Emil Grigoryevich Gilels (Ukrainian: Емі́ль Григо́рович Гі́лельс, Russian: … Read Full Bio ↴Emil Grigoryevich Gilels (Ukrainian: Емі́ль Григо́рович Гі́лельс, Russian: Эмиль Гилельс; October 19, 1916 – October 14, 1985) was a ukrainian soviet pianist.
Gilels was born in Odessa to a musical family; both his parents were musicians. He began studying the piano at six under Yakov Tkach, making his first public debut at the age of 12 in June 1929. In 1930 Gilels entered the Odessa Conservatory where he was coached by Berta Reingbald, whom Gilels credited as his first formative influence.
In 1933 Gilels won the newly-founded All Soviet Union Piano Competition at age 16. After graduating from the Odessa Conservatory in 1935, he moved to Moscow, where he studied under the famous piano teacher Heinrich Neuhaus until 1937. A year later, at age 21, he won the Ysaÿe International Festival in Brussels, beating such competitors as Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli and Moura Lympany.
Gilels was the first Soviet artist to be allowed to travel extensively in the West. After the war, he toured Europe starting from 1947 as a concert pianist, and made his American debut in 1955 playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in Philadelphia. He taught as a professor for the Moscow Conservatory after 1952. In his later years he remained in Russia and rarely ventured abroad.
He was the winner of the prestigious Stalin Prize in 1946, the Order of Lenin in 1961 and 1966 and the Lenin Prize in 1962.
Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 8 was dedicated to Mira Mendelssohn and Gilels premiered it first on December 30, 1944, in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.
Gilels was universally admired for his superb technical control and burnished tone. His interpretations of the central German-Austria classics formed the core of his repertoire, in particular Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann, but he was equally illuminative in Scarlatti, Bach as well as twentieth-century music like Debussy, Bartók and Prokofiev.
He was in the midst of completing a complete survey of Beethoven's piano sonatas for the German record company Deutsche Grammophon when he died after a medical check-up in 1985 in Moscow. Sviatoslav Richter who knew Gilels quite well reported that he was killed accidentally by the Russian doctor responsible for the check-up.
Recording highlights
* 1935 - Liszt: Fantasia on Themes from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro.
* 1951 - Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9.
* 1955 - Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 (cond. Cluytens)*.
* 1958 - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83 (cond. Reiner).
* 1954 - Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 (cond. Cluytens)*.
* 1957 - Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 (cond. Ludwig).
* 1957 - Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 4 in F sharp major, Op. 30*.
* 1968 - Medtner: Piano Sonata No. 10 in A minor, Op. 38 No. 1. ("Sonata Reminiscenza")
* 1972 - Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 (cond. Maazel).
* 1972 - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 and Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83 (cond. Jochum).
* 1973 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 Appassionata.
* 1973 - Debussy: Images, Book 1*.
* 1973 - Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major, K595 (cond. Boehm).
* 1974 - Grieg: Lyric Pieces.
* 1974 - Prokofiev: Sonata No. 8 in B flat major, Op. 84.
* 1977 - Rachmaninoff, Prelude in C-sharp minor Op. 3 No. 2* (Moscow)
* 1978 - Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58.
* 1982 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 Hammerklavier (Berlin)
* 1984 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 Hammerklavier* (Moscow)
* 1984 - Scriabin, Third Sonata* (Moscow)
* live.
Gilels was born in Odessa to a musical family; both his parents were musicians. He began studying the piano at six under Yakov Tkach, making his first public debut at the age of 12 in June 1929. In 1930 Gilels entered the Odessa Conservatory where he was coached by Berta Reingbald, whom Gilels credited as his first formative influence.
In 1933 Gilels won the newly-founded All Soviet Union Piano Competition at age 16. After graduating from the Odessa Conservatory in 1935, he moved to Moscow, where he studied under the famous piano teacher Heinrich Neuhaus until 1937. A year later, at age 21, he won the Ysaÿe International Festival in Brussels, beating such competitors as Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli and Moura Lympany.
Gilels was the first Soviet artist to be allowed to travel extensively in the West. After the war, he toured Europe starting from 1947 as a concert pianist, and made his American debut in 1955 playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in Philadelphia. He taught as a professor for the Moscow Conservatory after 1952. In his later years he remained in Russia and rarely ventured abroad.
He was the winner of the prestigious Stalin Prize in 1946, the Order of Lenin in 1961 and 1966 and the Lenin Prize in 1962.
Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 8 was dedicated to Mira Mendelssohn and Gilels premiered it first on December 30, 1944, in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.
Gilels was universally admired for his superb technical control and burnished tone. His interpretations of the central German-Austria classics formed the core of his repertoire, in particular Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann, but he was equally illuminative in Scarlatti, Bach as well as twentieth-century music like Debussy, Bartók and Prokofiev.
He was in the midst of completing a complete survey of Beethoven's piano sonatas for the German record company Deutsche Grammophon when he died after a medical check-up in 1985 in Moscow. Sviatoslav Richter who knew Gilels quite well reported that he was killed accidentally by the Russian doctor responsible for the check-up.
Recording highlights
* 1935 - Liszt: Fantasia on Themes from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro.
* 1951 - Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9.
* 1955 - Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 (cond. Cluytens)*.
* 1958 - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83 (cond. Reiner).
* 1954 - Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 (cond. Cluytens)*.
* 1957 - Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 (cond. Ludwig).
* 1957 - Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 4 in F sharp major, Op. 30*.
* 1968 - Medtner: Piano Sonata No. 10 in A minor, Op. 38 No. 1. ("Sonata Reminiscenza")
* 1972 - Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 (cond. Maazel).
* 1972 - Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 and Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83 (cond. Jochum).
* 1973 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 Appassionata.
* 1973 - Debussy: Images, Book 1*.
* 1973 - Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major, K595 (cond. Boehm).
* 1974 - Grieg: Lyric Pieces.
* 1974 - Prokofiev: Sonata No. 8 in B flat major, Op. 84.
* 1977 - Rachmaninoff, Prelude in C-sharp minor Op. 3 No. 2* (Moscow)
* 1978 - Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58.
* 1982 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 Hammerklavier (Berlin)
* 1984 - Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106 Hammerklavier* (Moscow)
* 1984 - Scriabin, Third Sonata* (Moscow)
* live.
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03Piano Concerto No.1 In C Op.15 (1996 Digital Remaster): III. Rondo (Allegro Scherzando) [Cadenzas By Beethoven]Emil Gilels
06Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat Op. 19 (1996 Digital Remaster): III. Rondo (molto allegro)Emil Gilels
10Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G Op. 58 (1996 Digital Remaster): I. Allegro moderatoEmil Gilels
11Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G Op. 58 (1996 Digital Remaster): II. Andante con moto5:48Emil Gilels
12Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G Op. 58 (1996 Digital Remaster): III. Rondo (Vivace)9:59Emil Gilels
13Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5, 'Emperor' Op. 73 (1996 Digital Remaster): Allegro6:41Emil Gilels
14Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5, 'Emperor' Op. 73 (1996 Digital Remaster): Adagio un poco mosso3:55Emil Gilels
15Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5, 'Emperor' Op. 73 (1996 Digital Remaster): Rondo (Allegro)10:20Emil Gilels
1632 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Thema. Allegretto -0:18Emil Gilels
1732 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variations I - III0:31Emil Gilels
1832 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variations IV & V0:32Emil Gilels
1932 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation VI0:11Emil Gilels
2132 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variations IX - XI0:58Emil Gilels
2232 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation XII0:25Emil Gilels
2532 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variations XIX - XXII0:53Emil Gilels
2632 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variations XXIII - XXV0:53Emil Gilels
2732 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variations XXVI & XXVII0:27Emil Gilels
2832 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variations XXVIII0:16Emil Gilels
2932 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variations XXIX & XXX0:43Emil Gilels
3032 Variations in C minor on an original theme WoO80 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variations XXXI & XXXII2:02Emil Gilels
3112 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Thema. Allegretto -0:39Emil Gilels
3212 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation I0:48Emil Gilels
3312 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation II -0:46Emil Gilels
3412 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation III -1:04Emil Gilels
3512 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation IV -0:46Emil Gilels
3612 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation V -1:00Emil Gilels
3712 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation VI -0:36Emil Gilels
3812 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation VII -0:33Emil Gilels
3912 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Remastered Version): Variation VIII -0:39Emil Gilels
4012 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation IX -0:39Emil Gilels
4112 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation X -0:34Emil Gilels
4212 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation XI -0:54Emil Gilels
4312 Variations (in A) on a Russian dance from Paul Wranitzky's ballet 'Das Waldmädchen' WoO71 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation XII3:05Emil Gilels
446 Variations (in D) on a Turkish March from 'Die Ruinen von Athen' Op. 76 (1996 Digital Remaster): Thema. Allegro risoluto -0:44Emil Gilels
456 Variations (in D) on a Turkish March from 'Die Ruinen von Athen' Op. 76 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation I0:42Emil Gilels
466 Variations (in D) on a Turkish March from 'Die Ruinen von Athen' Op. 76 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation II -0:43Emil Gilels
476 Variations (in D) on a Turkish March from 'Die Ruinen von Athen' Op. 76 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation III -1:04Emil Gilels
486 Variations (in D) on a Turkish March from 'Die Ruinen von Athen' Op. 76 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation IV -0:55Emil Gilels
496 Variations (in D) on a Turkish March from 'Die Ruinen von Athen' Op. 76 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation V -0:58Emil Gilels
506 Variations (in D) on a Turkish March from 'Die Ruinen von Athen' Op. 76 (1996 Digital Remaster): Variation VI, Presto - Tempo I2:00Emil Gilels
51Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Op. 58 (2005 Digital Remaster): I. Allegro moderatoEmil Gilels/Philharmonia Orchestra/Leopold Ludwig
52Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Op. 58 (2005 - Remaster): II. Andante con moto5:26Emil Gilels/Philharmonia Orchestra/Leopold Ludwig
53Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Op. 58 (2005 Digital Remaster): III. Rondo (Vivace)Emil Gilels/Philharmonia Orchestra/Leopold Ludwig
54Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5, 'Emperor' Op. 73 (2005 - Remaster): AllegroEmil Gilels/Philharmonia Orchestra/Leopold Ludwig
55Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5, 'Emperor' Op. 73 (2005 Digital Remaster): Adagio un poco mossoEmil Gilels/Philharmonia Orchestra/Leopold Ludwig
56Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5, 'Emperor' Op. 73 (2005 Digital Remaster): Rondo (Allegro)Emil Gilels/Philharmonia Orchestra/Leopold Ludwig
57Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15: I. Allegro con brio14:24Emil Gilels - Orch Ste Conc Du Conservatoire - André Vandernoot
58Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15: II. Largo12:17Emil Gilels - Orch Ste Conc Du Conservatoire - André Vandernoot
59Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15: III. Rondo. Allegro scherzando8:41Emil Gilels - Orch Ste Conc Du Conservatoire - André Vandernoot
60Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19: I. Allegro con brio14:40Emil Gilels - Orch Ste Conc Du Conservatoire - André Vandernoot
61Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19: II. Adagio9:27Emil Gilels - Orch Ste Conc Du Conservatoire - André Vandernoot
62Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19: III. Rondo. Molto allegro6:10Emil Gilels - Orch Ste Conc Du Conservatoire - André Vandernoot
63Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37: I. Allegro con brio16:25Emil Gilels - André Cluytens - Orch Ste Conc Du Conservatoire
64Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37: II. Largo10:05Emil Gilels - André Cluytens - Orch Ste Conc Du Conservatoire
65Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37: III. Rondo. Allegro8:31Emil Gilels - André Cluytens - Orch Ste Conc Du Conservatoire
69Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30 (2006 Digital Remaster): I. Allegro ma non tanto15:08Emil Gilels/André Cluytens/Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
70Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30 (2006 Digital Remaster): II. Intermezzo (Adagio)Emil Gilels/André Cluytens/Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
71Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30 (2006 Digital Remaster): III. Finale (Alla breve)Emil Gilels/André Cluytens/Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
72Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22 (2006 Digital Remaster): I. Andante sostenuto11:16Emil Gilels/Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire/André Cluytens
73Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22 (2006 Digital Remaster): II. Allegro scherzando5:12Emil Gilels/Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire/André Cluytens
74Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22 (2006 Digital Remaster): III. Presto6:15Emil Gilels/Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire/André Cluytens
75Twenty-Four Preludes & Fugues, Op.87 (2006 Digital Remaster), No. 5 in D major: Prelude (Allegretto)1:26Emil Gilels
76Twenty-Four Preludes & Fugues, Op.87 (2006 Digital Remaster), No. 5 in D major: Fugue (Allegretto)1:55Emil Gilels
77Twenty-Four Preludes & Fugues, Op.87 (2006 Digital Remaster), No. 24 in D minor: Prelude (Andante)4:32Emil Gilels
78Twenty-Four Preludes & Fugues, Op.87 (2006 Digital Remaster), No. 24 in D minor: Fugue (Moderato)Emil Gilels
79Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 Op. 23 (1995 Digital Remaster): Allegro non troppo e molto maestosoEmil Gilels
80Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 Op. 23 (1995 Digital Remaster): Andantino sempliceEmil Gilels
81Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 Op. 23 (1995 Digital Remaster): Allegro con fuocoEmil Gilels
82Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 Op. 44 (edited Siloti) (1995 Digital Remaster): Allegro brillante0:01Emil Gilels
83Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 Op. 44 (edited Siloti) (1995 Digital Remaster): Andante non troppoEmil Gilels
84Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 Op. 44 (edited Siloti) (1995 Digital Remaster): Allegro con fuocoEmil Gilels
85Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in E flat Op. 75 (1995 Digital Remaster): Allegro brillante - Cadenza - Tempo I - Vivacissimo0:01Emil Gilels/New Philharmonia Orchestra/Lorin Maazel
86Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 (1996 Digital Remaster): I. Grave - Doppio movimento (Allegro)5:46Emil Gilels
88Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 (1996 Digital Remaster): III. Marche funèbre (Lento)9:13Emil Gilels
89Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 (1996 Digital Remaster): IV. Finale (Presto)1:28Emil Gilels
90Twenty-Four Preludes & Fugues, Op.87 (1996 Digital Remaster), No. 1 in C: Prelude (Moderato)2:57Emil Gilels
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