The career of David Oistrakh spanned the transition from the concert stage to the era of global audio reproduction. Born in Odesa in 1908, he became a central figure in Soviet musical life, shaping the interpretation of the violin repertoire through pedagogical influence at the Moscow Conservatory and numerous international performances throughout the mid-twentieth century.
Early Training and Moscow Conservatory
Oistrakh began violin and viola studies at age five under Pyotr Stolyarsky. He entered the Odesa Conservatory in 1923, graduating in 1926. Relocating to Moscow in 1927, he married pianist Tamara Rotareva and started a family, with their son Igor born in 1931. In 1934, Oistrakh joined the faculty of the Moscow Conservatory, attaining the rank of professor by 1939. His teaching tenure lasted decades, mentoring students such as Gidon Kremer and Oleh Krysa.
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During the Second World War, Oistrakh remained active within the Soviet Union. He performed for military personnel and factory workers, notably playing in a central music hall during the 1942 Battle of Stalingrad. His repertoire expanded during this period to include new works by Sergei Prokofiev and Aram Khachaturian. He also developed a professional association with Dmitri Shostakovich, becoming the dedicatee of both his violin concerti.
International Recognition and Conducting
Post-war travel restrictions eased, allowing Oistrakh to perform in Helsinki, Florence, Britain, and the United States. His chamber music activity included the 'Oistrakh Trio' with Sviatoslav Knushevitsky and Lev Oborin. By 1959, he began a transition into orchestral conducting, making his Moscow debut in 1962. He continued his pedagogical and performing life until his death from a heart attack in Amsterdam in 1974.
Fast facts
- Born: 1908, Odesa
- Died: 1974, Amsterdam
- Primary Instrument: Violin
- Alma Mater: Moscow Conservatory
- Stalin Prize recipient: 1942
- Lenin Prize recipient: 1960
- Final Resting Place: Novodevichy Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Did Oistrakh collaborate with his family members?
Yes, he performed and recorded with his son, the violinist Igor Oistrakh, including works such as Bach's Double Concerto.
Which major composers wrote music specifically for Oistrakh?
Dmitri Shostakovich dedicated both of his violin concerti to him, and he was also the dedicatee of the violin concerto by Aram Khachaturian.
Achievements
- Stalin Prize
- Order of Lenin
- Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold II
- Order of the Badge of Honour
- Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
- Instruments: violin
- Genres: classical music
