Origins & Early Life

David Fyodorovich Oistrakh (30 September [O.S. 17 September] 1908 – 24 October 1974) was a Soviet Russian violinist, violist, and conductor. He was also Professor at the Moscow Conservatory, People's Artist of the USSR (1953), and Laureate of the Lenin Prize (1960). Oistrakh collaborated with major orchestras and musicians from many parts of the world and was the dedicatee of numerous violin works, including both of Dmitri Shostakovich's violin concerti and the violin concerto by Aram Khachaturian.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He is considered one of the preeminent violinists of the 20th century. Oistrakh was born to a Jewish family in Odessa, in Kherson Governorate of the Russian Empire (now Odesa, Ukraine). His presumed father was Fischl Eustrach, son of a second guild merchant, and his mother was Beyle Oistrakh, an actress and singer. At the age of five, young Oistrakh began his studies of the violin and viola as a pupil of Pyotr Stolyarsky. In his studies with Stolyarsky he became very good friends with Iosif Brodsky, Nathan Milstein and other violinists with whom he collaborated numerous times after achieving fame since their beginnings as fellow students at the Stolyarsky...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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