Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

November 26, 1925 in New York City, NY

Death

:

October 10, 2003 in Washington, D.C.

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Eugene Istomin was a renowned classical pianist who was born on November 26, 1925, in New York City. He was the son of Russian immigrants who had settled in the United States. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist, so music was always a part of his life from an early age. Istomin began playing the piano at the age of six, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already performing in public. He studied at the Mannes School of Music in New York City, where he was a student of Olga Samaroff. He also studied with Rudolf Serkin at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. In 1943, at the age of 18, Istomin made his debut with the New York Philharmonic, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4. This was a major milestone in his career, and it helped to establish him as one of the leading pianists of his generation. Over the course of his career, Istomin performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He also collaborated with many of the world's leading conductors, including Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, and George Szell. One of the highlights of Istomin's career was his performance at the White House in 1962. He was invited to play for President John F. Kennedy and his guests, and he performed a program of works by Beethoven, Schumann, and Chopin. This was a great honor for Istomin, and it helped to raise his profile even further. Istomin was also a prolific recording artist, and he made many recordings throughout his career. Some of his most famous recordings include his performances of Beethoven's Piano Concertos, which he recorded with the Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of George Szell. In addition to his performing career, Istomin was also a dedicated teacher. He taught at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He was known for his rigorous teaching style, and many of his students went on to have successful careers as pianists. Throughout his career, Istomin received many awards and honors. In 1950, he won the prestigious Leventritt Competition, which helped to launch his career. He was also awarded the Avery Fisher Prize in 1978, which is one of the most prestigious awards in classical music. Istomin continued to perform and teach until his death in 2003. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of his generation, and his recordings and performances continue to be admired by music lovers around the world.

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