Emil Gilels (redirected from Emil Grygoryevich Gilels)

Gilel’s, Emil’ Grigor’evich 

Born Oct. 6 (19), 1916, in Odessa. Soviet pianist. People’s Artist of the USSR (1954). Member of the CPSU since 1942.

Gilel’s graduated from the Odessa Conservatory in 1935 from the class of B. M. Reingbal’d and a graduate division attached to the Moscow Conservatory in 1938, where he studied with G. G. Neigauz (1935-38). He first performed in 1929. He has been teaching at the Moscow Conservatory since 1938, becoming a professor in 1952. Gilel’s is one of today’s outstanding pianists. His playing is noted for its emotionality, power, tremendous virtuosity, rhythmic freedom, and original and fresh interpretation. He has given concerts in many foreign countries. A prizewinner at international piano competitions in Vienna (1936, second prize) and in Brussels (the Ysaye competition, 1936, first prize), he received the State Prize of the USSR in 1946 and the Lenin Prize in 1962. Gilel’s has been awarded two Orders of Lenin, two other orders, and various medals.

REFERENCE

Khentova, S. Emil’ Gilel’s, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1967.