Emil Gilels (1916–1985) was one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, a native of Odesa. He grew up and was formed within the celebrated Odesa piano school, which gave the world a whole constellation of brilliant performers.
Gilels's playing was marked by titanic power, flawless technical perfection, and at the same time a noble depth and poetry. In 1938 he won the prestigious international competition in Brussels, after which he performed on the finest stages of the world, conquering audiences across Europe and America. His interpretations of Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, and Liszt are considered a benchmark. Emil Gilels is one of those Ukraine-born musicians whose art became part of the world's cultural treasury.
