Oxana Yablonskaya
Encyclopedia
Oxana Yablonskaya is a Russian pianist
who has had an active international performance career since the early 1960s. She began her career in the USSR and, although winning several important competitions in the West, was denied by the Soviet government to accept any performance engagements outside of the Soviet block. Frusturated by her career limitations, she emigrated to the United States
in 1977. Described by The New York Times
as an "internationally known virtuoso" and "one of the county's most distinguished musical residents", Yablonskaya has toured in concert and recital throughout the world and has made numerous recordings. She was a member of the piano faculty at the Juilliard School
until 2009 (where she taught for more than 30 years).
, Yablonskaya was a pupil of pianist Anaida Sumbatyan
at the The Moscow Central School for the Gifted where she studied from the ages of six through sixteen. She then pursued further studies in her native city with Alexander Goldenweiser before entering the Moscow Conservatory
where she was a student of Tatiana Nikolayeva
. After graduating from the conservatory in 1962, she joined the school's piano faculty. She went on to win prizes in the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition
in 1963 and the Vienna Beethoven Competition in 1969.
Yablonskaya was invited to perform with orchestras and in concert halls in the West during the 1960s and 1970s. She also performed throughout the USSR and made numerous recordings on the Melodya label. She was named a "Soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic" and was also highly active as a soloist with the Bolshoi Orchestra.
In 1975 Yablonskaya, along with her father and son, applied for a visa to emigrate to the United States, a move which caused her to be fired from her post at the Moscow Conservatory and which blacklisted her from all concert venues in the USSR. She waited for over two years to obtain a visa which was approved largely due to a petition which had been organized by American composers Leonard Bernstein
and Stephen Sondheim
. The family came to New York City in 1977 and later that year Yablonskaya gave a critically acclaimed recital at Carnegie Hall
. This launched her career in the west, and she went on to appear with many of the world's finest symphony orchestras.
Yablonskaya's son, Dimitri Yablonsky, has become a noted cellist in his own right. Educated at Juilliard, he has become principal cellist of the Bergen Symphony Orchestra in Norway
, and they have given mother and son recitals to critical acclaim. The two have also been joined in concert by Oxana's clarinetist-husband Alexander Volchonok.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
who has had an active international performance career since the early 1960s. She began her career in the USSR and, although winning several important competitions in the West, was denied by the Soviet government to accept any performance engagements outside of the Soviet block. Frusturated by her career limitations, she emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1977. Described by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
as an "internationally known virtuoso" and "one of the county's most distinguished musical residents", Yablonskaya has toured in concert and recital throughout the world and has made numerous recordings. She was a member of the piano faculty at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
until 2009 (where she taught for more than 30 years).
Life
Born in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Yablonskaya was a pupil of pianist Anaida Sumbatyan
Anaida Sumbatyan
Anaida Stepanovna Sumbatyan was an Armenian pianist.She taught at the Central Special Music School in Moscow. Among her pupils were Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vladimir Krainev, Nelly Akopian-Tamarina and Oxana Yablonskaya.-References:-Notes:...
at the The Moscow Central School for the Gifted where she studied from the ages of six through sixteen. She then pursued further studies in her native city with Alexander Goldenweiser before entering the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
where she was a student of Tatiana Nikolayeva
Tatiana Nikolayeva
Tatiana Petrovna Nikolayeva was a Russian Soviet pianist, composer and teacher.-Early life:Nikolayeva was born in Bezhitsa in the Bryansk district on May 4, 1924...
. After graduating from the conservatory in 1962, she joined the school's piano faculty. She went on to win prizes in the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition
Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition
The Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition is an international classical music competition for pianists and violinists that has operated in France since 1943. It was created by the pianist Marguerite Long and the violinist Jacques Thibaud...
in 1963 and the Vienna Beethoven Competition in 1969.
Yablonskaya was invited to perform with orchestras and in concert halls in the West during the 1960s and 1970s. She also performed throughout the USSR and made numerous recordings on the Melodya label. She was named a "Soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic" and was also highly active as a soloist with the Bolshoi Orchestra.
In 1975 Yablonskaya, along with her father and son, applied for a visa to emigrate to the United States, a move which caused her to be fired from her post at the Moscow Conservatory and which blacklisted her from all concert venues in the USSR. She waited for over two years to obtain a visa which was approved largely due to a petition which had been organized by American composers Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
and Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
. The family came to New York City in 1977 and later that year Yablonskaya gave a critically acclaimed recital at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. This launched her career in the west, and she went on to appear with many of the world's finest symphony orchestras.
Yablonskaya's son, Dimitri Yablonsky, has become a noted cellist in his own right. Educated at Juilliard, he has become principal cellist of the Bergen Symphony Orchestra in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and they have given mother and son recitals to critical acclaim. The two have also been joined in concert by Oxana's clarinetist-husband Alexander Volchonok.