Nikolayeva, Tatiana (Petrovna)

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Nikolayeva, Tatiana (Petrovna)

Nikolayeva, Tatiana (Petrovna), esteemed Russian pianist, pedagogue, and composer; b. Bezhitz, May 4, 1924; d. San Francisco, Nov. 22, 1993. She began her piano training with Goldenweiser at Moscow’s Central Music School, continuing as his pupil at the Moscow Cons, (graduated, 1947); also studied composition there with Golubev (graduated, 1950). After a highly successful series of concerts in Russia, she won first prize at Leipzig’s Bach festival for her performance of Bach’s clavier works (1950); subsequently toured in Eastern Europe and later made visits to Western Europe; gave several highly acclaimed recitals in London (1986). She was a teacher (1959–65) and a prof. (from 1965) at the Moscow Cons. She was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage while giving a recital in San Francisco on Nov. 13, 1993; she died 9 days later. Nikolayeva was a remarkably gifted virtuoso; Shostakovich wrote his 24 Preludes and Fugues expressly for her. She was made an Honored Artist of the R.S.F.S.R. in 1955. Among her works are several syms.; 2 piano concertos; Piano Quintet; Piano Sonata; many piano pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire

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Nikolayeva, Tatiana (Petrovna)

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