Kogan, Leonid (Borisovich)

Kogan, Leonid (Borisovich), outstanding Russian violinist and pedagogue, father of Pavel Kogan; b. Dnepropetrovsk, Nov. 14, 1924; d. on the train at the Mytishcha railroad station, Dec. 17, 1982. His father was a photographer who played the violin. When Kogan was 10 years old, the family moved to Moscow, where he became a pupil of Abram Yampolsky, first at the CentralMusic School and later at the Cons. (1943–8); subsequently pursued postgraduate studies with him (1948–51). In 1947 he was a co-winner of the 1^st prize at the World Festival of Democratic Youth in Prague; then won 1^st prize in the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium Competition in Brussels in 1951. His career was instantly assured; he played in Europe to unanimous acclaim. He made an auspicious American debut playing the Brahms Violin Concerto with Monteux and the Boston Sym. Orch. on Jan. 10, 1958. In 1952 he joined the faculty of the Moscow Cons.; was named prof, in 1963 and head of the violin dept. in 1969. In 1965 he received the Lenin Prize. His playing exemplified the finest qualities of the Russian School: an emotionally romantic elan and melodious filigree of technical detail. In addition to the standard repertoire, in which he excelled, he also played modern violin works, particularly those by Soviet composers. He was married to Elizabeth Gilels.

Bibliography

M. Zazovsky, L. K. (Moscow, 1956).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire