Igor Oïstrakh

Born in Odessa, Ukraine, on April 27, 1931, Igor Oistrakh rose to prominence as a leading Soviet violinist of the postwar era, even though his achievements were frequently eclipsed by those of his celebrated father, David Oistrakh. Early on he performed duo repertoire with his father that spanned J.S. Bach and Mozart through Prokofiev and Ysaÿe, yet he simultaneously cultivated an independent identity through solo and recital engagements encompassing Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Khrennikov, and additional composers. Like his father, he took up the viola and appeared as a conductor; throughout most of his professional life he also taught and produced an extensive discography for Melodiya, Berlin Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, and further labels.

His initial instruction came from his father, but studies were interrupted during the early war years. He resumed lessons in 1943 under Pyotr Stolyarsky before entering Moscow’s Central Music School. Duo recitals with his father commenced on a regular basis in 1947, followed by his formal solo debut the next year. In 1949 he captured first prize at the World Festival of Youth and Students Violin Competition in Budapest and matriculated at the Moscow Conservatory, where he remained until 1955.

While still a student he maintained an active concert schedule, pausing in 1952 long enough to win the International Wieniawski Competition in Poznan, Poland. He joined the Moscow Conservatory faculty in 1958 and continued to expand his career in chamber music, solo appearances, and recitals. Conducting engagements began in 1968. After his father’s death in 1974, Igor sustained duo performances with his wife, the pianist Natalia Zertsalova, and the pair recorded the complete Beethoven violin sonatas for Melodiya along with works by Bach, Prokofiev, and numerous others.

In 1996 he was appointed professor of violin at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels. Entering the new century, he remained an active performer, frequently sharing the stage with his wife and with his violinist son, Valeri. One of his most admired later releases, issued on the Doron label in 2001, presented the Mozart Sinfonia concertante and additional pieces; on that recording he conducted the orchestra, partnered with Valeri, and played the viola in the principal work as well as in two chamber selections. Igor Oistrakh died on August 14, 2021.