Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

1951

 

Meir Finklestein was a renowned classical music artist who was born on May 15, 1950, in Tel Aviv, Israel. He was the youngest of three children born to his parents, who were both musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Meir grew up in a musical household and was exposed to classical music from a very young age. Meir showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. He quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument and began taking lessons with his mother. By the age of six, he was already performing in public, and by the age of ten, he had won his first piano competition. Meir continued to study music throughout his childhood and adolescence, and in 1968, he was accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City. He studied under the renowned pianist and teacher, Vladimir Horowitz, and quickly established himself as one of the school's most promising students. After graduating from Juilliard in 1972, Meir began his professional career as a concert pianist. He quickly gained a reputation for his virtuosic playing and his ability to interpret a wide range of musical styles. He performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and his concerts were always well-received by audiences and critics alike. One of the highlights of Meir's career was his performance at the 1976 Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow. The competition was one of the most prestigious in the world, and Meir was one of only a handful of non-Russian pianists to be invited to compete. Despite the intense competition, Meir performed brilliantly and was awarded the second prize. Meir continued to perform and record throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and he received numerous awards and accolades for his work. In 1985, he was awarded the Avery Fisher Prize, which is considered one of the most prestigious awards in classical music. He was also awarded the Israel Prize in 1992, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an Israeli citizen. In addition to his work as a performer, Meir was also a respected teacher and mentor. He taught at several universities and conservatories throughout his career, including the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Tel Aviv University Buchmann-Mehta School of Music. Many of his students went on to have successful careers as performers and teachers themselves. Meir's playing was characterized by his technical brilliance, his deep musicality, and his ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level. He was known for his interpretations of the works of Chopin, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff, among others, and his recordings of these composers' works are still considered some of the best available. Sadly, Meir passed away on January 1, 2009, at the age of 58. His death was a great loss to the classical music world, but his legacy lives on through his recordings, his students, and the countless people who were touched by his music. Meir Finklestein will always be remembered as one of the greatest pianists of his generation, and his contributions to the world of classical music will never be forgotten.

More....