Comments

Thank you so much for this insightful interview. Thank you for this interview with someone in a special relationship with David Oistrakh. This is a unique and fascinating portrait of the great violinist by someone who had both a personal and a professional relationship with him.

I'd like to add something I've learned about David Oistrakh from other sources. One was a video called "Artist of the People." (I thank Scott68 for giving me a copy.) Oistrakh was under extreme pressure to win first place in every international competition he participated in. Winning second or third place was unacceptable in the eyes of the Russian Communist Party. Oistrakh had to show that the Russian Communist system produced nothing but the very best. One other reason that he was made a showcase for Russia was that he was Jewish, and the Soviet government wanted to show the world that anti-Semitic prejudice no longer existed in the USSR. Oistrakh was given the title "Artist of the People," and a video of that name to show that he gave concerts for the Soviet Communist blue collar workers, who loved to hear him play classical music, whether or not this was true.

I got another perspective on David Oistrakh as a human being from reading Isaac Stern's autobiography, "My First Seventy-Nine Years." A great friendship developed between the two men. Having an honest conversation with Oistrakh was almost impossible because the KGB was always present. The two violinists developed little tricks like getting into a large, noisy crowd and speaking very softly. A great personal friendship developed between the two, and Stern had enormous affection and respect for Oistrakh. Stern once asked Oistrakh why he didn't defect on one of his many international tours, and Oistrakh simply shrugged and said very softly, "my family."

David Oistrakh sounds like a very appealing person. Can anyone recommend a good biography of him?

What a fascinating interview! What a fascinating interview! Thanks to both Laurie and Emil. I'm learning so much from these interviews and the contests. Oops, sorry Rosalind. I made my comment before I read yours. I guess great minds think alike ;-) Utterly riveting interview! Thank you for sharing. The warm-up on Mozart is very interesting, and I can't wait to try it. great first hand account and interview, thank you emil and your mother. always a pleasure reading emil's writing...it is very rare to write as well as one plays violin. Reading about the politics that were going on during Ms.Belina's student days reminded me how things haven't changed that much,or should I say will take more time to change. When I arrived at Mannes thirty years ago there was Ms.Belina alongside Felix Galimir. I got her vote that day and I'm very grateful. Even though we're celebrating Oistrakh's birthday this month I would like to thank Ms.Belina, truely one of the great artist teachers of our time. Also congratulations to Emil on a great interview.Thanks Wow! Awesome interview--cheers Emil!

Danchenko has some good Oistrakh stories as well, I'm sure you've heard them all--my favorite is the one he told us at studio class one day, about how Oistrakh's studio class was so terrifying that even playing on the biggest stage in the world was relaxing by comparison. :)))

Superb interview.