Youri Egorov facts for kids

Youri Egorov

Youri Aleksandrovich Egorov (Russian: Юрий Александрович Егоров; born May 28, 1954 – died April 16, 1988) was a very talented classical pianist from the Soviet Union. He was known for his beautiful and expressive playing style.

Early Life and Music Studies

Youri Egorov was born in Kazan, a city in the USSR. His musical journey began very early. He started studying music at the Kazan Conservatory when he was just 6 years old. He continued his studies there until he was 17. One of his first teachers was Irina Dubinina. She had been a student of a famous pianist named Yakov Zak.

In 1971, when Youri was 17, he won 4th prize at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris. This was a big achievement! After that, he moved to Moscow to study at the Moscow Conservatory. There, he continued to learn from Yakov Zak himself. Youri stayed at the Moscow Conservatory for six years, improving his skills even more.

His talent was quickly recognized. In 1974, Youri won the bronze medal at the important Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. The next year, in 1975, he earned the 3rd prize at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in Belgium. These wins showed the world how gifted he was.

Moving to the West and Building a Career

In 1976, while on a concert tour in Rome, Italy, Youri Egorov decided to leave the Soviet Union. He then traveled to Amsterdam, where he met his partner, Jan Brouwer.

In 1977, Youri took part in the Van Cliburn Competition in Fort Worth, Texas, in the United States. He quickly became a favorite with the audience. Even though he wasn't chosen as a finalist, many people believed in his talent. A group of supporters and board members from the competition decided to help him. They raised $10,000, which was the same amount as the top prize. This money helped Youri start his career in New York.

His first major concert in New York was on January 23, 1978, at Alice Tully Hall. Just three months later, he performed in Chicago, Illinois. A music critic there called his performance "the debut of the decade," meaning it was one of the best first performances in ten years! In July 1978, Musical America Magazine chose Youri Egorov as their "Musician of the Month." He made his debut at the famous Carnegie Hall on December 16, 1978. A reviewer from The New York Times, Harold C. Schonberg, wrote that Youri played in a "free, romantic style." He noted that Youri's approach was different from many other competition winners.

By August 1979, two of Youri's music albums were on Billboard Magazine's list of best-selling classical LPs. Throughout the 1980s, Youri mostly performed in Europe. His last performance in the United States was in Florida in 1986.

Youri Egorov was also featured in a book called Great Contemporary Pianists Speak for Themselves. In the book, he talked openly about practicing, feeling nervous before concerts, and the challenges for artists in Russia at that time. He mentioned several famous pianists who inspired him, including Sviatoslav Richter, Dinu Lipatti, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Vladimir Horowitz, and Glenn Gould.

Later Years and Lasting Legacy

Youri Egorov passed away at his home in Amsterdam on April 16, 1988, at the young age of 33, due to health complications. At the time of his passing, 14 of his recordings had been released, and several more were planned. He is buried next to Jan Brouwer in Driehuis Velsen Crematorium, Driehuis, Netherlands.

Many people have noticed similarities between Youri Egorov's playing style and that of another great pianist, Dinu Lipatti. It's also interesting that both pianists gave their final concerts at the age of 33.

In 1989, a TV documentary about Youri Egorov was made by VPRO Television. It was called "Youri Egorov 1954–1988." This program won a special award at the BANFF-televisiefestival in Canada. It was also nominated for the Prix Italia in 1990.

A CD released after his death, "Legacy 2: Youri Egorov," received a "Perfect Five-Star Rating" from CD Review Magazine. Today, Youri Egorov is still remembered by many music lovers for his incredibly delicate and clear piano playing.

Recordings

See also

In Spanish: Yuri Yegórov para niños