David Oistrakh facts for kids

David Fyodorovich Oistrakh (born September 30, 1908 – died October 24, 1974) was a very famous Soviet violinist, violist, and conductor. He is known as one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.

Oistrakh worked with many top orchestras and musicians around the world. Several important violin pieces were written especially for him. These include two violin concertos by Dmitri Shostakovich and a violin concerto by Aram Khachaturian.

Life and Career

Early Years and Music Studies

David Oistrakh was born into a Jewish family in Odessa, which was part of the Russian Empire (now Ukraine). He started learning the violin and viola at age five. His teacher was Pyotr Stolyarsky. David became good friends with other violinists like Iosif Brodsky and Nathan Milstein during his studies. They often performed together later in life.

At six years old, in 1914, David Oistrakh played his first public concert. He later studied at the Odessa Conservatory from 1923 to 1926. For his graduation concert, he played difficult pieces by famous composers like Bach, Tartini, and Prokofiev. In 1927, he played the Violin Concerto by Alexander Glazunov in Kiev. This led to an invitation to play the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in Leningrad the next year.

Moving to Moscow and Family Life

In 1927, Oistrakh moved to Moscow. There, he gave his first solo concert and met his future wife, Tamara Rotareva, a pianist. They got married a year later. Their son, Igor Oistrakh, was born in 1931. Igor also became a violinist and often performed with his father. They even recorded Bach's Double Concerto together. Sometimes, David played the viola while Igor played the violin in their performances.

From 1934, Oistrakh taught at the Moscow Conservatory. He became a professor there in 1939. Many of his students became famous violinists, including Oleg Kagan and Gidon Kremer. His son, Igor, was also one of his students.

From 1940 to 1963, Oistrakh often performed in a trio. This group included cellist Sviatoslav Knushevitsky and pianist Lev Oborin. People sometimes called it the "Oistrakh Trio."

Performing During World War II

During World War II, Oistrakh stayed in the Soviet Union. He performed new concertos by Nikolai Miaskovsky and Aram Khachaturian. He also played two sonatas by his friend Sergei Prokofiev. In 1942, he received the Stalin Prize.

During the war, he became good friends with the composer Dmitri Shostakovich. This friendship led to Shostakovich writing two violin concertos and a sonata for Oistrakh. These pieces became very famous because of Oistrakh's performances.

Even when Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Oistrakh continued to play music. He performed for soldiers and factory workers in very difficult conditions. One of his most heroic performances was playing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto during the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. This was while the city was being heavily bombed.

Traveling the World

After the war ended, Oistrakh was finally allowed to travel outside the Soviet Union. He first visited countries in the Soviet bloc. Then, he traveled to Western countries. In 1949, he played his first concert in the West in Helsinki. He performed in Florence in 1951, East Germany in 1952, France in 1953, and Britain in 1954. Finally, in 1955, he was allowed to tour the United States.

By 1959, Oistrakh also started a new career as a conductor. He won the important Lenin Prize in 1960. His first conducting performance in Moscow was in 1962. By 1967, he had formed a great partnership with the famous Soviet pianist Sviatoslav Richter.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1968, people around the world celebrated Oistrakh's 60th birthday. He performed the Tchaikovsky concerto, one of his favorite pieces, in Moscow. At this time, Oistrakh was seen as one of the greatest violinists ever.

David Oistrakh had a heart attack in 1964 but kept working very hard. He became an important cultural ambassador for the Soviet Union, performing and recording in the West. He passed away from another heart attack in Amsterdam in 1974, after conducting a series of concerts. He was buried in Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.

Awards and Honors

David Oistrakh received many awards. In the Soviet Union, he won the Stalin Prize in 1942. He was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1953 and received the Lenin Prize in 1960. He also won the Soviet Union Competition in 1935.

His fame spread beyond the Soviet Union. He placed second in the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in Warsaw. He then won the top prize in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels.

An asteroid in space, 42516 Oistrach, is named after him and his son, Igor Oistrakh.

Musical Instruments

Oistrakh played several valuable Stradivarius violins that belonged to the Soviet Union. For ten years, he played the 1702 Conte di Fontana Stradivarius. Then, in 1966, he switched to the 1705 Marsick Stradivarius, which he played until he died.

He also used special bows made by Albert Nürnberger and André Richaume. His son, Igor, bought him a Richaume bow in 1957, which David loved. He said this bow gave him great satisfaction.

Chess Hobby

Oistrakh was a very keen chess player in the 1930s. The Soviet government at the time encouraged smart people to play chess. His chess match against the composer Sergei Prokofiev in 1937 was a big event in the Soviet Union. It helped make chess even more popular there. Oistrakh won the match against Prokofiev.

Recordings

Oistrakh made many recordings for the Soviet classical music label, Melodiya. These recordings were also sold in other countries by companies like EMI Records and Angel Records. He also made some recordings with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Today, many of his recordings have been re-released for new generations to enjoy.

Legacy

There is a yearly music festival called "The David Oistrakh Festival" held in Estonia.

The Moscow International David Oistrakh Violin Competition is held every two years. It started in 2006 to honor David Oistrakh. This competition helps find and support talented young violinists. It also helps keep the traditions of Russian violin playing alive.

See also

• Moscow International David Oistrakh Violin Competition

Images for kids

• 

  Oistrakh in 1954

• 

  Oistrakh in 1956

• 

  Oistrakh in 1972

• 

  Oistrakh on a Russian commemorative coin