Intro
Russian musician
Was
Musician Pianist
From
Russia
Type
Music
Gender
male
Birth
28 May 1954, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
Death
16 April 1988, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
(aged 33 years)
Youri Aleksandrovich Egorov (Russian: Юрий Александрович Егоров; 28 May 1954 – 16 April 1988) was a Soviet classical pianist.
Table of Contents
Early yearsDefection and career in the WestDeath and legacyRecordings
Early years
Born in Kazan, USSR, Youri Egorov studied music at the Kazan Conservatory from the age of 6 until age 17. One of his early teachers was Irina Dubinina, a former pupil of Yakov Zak.
At the age of 17, in 1971, Egorov took 4th Prize in Paris at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition. He next studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Yakov Zak. Egorov remained at the Moscow Conservatory for six years. In 1974, Egorov won the Bronze Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. In 1975, he was awarded the 3rd Prize at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium.
Defection and career in the West
Egorov defected from the Soviet Union in 1976 while on a concert tour in Rome, Italy and travelled to Amsterdam where he was to meet Jan Brouwer, his long term partner.
In 1977 Egorov participated in the Van Cliburn Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. He became an audience favorite. When he was not chosen as a finalist, a group of patrons and Cliburn board members formed an ad-hoc committee led by Cliburn trustee Beverley Taylor Smith and American impresario Maxim Gershunoff, which raised money equal to the Van Cliburn top prize of $10,000 to further Egorov’s career by funding a New York debut. The South African Steven DeGroote took the first place award that year. Gershunoff as Egorov’s American manager presented his New York recital debut in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on January 23, 1978. Three months later, he appeared in Chicago, Illinois and a critic there dubbed his performance “the debut of the decade.” In July, 1978, Musical America Magazine selected Youri Egorov as their “Musician of the Month”. He made his Carnegie Hall debut on December 16, 1978 once again under the aegis of Gershunoff. The concert was recorded live. Writing for The New York Times, Harold C. Schonberg said Egorov played “…in a free, romantic style, and his approach is quite different from that of so many competition winners.”
In August 1979, two of Egorov’s albums appeared on Billboard Magazine’s Best-Selling Classical LP chart. Throughout the 1980s Egorov played primarily in Europe. His last American appearance was in Florida in 1986.
Egorov was featured in the book Great Contemporary Pianists Speak for Themselves compiled by Elyse Mach. In it, he spoke candidly on the topics of rehearsal, pre-concert nervousness, artistic restrictions in Russia, and homosexuality. Sviatoslav Richter, Dinu Lipatti, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Vladimir Horowitz and Glenn Gould are among the pianists Youri Egorov cited as having influenced him.
Death and legacy
Egorov died at his home in Amsterdam from what was believed to be complications of AIDS. Egorov was 33 years old. At the time of his death 14 recordings of his had been commercially issued, and several more were awaiting release. He is buried alongside Jan Brouwer at Driehuis Velsen Crematorium, Driehuis, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.
Parallels have been drawn between the playing styles of Youri Egorov and Dinu Lipatti. Additionally, both men gave their final concert performances at the age of 33, each knowing at the time that he was afflicted with a fatal illness and had but months to live.
In 1989 Egorov was the subject of a VPRO Television documentary, “Youri Egorov 1954 – 1988” by Eline Flipse. The program won the special prize of the jury at the BANFF-televisiefestival in Canada and was nominated in 1990 for the Prix Italia.
Egorov’s posthumously released CD, “Legacy 2: Youri Egorov”, received the “Perfect Five-Star Rating” from CD Review Magazine.
Recordings
Year
Composer
Work
Recorded at
CD, record or website
1974
Tchaikovsky
The Seasons, Op. 37b (1875-1876)
VARA Studio 1, Hilversum
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1974
Tchaikovsky
Piano Concerto No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 75, Radio Filharmonic Orchestra, conductor Roberto Benzi
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1974
Rachmaninoff
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43
Tchaikovsky Competition Moscow
Melodiya MELCD1002349 (2015)
1975
Maes
Piano Concerto No. 2, Symphonic Orchestra RTBF, conductor Irwin Hoffman
Queen Elisabeth Music Competition BOZAR, Brussels
Deutsche Grammophon 2530 602
1975
Schumann
Carnaval, Op. 9
Queen Elisabeth Music Competition BOZAR, Brussels
Deutsche Grammophon 2530 602
1976
Bach
Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971
Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1976
Bach
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude and Fugue No. 13 in F-sharp major, BWV 857
CD Astoria Stereo DP 87001
1976
Bach
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude and Fugue No. 24 in B minor, BWV 869
CD Astoria Stereo DP 87001
1976
Chopin
Etude in E Major, Op. 10, No. 3
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1976
Chopin
Etude in C-sharp minor, Op. 10, No. 4
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1976
Chopin
Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1976
Saint-Saëns
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 (1868), Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra, conductor Guido Ajmone-Marsan
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
LP Radio Nederland 90021/22
1976
Scarlatti
Sonata in G major, K 125
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1976
Scarlatti
Sonata in D minor, K 32
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1976
Scarlatti
Sonata in A major, K 322
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1976
Scarlatti
Sonata in E major, K 380
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1976
Scarlatti
Sonata in F major, K 518
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1976
Scarlatti
Sonata in B minor, K 87
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1978
Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37, Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Hans Vonk
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
NOS
1978
Bach
Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903
Carnegie Hall, New York
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1978
Beethoven
Choral Fantasy in C minor, Op. 80, Radio Filharmonic Orchestra, conductor Willem van Otterloo
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1978
Chopin
Étude in E major Op. 10, No. 3
Carnegie Hall, New York
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1978
Chopin
Étude in G-flat major Op. 10, No. 5 ‘Black Keys’
Carnegie Hall, New York
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1978
Chopin
Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49
Carnegie Hall, New York
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1978
Liszt
La Campanella, S. 141
TV Studio, Baden-Baden
Website Youri Egorov Foundation
1978
Mozart
Fantasy in C minor KV 475
Carnegie Hall, New York
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1978
Rachmaninoff
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, Radio Filharmonic Orchestra, conductor Willem van Otterloo
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1978
Schumann
Kreisleriana, Op. 16
Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1978
Schumann
Novelettes Op. 21, Nos. 1 and 8
Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1978
Bach
Italian Concerto
Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena
First Hand Records FHR47D (2016)
1978
Chopin
Etudes, Op. 10: Nos. 1 & 3-6
Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena
First Hand Records FHR47D (2016)
1978
Chopin
Scherzo No. 2 in F minor, Op. 31
Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena
First Hand Records FHR47D (2016)
1978
Mozart
Fantasie in C minor, K. 475
Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena
First Hand Records FHR47D (2016)
1978
Schumann
Carnaval, Op. 9
Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena
First Hand Records FHR47D (2016)
1978
Debussy
Images Book 1 – Reflets dans l’eau
Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena
First Hand Records FHR47D (2016)
1978
Liszt
Paganini Etudes – La Campanella
Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena
First Hand Records FHR47D (2016)
1979
Chopin
Études, Op. 10 and 25
New York
Musical Heritage Society 4493
1979
Schumann
Fantasy in C major, Op. 17
The Netherlands
Globe GLO 6015
1979
Tchaikovsky
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23, Concertgebouw Orchestra, conductor Antal Doráti
RAI, Amsterdam
‘Beeld en Geluid’ Archive (video)
1980
Bach
Partita No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Legacy 2 Canal Grande CG 9214
1980
Bartók
Sonata (1926)
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Legacy 2 Canal Grande CG 9214
1980
Chopin
Études, Op. 10
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Legacy 2 Canal Grande CG 9214
1980
Mozart
Fantasy in C minor, K. 475
Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena, California, USA
First Hand Records FHR 44 (2016)
1980
Schumann
Fantasy in C major, OP. 17
Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena, California, USA
First Hand Records FHR 44 (2016)
1980
Chopin
12 Etudes, Op. 25
Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena, California, USA
First Hand Records FHR 44 (2016)
1981
Brahms
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15, Utrecht Symphony Orchestra, conductor David Zinman
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
ET’CETERA KTC 1469
1981
Bartók
Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano, Op. 21 (1923) Emmy Verhey, violin
Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
MP3 Download
1981
Brahms
Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1886/88) Emmy Verhey, violin
Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
MP3 Download
1981
Chopin
Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1981
Chopin
Nocturne in D-flat major, Op. 27, No. 2
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1981
Chopin
Nocturne in E minor, Op. Posth.
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1981
Chopin
Nocturne in F-sharp major, Op. 15, No. 2
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1981
Chopin
Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1981
Haydn
Sonata No. 33 in B-flat major Hoboken XVI/20
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Legacy 4 Canal Grande CG 9216
1981
Prokofiev
Sonata No. 8 in B-flat major, Op. 84 (1939-1944)
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Legacy 3 Canal Grande CG 9215
1981
Schubert
Violin Sonata in A major, D. 574 (1817), Emmy Verhey, violin
Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
MP3 Download
1981
Schumann
Papillons, Op. 2
Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1982
Beethoven
Andante favori in F major
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Legacy 4 Canal Grande CG 9216
1982
Beethoven
Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 ‘Emperor’, Philharmonia Orchestra, conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1982
Chopin
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1982
Schubert
Sonata in C minor, D. 958
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
ET’CETERA KTC 1468
1982
Schumann
Carnaval, Op. 9
EMI Records Ltd.
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1982
Schumann
Toccata in C major, Op. 7
EMI Records Ltd.
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1982
Chopin
Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, Op. 21, Utrecht Symfony Orchestra, conductor David Zinman
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
ET’CETERA KTC 1469
1983
Brahms
Intermezzo in A minor Op. 118, No. 1
TROS
Philips Essential Recordings 464 375-2
1983
Brahms
Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118, No. 2
TROS
Philips Essential Recordings 464 375-2
1983
Brahms
Intermezzo in F minor Op. 118, No. 4
TROS
Philips Essential Recordings 464 375-2
1983
Debussy
Estampes (1903)
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1983
Debussy
Images Book 1, Reflets dans l’eau
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1983
Debussy
Préludes Books 1 & 2
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1983
Shostakovich
Sonata No. 2, Op. 64 (1942)
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
Legacy 3 Canal Grande CG 9215
1983
Schumann
Arabeske in C major, Op.18
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
DHR WH001 [2016, Limited Edition]
1983
Schumann
Kreisleriana, Op.16
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam.
DHR WH001 [2016, Limited Edition]
1983
Debussy
Préludes – Book I
Concertgebouw Grote Zaal, Amsterdam.
DHR WH001 [2016, Limited Edition]
1985
Mozart
Piano Concerto No.17 in G Major, KV 453, Philharmonia Orchestra, conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1985
Mozart
Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor, KV 466, Philharmonia Orchestra, conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1985
Schumann
Arabeske, Op. 18
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1985
Schumann
Bunte Blätter, Op. 99
Abbey Road Studios, London
EMI Classics 50999 2 06531 2 5
1986
Brahms
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83, Nederlands Jeugd Symfonie Orkest, conductor Adam Gatehouse
ET’CETERA KTC 1469
1986
Babadjanjan
Bilder für Piano (1965)
De IJsbreker, Amsterdam
Legacy 3 Canal Grande CG 9215
1987
Beethoven
Andante favori in F major
VARA Studio 1, Hilversum
Legacy 4 Canal Grande CG 9216
1987
Brahms
Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34, Glinka Quartet
Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
Radio 4 Concerthuis
1987
Ravel
Miroirs (1905)
De IJsbreker, Amsterdam
ET’CETERA KTC 1520
1987
Schubert
Piano Quintet in A major ‘Trout Quintet’, D. 667, Orlando Quartet
Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
NCRV
1987
Schubert
Six moments musicaux D. 780
Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, Amsterdam
ET’CETERA KTC 1468
1988
Brahms
6 Pieces for piano, Op. 118
Private recording
Website Youri Egorov Foundation