Country

:

Russia

Birth

:

October 19, 1916 in Odessa, Ukraine

Death

:

October 14, 1985 in Moscow, Russia

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Emil Gilels was a renowned classical pianist born on October 19, 1916, in Odessa, Ukraine. He was born into a family of musicians, and his father was a professional violinist. Gilels showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. He received his first piano lessons from his mother, who was also a pianist. Gilels' talent was quickly recognized, and he was accepted into the Odessa Conservatory at the age of seven. He studied under the tutelage of Berta Reingbald, a renowned pianist and teacher. Gilels' progress was remarkable, and he made his public debut at the age of 12, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1932, Gilels won first prize at the All-Union Piano Competition in Moscow, which launched his career as a professional pianist. He went on to perform extensively throughout the Soviet Union, and his reputation as a virtuoso pianist grew rapidly. In 1935, he made his debut in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), performing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. Gilels' international career began in 1955 when he made his debut in the United States, performing with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Dimitri Mitropoulos. He was an instant success, and his performances were praised for their technical brilliance and emotional depth. Gilels went on to perform with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. One of Gilels' most memorable performances was his 1957 performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Cleveland Orchestra under the baton of George Szell. The performance was recorded and is considered one of the greatest recordings of the concerto ever made. Gilels' interpretation of the concerto was praised for its clarity, sensitivity, and emotional depth. Gilels was also known for his performances of the music of Sergei Prokofiev. He was a close friend of the composer and premiered many of his works, including the Piano Sonata No. 8 and the Piano Concerto No. 3. Gilels' performances of Prokofiev's music were praised for their technical brilliance and their ability to capture the composer's unique style. Throughout his career, Gilels received numerous awards and honors. In 1958, he was awarded the Stalin Prize, the highest honor for artists in the Soviet Union. He was also awarded the Order of Lenin, the highest civilian honor in the Soviet Union. In 1975, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, another prestigious Soviet award. Gilels' recordings are considered some of the greatest in the history of classical music. He recorded extensively for Deutsche Grammophon, and his recordings of Beethoven's piano sonatas and concertos are considered definitive. His recordings of Prokofiev's music are also highly regarded, and his recording of the Piano Concerto No. 3 won a Grammy Award in 1976. Gilels continued to perform and record throughout his life, despite suffering from health problems in his later years. He died on October 14, 1985, in Moscow, at the age of 68. His legacy as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century lives on through his recordings and the memories of those who were fortunate enough to hear him perform live.

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