Rubinstein

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

ANTON GREGOR, a Russian musician; born in Wechwotynez, Kherson, Nov. 28, 1829. He was trained to music in Moscow by his mother and a master. Liszt heard him, "an infant ANTON GREGOR RUBINSTEIN prodigy," play in Paris in 1840, recognized his genius, and encouraged him to play in other cities. After some further "touring" he gave himself to serious study in Berlin and Vienna, and in 1848 settled in St. Petersburg as teacher of music. In 1854 he made another musical tour. On his return to St. Petersburg he succeeded in getting a musical conservatory founded (1862) there and became its director. But his concert tours engrossed a good deal of his time, and in 1867 he resigned the directorship of the conservatoire. In 1872 he went to the United States and had an enthusiastic reception. He ended his concert tours in 1886. He was induced in the following year to resume the directorship of the conservatory at St. Petersburg. From the Russian Government he received a patent of nobility and other honors. He was a strongly pronounced opponent of the principles of Wagner. As a pianist he held the highest rank, being nk, being usually reckoned the greatest since Liszt. Among his best musical productions are the operas: "The Maccabees," "The Demon," "Feramors" (the libretto from Moore's "Lalla Rookh"), and "Kalaschnikoff"; the two symphonies: "Ocean" and "Dramatic"; and the sacred operas: "Paradise Lost," "The Tower of Babel," and "Sulamith." His numerous songs and pieces of chamber music are highly esteemed and more widely known. He wrote his "Autobiography" (1839-1889) and "Conversation on Music." He died in St. Petersburg, Russia, Nov. 20, 1894.