Yakov Vladimirovich Flier (Russian: Я́ков Влади́мирович Флие́р; October 21 [O.S. October 8], 1912 – December 18, 1977 was a Soviet concert pianist and teacher.[1]
Flier was born in Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Russia. Growing up, he first began teaching himself piano but soon began formal study with the pianist Sergei Nikanorovich Korsakov. Because of his expedited development, at the age of 11, he entered the Central Music School of the Moscow Conservatory, studying with Grigory Prokofiev, pianist and music psychologist, and then later with Sergey Kozlovsky. In 1928, he advanced and entered into study at the larger conservatory, studying under Konstantin Igumnov.[2] His graduating performance in 1934 was extremely well attended, and soon after his career leading him to enroll in high-profile competitions.[2]
By the 1930s, he had become one of the most prominent Russian concert pianists. He mainly performed Romantic music, although he also played some works by contemporary Russian composers Dmitry Kabalevsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, German Galynin, Sergei Prokofiev and Rodion Shchedrin.
He taught piano for many years at the Moscow Conservatory from 1937,[3] although beginnign in 1965, Flier was appointed head of one of the conservatory's several piano departments. He would continue his teaching duties until 1959. However, as a performer he stopped public concert in 1949 due to personal illness.[4]
He was a contemporary of and sometime rival to Emil Gilels. In the 1960s and 1970s, Flier began to perform in Europe. During his concert tour in the USA he performed Sergei Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto with the New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein.
He died in 1977 in Moscow, aged 65.
Students edit
Awards edit
- 1935: First Place in The 2nd All-Union Competition of Performing Musicians (Leningrad)
- 1936: First Place in The Vienna International Competition
- 1938: Third Place in The Eugene Ysaÿe Brussels International Competition
- 1946: Order of the Red Banner of Labor
- 1947: Honored Artist of the RSFSR
- 1966: People's Artist of the USSR
References edit
- ^ "Yakov Flier Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ a b "Яков Владимирович Флиер (Yakov Flier) | Belcanto.ru". www.belcanto.ru. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "The Konstantin Igumnov Tradition | Piano Genealogies". exhibitions.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ "персоналии - Флиер Яков Владимирович". www.mosconsv.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-04-12.