Igor Oistrakh

Igor Davidovich Oistrakh (Russian: И́горь Дави́дович О́йстрах; April 1931 – 14 August 2021^[1]) was a Soviet and Russian violinist. He was described by Encyclopædia Britannica as "noted for his lean, modernist interpretations".^[2]

Igor Oistrakh opens the IV Moscow International David Oistrakh Violin Competition in 2010 (Moscow, Small Hall of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory)

Life and career

Igor Oistrakh (right) in 1957, with his father David (left) and conductor Franz Konwitschny

Oistrakh was born in Odessa, to a Jewish family. the son of Tamara Rotareva and the violinist David Oistrakh.^[3] He began studying violin with Valeria Merenbloom at age 6,^[4] though his main teacher was his father.^[5][6] In 1943, the 12-year-old Oistrakh enrolled in the Central Music School, Moscow, studying with Pyotr Stolyarsky who had taught both his father and Nathan Milstein.^[4] He made his concert debut in 1948;^[7] the next year he won the International Violin Competition in Budapest and enrolled in the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.^[3] He won the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in 1952 and graduated from Moscow Conservatory in 1955.^[6]

He then joined the faculty of the Conservatory in 1958, becoming a lecturer in 1965. Beginning in 1996, Oistrakh held the post of Professor of the Royal Conservatory in Brussels.^[8]

Oistrakh appeared frequently internationally, both as a soloist and in joint recitals with his father, or with his father conducting.^[2] His wife Natalya Zertsalova is a pianist and has performed with him.^[2] Their son, Valery, is an active violinist.^[3][9]

On 14 August 2021, Oistrakh died at age 90; however, media generally reported this on 1 September 2021.^[1]