Arthur Rubinstein, widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time, performed the "Last Recital for Israel" for an invited audience at the Ambassador Auditorium on this stunning Steinway Hamburg D Concert Grand piano. At the end of the concert this piano was named the "Arthur Rubinstein Piano" in a final presentation from the founder of the Ambassador, Herbert W. Armstrong.
This is the only Rubinstein recital ever recorded. From the LA Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-30-ca-888-story.html):
“The master was in a rare mood, a mood of Olympian insights and penetrating eloquence,” wrote Albert Goldberg in The Times. “If he had intended this for a last will and testament, it could hardly have been more to his liking or more secure insurance for such immortality as any performer is allowed.”
And another review from the Worldwide News (https://www.thetrumpet.com/11296-herbert-w-armstrong-hosted-arthur-rubinsteins-tribute-performance)
“There are not words in the English language to describe the maestro’s performance,” said Herbert W. Armstrong. According to the Jan. 20, 1975, Worldwide News, “The noted pianist, who performed before a standing-room-only crowd, drew five standing ovations, and was lauded by Los Angeles music critics.”
You can watch the entire performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXlSqNMAhJg.
You can see the presentation ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-3PibLc-hM or a view short video attached to this listing.
You can hear contemporary pianists play the piano here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwTsLjq99RE and here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz3xHllIJWQ.
According to Wikipedia:
"For many years Rubinstein had refused to play on the West Coast due to earlier bad experiences with hall acoustics and pianos. To entice him out West to the Ambassador, he was allowed to select any grand piano of his choosing at Steinway Hall in New York. It was shipped out and tuned by Steinway. After Rubinstein 's performance, a plaque was affixed naming it the Arthur Rubinstein piano. Its reputation spread so quickly in musical circles, Herbert von Karajan changed his American tour with the Berlin Philharmonic shortly before leaving Berlin to play at the Ambassador. It was the only concert hall to which von Karajan would take the Berlin Philharmonic on the West Coast."
The attached screenshot of a brochure from the Herbert Armstrong Searchable Library tells a slightly different story (http://www.herbert-armstrong.org/Ambassador%20College/AMBASSADOR%20AUDITORIUM%20(1994).pdf)
"The two Steinway D Concert Grand pianos, constructed in Hamburg, Germany, were personally selected by representatives of
the Ambassador. Plano One was built in 1972 and acquired the following year, arriving in Pasadena even before construction of the Auditorium was completed. It was dedicated to Arthur Rubinstein after his historic Ambassador recital, January 15, 1975."
Learn more about Arthur Rubinstein on the Steinway website here: https://www.steinway.com/artists/arthur-rubinstein.
The piano was purchased directly from the Ambassador Auditorium in 1993 and has been kept in a climate controlled private residence. The piano has been regularly played and was used to record film scores. It has been regularly tuned and maintained and has been professionally moved twice.