Rubinstein had piano lessons with his mother when he was young. At age seven he went to study piano with A.I. Villoing. His first public concert was in 1839, and between 1839 to 1843 his teacher took him to tour in other parts of Europe. Child virtuosos were at that time fashionable; he gave a concert in Paris, where he met Chopin and Liszt. Rubinstein had an opportunity to meet members of the Russian imperial family, and London where he was received by Queen Victoria. They both also traveled to Norway and Sweden to Germany, visiting Prussia, Saxony, and Austria as well as many of the smaller German sovereignties. Rubinstein received a counterpoint and harmony study from Siegfried Dehn. His father died in 1846, and his family returned to Russia, but Rubinstein spent the next two years in Vienna in great poverty, seeking out a living by giving piano lessons. On his return to Russia in Winter 1848-9, the Grand Duchess Yelena Pavlovna, sister-in-law of Nicholas I and formerly the princess of Saxe-Altenburg took part as his patron.

 

Rubinstein’s professional concert career began in 1854 when he toured Europe with enormous success. In winter 1857, Rubinstein and Grand Duchess Yelena Pavlovna made plans for the improvement of musical education in Russia country. Finally, In 1859 they founded the Russian Musical Society, whose concerts were conducted by Rubinstein. He worked as a director of the St. Petersburg Conservatory until 1867. Rubinstein decided to make another triumphant tour through most of Europe after he resigned from his positions. He was recognized as an almost legendary pianist, and the legend continued well into the 20th century.