Role

:

Conductor Performer

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Jiri Pinkas was a renowned classical pianist and music educator who was born on August 30, 1920, in Prague, Czechoslovakia. He was the son of a prominent Czech composer, Karel Pinkas, who was also a professor of composition at the Prague Conservatory. Jiri showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. He received his first formal piano lessons from his mother, who was also a pianist. At the age of six, Jiri began studying at the Prague Conservatory, where he was taught by some of the most distinguished piano teachers of the time, including Vilem Kurz, Rudolf Firkusny, and Josef Páleníček. He graduated from the conservatory in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II. During the war, Jiri continued to perform and teach music, despite the difficult circumstances. He gave numerous concerts in Prague and other cities in Czechoslovakia, often playing for audiences of soldiers and refugees. He also taught piano at the Prague Conservatory and the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno. After the war, Jiri became one of the most prominent pianists in Czechoslovakia. He won several prestigious awards, including the First Prize at the Prague Spring International Music Festival in 1947 and the First Prize at the Geneva International Music Competition in 1949. He also performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States, earning critical acclaim for his virtuosity and musical sensitivity. In 1951, Jiri emigrated to the United States, where he continued to perform and teach music. He settled in Boston and became a professor of piano at the New England Conservatory of Music, where he taught for over 40 years. He also gave numerous concerts and recitals throughout the United States and Europe, often performing with his wife, the violinist Lila Pinkas. Jiri was known for his passionate and expressive playing, as well as his deep knowledge of the classical repertoire. He was particularly renowned for his interpretations of the music of Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin, and he recorded several albums of their works. He was also a champion of contemporary music and premiered many works by Czech and American composers. In addition to his performing and teaching career, Jiri was also a respected musicologist and author. He wrote several books on music, including a biography of the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana and a study of the piano music of Leoš Janáček. He also served as the editor of the Czech music journal Hudební rozhledy. Jiri received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Order of Merit from the Czech Republic, the Medal of Honor from the Slovak Republic, and the Distinguished Artist Award from the New England Conservatory of Music. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Czech Academy of Sciences. Jiri Pinkas passed away on December 23, 1994, at the age of 74. He left behind a legacy as one of the greatest pianists and music educators of his generation, as well as a passionate advocate for the music of his homeland. His recordings and writings continue to inspire and educate musicians and music lovers around the world.

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