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The Russian pianist, Zinaida Ignatieva, started her piano studies in 1944 at the Music School in Moscow. From 1949 to 1957, she attended the Central Special Music School at the Moscow Conservatoire, studying with Georgy Briushkov and Anaida Sumbatian. In 1957 she moved on to the Moscow Conservatoire into the class of the outstanding Russian musician, Professor Samuel Feinberg, which she graduated from in 1962. Subsequently, she completed her apprenticeship at the same institution under Vladimir Natanson. During her studies at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, she participated In 1960 in the 6th Chopin Competition in Warsaw and took 5th prize. Her performance was highly appraised by many eminent musicians, among them was Arthur Rubinstein who was the chairman of the jury. Rubinstein spoke of her as of a brilliant talent. Seven years later, she took part in the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, but failed to place.
After her success in Warsaw Zinaida Ignatieva began to develop her concert career within the Soviet Union. Her concert activities is quite extensive; she appears in the best concert halls both in Russia (Moscow and Leningrad as well as provincial cities) and abroad - in Europe and Asia. She has a large concert repertoire which includes compositions of classic, romantic and modern styles and all piano compositions of Frédéric Chopin. F. Chopin constituted the core of her repertoire, which - as music critics noted - “[she] interprets with exceptional sensitivity.” Yet she is also very successful in her interpretation of Franz Liszt’s virtuoso Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini, in which she demonstrates excellent technique. She is also acknowledged for her renditions of L.v. Beethoven's Sonatas, works by J.S. Bach, Franz Liszt and Russian composers: Scriabin, Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninov, Glazunov, Dmitry Kabalevsky, Samuel Feinberg, Alexandrov, Pirumov and others.
Since 1962 Zinaida Ignatieva has been teaching at the Moscow Conservatoire. Many of her pupils are prize winners of international competitions. They work both in Russia and in Europe, USA, Asia, and Australia, giving concerts, teaching. She regularly gives international master-classes both in Russia and abroad (France, South Korea, Japan, etc).
Zinaida Ignatieva is given the title of "People’s Artist of Russia" for her merits in the art of performance by Russian Government. |
