David Fiodorovich Oistrakh (September
30, 1908 – October 24, 1974)
was a Soviet Ukrainian violinist who made many recordings, and was
the dedicatee of numerous violin works. His recordings and performances
of Shostakovich's violin concerti are particularly well known, but
he was also a performer of classical concerti. He worked with orchestras
in Russia, and also with musicians in Europe and the United States.
Another famous recording is the one he made of Beethoven's Triple
Concerto with Sviatoslav Richter and Mstislav Rostropovich. Aram
Khachaturian's violin concerto is dedicated to him.
Oistrakh was also a well respected pedagogue, who spent his formidable
years on the faculty of the Moscow Conservatory among such greats
as Yuri Yankelevich and Boris Goldstein.
David Oistrakh was the father of violinist Igor Oistrakh. The
two made numerous recordings together.
He passed away while in Amsterdam in 1974. His remains were returned
to Moscow where he was interred in Novodevichy Cemetery.
Violinists