Kogan, Leonid

Kogan, Leonid Borisovich 

Born Nov. 14, 1924, in Ekaterinoslav (now Dnepropetrovsk). Soviet violinist and teacher. People’s Artist of the USSR (1966). Member of the CPSU since 1954.

Kogan graduated from the Moscow Conservatory (class of A. I. Iampol’skii) in 1948 and completed his graduate work in 1953. Since 1944 he has been a soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic Society. Kogan is a brilliant representantive of the Soviet violin school and one of the greatest virtuoso artists of our times; he is distinguished for his versatility as a performer. Kogan’s extensive repertoire encompasses works from various periods and of various styles, including concerti by J. S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich. He has taught at the Moscow Conservatory since 1952 (as a professor since 1963). Kogan has toured the USSR and given concerts abroad. He won the Lenin Prize in 1965. He has also been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and medals.

REFERENCES

Grigor’ev, V. “Igraet Leonid Kogan.” Sovetskaia muzyka, 1964, no. 11. “Leonid Kogan [Besedy s masterami].” Muzykal’naia zhizn’ 1968, no. 14.