspondence (1860s-1890s); graphic materials (1886); etc. Documents pertaining to the history of Jews in Russia include a copy of A. G. Rubinshtein’s baptismal certificate (made by P. L. Vaksel’ from an 1856 copy); literary and memoiristic works by A. G. Rubinshtein, including a draft autograph copy of notes not intended to be published in his lifetime titled “Gedankenhorb” (German for “a box of thoughts”), which contain considerations on the fate of Jews in Russia (undated); fragments of an autobiography; etc.; and materials of other persons, and in particular, a manuscript of a memoir by A. G. Rubinshtein’s wife V. A. Rubinshtein titled “Echoes of the Past” (undated); manuscript sheet music, including works based on Jewish musical folklore (1880s); correspondence with figures in the field of music (1860s-90s); etc.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Anton Grigor’evich Rubinshtein (1829-94) was a pianist, composer, conductor, teacher, and musical and public figure. He studied piano performance first with his mother, and then with A. I. Villuan. In 1840-43 he made a triumphal concert tour through Europe. From 1844-48 he was in Berlin and Vienna, where he studied music theory with Siegfried Dehn and associated with Felix Mendelssohn, who influenced the young composer’s development. Upon his return to St. Petersburg, he performed as a pianist and conducted. In 1854-58, he gave concerts abroad, associated with Franz Liszt, and gained a reputation as one of the greatest pianists of his era. When he returned to St. Petersburg, he undertook broad musical/public activity: he took the initiative and lead role in organising the Choir Academy (1858), the Russian Music Society (1859), and Russia’s first conservatory, the St. Petersburg Conservatory (of which he served as professor and director from 1862-67). This activity was complicated by clashes with court circles, as well as by bitter struggles with A. N. Serov, V. V. Stasov, and members of the Petersburg composers’ group “The Mighty Handful” [“Moguchaia kuchka”] regarding the role of the national element and the significance of professional music education in the development of the art of music. Soon after the establishment of the Society for the Promotion of Culture among the Jews of Russia (OPE) in 1860, A. G. Rubinshtein became an active member. In 1867, conflicts with high-ranking circles led him to withdraw from the conservatory and Russian Music Society, whereupon he led the life of a wandering virtuoso. He served as art director and main conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Society in 1871-72; and made a very successful concert tour through cities of the United States in 1872-73. In 1887 he renewed his public activity in support of music education, and once again headed the St. Petersburg Conservatory. A campaign of harassment by the reactionary press led him to leave the conservatory once more in 1891. The final years of his life were spent mainly in Dresden, where he gave charity concerts and engaged in literary work and composition. A. G. Rubinshtein’s works include the operas The Maccabees (1874) and The Shulamite [Sulamif] (a biblical staged performance based on Solomon’s Song of Songs, 1883); the religious operas and oratorios Babel (text by Iu. Rodenberg; 1869) and Moses (text by S. G. Mozental’; 1892); etc.
- Access points: locations:
- Russia
- Access points: persons/families:
- Rubinshtein, A. G.
- Rubinshtein, V. A.
- Vaksel’, P. L.
- System of arrangement:
- The fonds includes a single inventory systematised by structure.
- Finding aids:
- An inventory is available.
- Yerusha Network member:
- Jewish Theological Seminary