Igor Davidovich Oistrakh ( Russian: И́горь Дави́дович О́йстрах; April 1931 – 14 August 2021 [1]) was a Soviet and Russian violinist. He was described by Encyclopædia Britannica as "noted for his lean, modernist interpretations". [2]
Oistrakh was born in Odessa, the son of Tamara Rotareva and the violinist David 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 with Pyotr Stolyarsky who had taught both his father and Nathan Milstein. [4] He made his concert debut in 1948; [7] the next year he won the International Violin Competition in Budapest and enrolled in the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. [3] He won the Henryk 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 the Royal 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 violist. [3] [9]
On 14 August 2021, Oistrakh died at age 90; however, media generally reported this on 1 September 2021. [1]
Oistrakh was overshadowed by the fame of his father. [7] The asteroid 42516 Oistrach was named in his and his father's honour. [3]