Vera Gornostaeva: biography of an outstanding pianist

The fate of one of the greatest pianists of Russia Vera Vasilievna Gornostaeva was predetermined from birth. Having appeared on the International Day of Music, she devoted her entire life to this beautiful art form. Today, when Vera Vasilyevna is no longer alive, I want to once again remember her biography.

Childhood and youth

Vera Gornostayeva was born in Moscow on October 1, 1929 in the family of a pianist and an engineer-economist. When the girl was 7 years old, her parents gave her to a music school opened on the basis of the Moscow Conservatory. The girl's teacher was E. Nikolaeva. After the end (in 1947) of the music school, young Vera entered the Moscow Conservatoire in class to the outstanding pianist Heinrich Neuhaus. The student was so impressed with the talent of his teacher that he always spoke of her as a "unique treasure." After graduating from the conservatory, Vera Vasilyevna entered postgraduate studies, where she studied from 1952 to 1955.

Career

The renowned pianist preferred pedagogical pedagogical activity. The first place of her work was the Children's Music School, located in the Sverdlovsk district of the capital. Here she worked for a year after graduating from the conservatory (from 1952 to 1953). Then followed the teaching activities at the Musical Pedagogical Institute. Gnesin, in which Vera Vasilievna Gornostayeva taught students to play the piano for five years.

Already in those days, her colleagues noted that a young woman has a broad outlook that allows her to see the prospect of developing talent in each individual student. She was foretold the title of one of the best music teachers in the country, and she justified this expectation. For more than 60 years of teaching, the woman has trained many talented pianists, including Marat Gubaidullin, Ivo Pogorelich, Alexander Slobodyanik, Pavel Egorov, Irina Chukovskaya, and so on.

In 1959, Vera Gornostaeva, whose biography is considered in this publication, came to work at the department of a special piano in her alma mater - the Moscow Conservatory. In this school, besides her mother also once studied. From that moment until the end of life, the pedagogical activity of the pianist will take place within the walls of this educational institution. In 1963, Vera Vasilievna became her assistant professor, and six years later (in 1969) - a professor.

National recognition

Gornostayeva traveled around the world with her master classes, and everywhere they passed with great success. Her name was well known in Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, France, USA, Italy. In Japan, the pianist's lessons were even broadcast on the central television, and she wrote a book about herself.

The method of teaching Gornostayeva was so progressive that a woman was offered work in the best musical universities of the planet. But Vera Vasilyevna categorically refused to leave the institution that had become her home. She stated that she would never leave the conservatory, along the corridors of which there were such great Russian composers as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Scriabin.

Concert, television and publishing

In 1953, in the concert hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Gornostaev's first major performance was held. Two years later, Vera Vasilievna was hired by the soloist of Mosconcert. In 1956, the talented pianist became the winner and winner of the II prize at the International Competition held in Prague. Since 1988, Gornostayeva - soloist of the Moscow Academic Philharmonic. In the same year she was awarded the title People's Artist of the RSFSR.

In the Soviet Union, Vera Gornostayeva was known not only as a pianist and teacher, but also as a TV presenter. She was conducting an "Open Piano" program, dedicated to classical music. In her, the woman played classical works and told the audience about the composers. In addition, Gornostayeva owns a lot of publications about famous musicians: S. Richter, Y. Bashmet, M. Pletnev, as well as his favorite teacher G. Neuhaus. In 1991, she published a book called "2 hours after the concert."

Personal life

Vera Gornostaeva was married to the physicist Vadim Knorre (the son of the famous Soviet scientist and writer George Knorre). In a marriage with him, she had a daughter, Xenia, who in 1953 followed in the footsteps of her mother and became a famous pianist. Vera Vasilyevna has two adult grandchildren: Lika Kremer (a famous actress and TV presenter) and Lucas Geniusas (musician).

The Last Months of Life and Death

In October 2014, the solemn parade-festival "Relay of the Faith", dedicated to the 85th anniversary of Gornostaev, was held at the Moscow Conservatory. The famous pianist was congratulated on the anniversary of her famous students. The rector of the Conservatory A. Sokolov read out telegrams addressed to her from Prime Minister D. Medvedev and Moscow Mayor S. Sobyanin. Vera Gornostaeva shone on the stage and with her whole appearance showed that she was ready to continue working fruitfully, but on January 19, 2015, she was no more. The news about this the next day told reporters Xenia Knorre.

The famous pianist died in the intensive care unit of the Moscow clinic, where she was delivered 3 weeks before her death. Before that, she felt well, engaged in public and teaching activities. The cause of Vera Gornostaeva's death was not officially announced anywhere. They buried an outstanding pianist and teacher in Moscow at the Danilov cemetery.