Igumnov, Konstantin

Born Apr. 19 (May 1), 1873, in Lebedian’, in present-day Lipetsk Oblast; died Mar. 24, 1948, in Moscow. Soviet pianist; People’s Artist of the USSR (1946), doctor of art studies (1940).

Igumnov graduated from P. A. Pabst’s piano course at the Moscow Conservatory in 1894. In 1895 he participated in the A. G. Rubinstein International Competition in Berlin and made his debut in Moscow the same year. In 1899 he became a professor at the Moscow Conservatory and a rector there in 1924 (to 1929). His playing was distinguished by lyricism, subtlety, refinement, and a melodious and beautiful sound. He was famous for his interpretation of the cycle Seasons and other piano works by P. I. Tchaikovsky.

Igumnov is the founder of one of the most important and internationally known Soviet schools of piano playing. His pupils include N. A. Orlov, I. A. Dobrovein, L. N. Oborin, Ia. V. Flier, M. I. Grinberg, A. L. Iokheles, and Ia. I. MiF-shtein. He received the State Prize of the USSR in 1946 and was awarded the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.