Gilels was born in the former Russian Empire in Odessa as the son of Esfir and Grigory Gilels. Both parents belonged to the large Jewish community in Odessa. Age of six he began playing the piano. In 1930 he began to study piano at the conservatory in Odessa. He won in 1933 the first prize in the newly founded Soviet Music Competition. After studying in Moscow with Heinrich Neuhaus, he won the 1938 "Queen Elisabeth Competition" in Brussels, where he sat down and Others against Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Sergei Prokofiev devoted Emil Gilels 1942 its 8th piano sonata that premiered Gilels. As one of the first Soviet artist, he debuted in 1955 with the first piano concert Tchaikovsky in the US. Unlike many other Soviet artists who used abroad to emigrate from the Soviet Union, Gilels always returned there. At the center of his extensive repertoire were the Viennese classics and works by Schumann, Brahms, as well as compositions of baroque music and 20th century. He developed together with Gidon Kremer and Lazar Gosman as a member of the Leningrad Chamber Orchestra workups of more than 200 works of chamber music, including pieces by Dmitri Shostakovich and Benjamin Britten. The international Emil Gilels-Memorial project of "Emil Gilels Foundation" the Internet provides an insight into the life and work of the musician. The "Emil Gilels Foundation" organizes the biennial rhythm a "Emil Gilels Festival". The first took place in Freiburg / DE in March 2012 Design. There is speculation, Emil Gilels was like an inattentive Russian doctor victim who had inadvertently administered pianist during a routine examination incorrect syringe. Speculation or not: The legendary pianist died on 14 October 1985 at the age of 68, leaving behind a fascinating oeuvre subtly sophisticated recordings that today attract the music world in its spell. Emil Gilels was born in Odessa / Ukraine / Russian Tsarist empire, has died in Moscow / Russia and was buried in Moscow / Russia.

http://www.emilgilels.com/