Russian piano school... How many bright and gifted names stand behind these words.

Russian piano school which dates back to the beginning of the artistic and interpretative career of the great pianist and composer Anton Rubinshtein, the founder and the director of the first Russian Saint Petersburg based Conservatory in 1862 has always been and still remains one of the leading performing schools all over the world.

Penetration in the inner world of music, beauty of the sounding, extraordinary melodiousness and extension of a piano sound, a wide range of emotional and dynamic contrasts - all these features constitute the distinction of Russian piano school.

At the beginning of the 20th century Sergey Rachmaninoff and Alexandr Skriabin shone on the stages of Russia, Western Europe and America. Their music and talented performance marked the beginning of the triumph of Russian piano school all over the world. Legendary Vladimir Horowitz became an ardent disciple of Russian piano school. His spontaneous virtuosity and nerve-strain of his performance still remain unique and unsurpassed.

Emil Gilels and Svyatoslav Rihter, the greatest pianists of the 20th century, thinkers, have made a considerable contribution into the history of interpretative culture.
Huge experience of Russian pedagogics promoted the preservation of the traditions of the Russian school.

The greatest pianists such as Genrih Neigauz, Yakov Flier, Grigoriy Ginzburg, Lev Oborin, Vladimir Nilsen, Natan Perelman and many others have devoted major part of their lives to pedagogics while bringing up a number of new generations of pianists.

With special warmth and the highest words of praise and gratitude I would like to mention my teacher Tatiana Kravchenko, Saint Petersburg Conservatory Professor who have taught for over 50 years and has brought up more than 30 laureats of prestigious Russian and internationals competitions who have become renowned musicians and professors and are working all over the world.

It is interesting to note that the winner of the Ist Chaikovsky International Competition in 1958 was Van Klibern, who is also a representative of the Russian school since his professor in Julliard School famous Rozina Levina graduated from Moscow Conservatory and brought up a number of generations of American pianists.

International competitions of pianists held in Russia encourage further development and dissemination of the traditions of Russian interpretative school.

Of major importance is the above-mentioned Tchaikovsky International Competition which has been opening new names for over 40 years. The music of the great composer creates a special lofty atmosphere of the competition.

Its winners and laureates such as Vladimir Ashkenazi, Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Krainev, Grigoriy Sokolov, Eliso Virsaladze, Andrey Gavrolov, younger generation pianists- Denis Matsyev, Nikolay Luganskiy have become outstanding performers, vivid representatives of Russian pianism.

May I proudly mention the name of Evgeniy Kissin, one of the brightest and the most gifted modern pianists.

More and more international competitions such as Rachmaninoff Competition, Prokofiev Competition, Skriabin Competition are getting more and more popular all over the world.

Russian piano school keeps developing while preserving and enriching previously gained artistic experience for new generations of pianists to come. Russian piano art grands deliver master classes, open classes, lectures-concerts and pass generously their impressive artistic experience to upcoming generations of pianists. It means that new names are due to appear in the 21st century who will become worthy of continuation of the century old traditions of Russian piano school.

Yaroslav Pugach