Around the Music Festival

Dmitri Bashkirov, a pianist representing the former Soviet Union, died on March 7. He was 89 years old. In addition to his playing activities, he was a long-time professor at his alma mater, the Moscow Conservatory, and served as a judge for the world-class piano competition.

He was born in Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia in the Soviet Union. He studied under Anastassija Wirsaladse at the Tbilisi Conservatory and then at the Moscow Conservatory. He started his international career by sharing second place without first place at the 1955 Long-Thibaud International Competition.

He fascinates many music fans with his smooth, transparent tone and sparkling touch. He was awarded the title of Russian Merit Artist in 1968 and the title of Russian People’s Artist in 1990. He was also known as a master teacher and raised many world-class pianists such as Arkadij Volodos and Dang Thai Son.

In his later years he was also a professor at the Queen Sofia Conservatory of Music in Madrid. His daughter and pianist Elena Bashkirova is Gidon Kremer’s ex-wife and is now Mrs. Daniel Barenboim.

Photo：Kirill Bashkirov Photography