Igor Davidovich Oistrakh (Russian:И́горь Дави́дович О́йстрах; April 1931 – 14 August 2021[1]) was a Soviet and Russian violinist. He was described byEncyclopædia Britannica as "noted for his lean, modernist interpretations".[2]
Oistrakh was born inOdessa, to a Jewish family. the son of Tamara Rotareva and the violinistDavid Oistrakh.[3] He began studying violin with Valeria Merenbloom at age 6,[4] though his main teacher was his father.[5][6] In 1943, the 12-year-old Oistrakh enrolled in the Central Music School, Moscow, studying withPyotr Stolyarsky who had taught both his father andNathan Milstein.[4] He made his concert debut in 1948;[7] the next year he won the International Violin Competition in Budapest and enrolled in theMoscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.[3] He won theHenryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in 1952 and graduated from Moscow Conservatory in 1955.[6]
He then joined the faculty of the Conservatory in 1958, becoming a lecturer in 1965. Beginning in 1996, Oistrakh held the post of Professor of theRoyal Conservatory in Brussels.[8]
Oistrakh appeared frequently internationally, both as a soloist and in joint recitals with his father, or with his father conducting.[2] His wife Natalya Zertsalova is a pianist and has performed with him.[2] Their son, Valery, is an active violinist.[3][9]
On 14 August 2021, Oistrakh died at age 90; however, media generally reported this on 1 September 2021.[1]
