Merzhanov Victor - Towarzystwo Ferenca Liszta we Wrocławiu
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Merzhanov Victor

 

On 20th December 2012 in Moscow, at the age of 93 passed away Prof. Victor Merzhanov – outstanding artist and humanist, pianist of a great international recognition, one of the best world-renown pianist-pedagogue.

 


 

Born on 15th August 1919 in Tambov. In 1941 graduated with honours from the „P. Tchaikovsky” Conservatory in Moscow, where he studied under Samuel Feinberg (piano) and Aleksandr Goedicke (organs).

 

Worked at his alma mater since 1947 (since 1964 as a professor and long-term head of the Piano Department). Between 1973-1978 he was also a professor at the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw.

 

Victor Merzhanov performed all over the world; gave over 2500 recitals, chamber ensemble and solo concerts with symphonic orchestras. His vast repertoire covered the period from Baroque to the modern times. He recorded 22 LPs and 5 CDs, which were made in Russia, Italy, Japan and the USA.

 

Victor Merzhanov educated over a hundred pianists, including 11 winners of first prizes at international piano competitions. He was invited to conduct piano master classes in world's most important centres of music life. He was a juror at the most significant piano competitions in the world, e.g. the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the Ludwig van Beethoven Competition in Vienna, the Bela Bartok and Liszt Competition in Budapest, the Queen Elizabeth in Brussels, the Feruccio Busoni in Bolzano, the Frederic Chopin in Warsaw.

 

The author of numerous publications on piano playing and music teaching. He was the scientific editor of releases of publications of many composers, e.g J.S. Bach, M. Musorgski, S. Rachmaninov and R. Schumann. For his achievements Merzhanov received many awards and honors. Holds honorary degrees from the Academy of Music in Wroclaw, the Belarusian State Academy of Music in Minsk and the honorary position of a chairman of the European Piano Teachers Association in Russia.

 

Professor Victor Merzhanov's relationships with Wroclaw date back to 1984 when at the invitation of the State Higher School of Music, he conducted for the first time a master course for the students of the University. in the years 1978-2008 every year he was a teacher at the International Piano Master Course in Duszniki Zdrój, co-organised by the Polish Artists Musicians Association SPAM and the Karol Lipinski Music Academy in Wroclaw.

 

At the invitation of the F. Liszt Society, Prof. Merzhanov appeared in two series of “Piano Master Recitals” in April 1993 in Bielsko-Biala, Brzeg, Nysa, Oborniki Slaskie and Wroclaw (in the Philharmonic Hall) and in September 1994 in Brzeg, Oborniki Sl. and Wroclaw. All the recitals brought artistic experience of the highest level, but the last concert in Wroclaw Philharmonic 23rd September 1994 gave particularly unforgettable impressions.

 

Equally unforgettable are the hundreds of master classes on music interpretation, which Prof. Merzanov gave to dozens of pianists during International Master Piano Courses in Wroclaw, organised by our Society in the years 1993-2002.

 

Professor Victor Merzhanov was also the Chairman of the Jury at the International F. Liszt Piano Competitions in Wroclaw, which we organised between 1999-2005.

 

In recognition of his contribution to the Polish culture and outstanding artistic creation in the recording of Liszt's music, the F. Liszt Society on June 9th, 1990 gave to Professor Victor Merzhanov the title of Honorary Member.

 

  • Merzhanov Victor.

    Merzhanov Victor.