On the Judgement of Emil Gilels’ Artistic Work

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Elena N. Fedorovich

Abstract

The name of Emil Gilels (1916—1985) will always occupy a prominent place in the history of world pianism. Being a brilliant pianist, he was greatly admired not only by great musicians, such as Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Toscanini, Horovitz, Ormandy, and many others. But nowadays his name is undeservingly falling into oblivion, which was particularly striking at his recent 90th anniversary. It has been observed by many well known musicians, like Tigran Alikhanov, Vera Gornostayeva and others. In the author’s opinion, this state of affairs situation is determined by following circumstances. First of all, Heinrich Neuhaus, who has been Gilels’s tutor during the post-graduate course of study, attested him undeservedly poorly, favouring his other prominent pupil Svyatoslav Richter. Neuhaus possessed greatest authority and his point of view has become prevalent. Secondly, Gilels had a very high official status in the USSR. Later his high position had changed under the covert pressure from the officials, but everybody kept on believing that Gilels was the figurehead of official soviet pianism. Nowadays this opinion cripples his reputation. The last and the foremost circumstance is that the high art of his pianism is not palpable to everybody. It is obvious both in reactions of the general public and the highly qualified musicians. What is also quite unfortunate is that the opinion in the sphere of music is formed by critics who always try to find something «interesting» and «subtle» in art, while Gilels’s performance is of ingenious simplicity. His amazing style has been evolving all his life, since the very youth. The striking simplicity of his art is the result of a precise mind, a warm sense and an unsurpassed mastery. His phenomenal virtuosity nurtured the opinion, that Gilels was merely a sheer virtuoso. Nowadays it is absolutely essential to properly study the phenomenon of Emil Gilels.

Keywords: Emil Gilels, piano performance, competitions

Article Details

How to Cite
Fedorovich, E. N. (2007). On the Judgement of Emil Gilels’ Artistic Work. Music Scholarship / Problemy Muzykal’noj Nauki, 1(1), 203–212. Retrieved from https://musicscholar.ru/index.php/PMN/article/view/829
Section
Сultural Heritage in Historical Perspective
Author Biography

Elena N. Fedorovich, Ural State Conservatory named after M. P. Mussorgsky

Doctor of Pedagogy, Professor, Assistant Dean of Research, Chair of the Division of Theory of Performance and Musical Pedagogy

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