Anton Rubinstein (1829–1894) was a towering figure in 19th-century music: a virtuoso pianist, conductor, composer, and educator whose influence extended well beyond his own works. Born in Russia, Rubinstein gained international fame as a pianist of almost legendary ability, rivaled only by Franz Liszt. He was also instrumental in establishing a Russian school of music, foun­ding the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1862, where he trained a new generation of composers and performers. As a composer, Rubinstein was remarkably prolific, writing symphonies, operas, chamber music, and countless works for piano.