Artur Schnabel was an influential Austrian pianist and composer, born on April 17, 1882, in Vienna. He is best known for his interpretations of the works of Ludwig van Beethoven, which helped to elevate the appreciation of Beethoven's music in the 20th century. Schnabel was also a skilled composer, contributing to the classical music repertoire. In addition to his performance career, Schnabel was a dedicated teacher and wrote extensively about music. He was one of the first pianists to record the complete Beethoven sonatas, making his interpretations widely accessible. Schnabel passed away on August 15, 1951, in Axenstein, Switzerland.