Yakov Zak

Yakov Izrailevich Sak (Russian Яков Израилевич Зак, scientific transliteration Jakov Zak Izrailevič; * 7 Novemberjul / November 20 1913greg in Odessa, .. † June 28, 1976 in Moscow) was a Soviet pianist and pedagogue of Jewish origin.

Life

Sak studied at the conservatory in his hometown at Starkowaja and later with Heinrich Neuhaus at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. On the basis of Neuhaus ' serious illness Yakov Sak took in the academic year 1933/1934, some hours at Konstantin Igumnov.

His debut in 1935, the same year as he the second major All- Union Competition of the USSR, the likes of Richter, Gilels, Sweepers and other won, gained the second prize. The international breakthrough helped him winning the 3rd International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, where he also received a special prize for the best interpretation of a mazurka. From 1935 to Sak taught at the Moscow Conservatory, where he became a full professor in 1947. Among his students significant pianists Nikolai Petrov as Valery Afanasyev and Alexei Kornienko. In 1966 Yakov Sak was honored as People's Artist of the USSR.