Gilels, Emil Grigoryevich

views updated

GILELS, EMIL GRIGORYEVICH

GILELS, EMIL GRIGORYEVICH (1916–1985), Russian pianist. Born in Odessa, he became a teacher at the Moscow Conservatory in 1939 and in that same year won the first prize at the international piano competition in Brussels. He was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1946 and the Lenin Prize in 1962. Gilels became popular on concert platforms all over the world. The virtuosity of his early days was enhanced by a depth of interpretation and range of expression that made him one of the foremost pianists of the time.

bibliography:

V. Delson, Emil Gilels (Rus., 1959); S.M. Khentova, Emil Gilels (Rus., 19672).

[Michael Goldstein]

More From encyclopedia.com