Yakov Zak

YAKOV ZAK
Ukranian-born Soviet pianist (1913 - 1976)

Yakov Zak was a pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus. He won the first price and the Mazurka prize at the 1937 Chopin Competition in Warsaw. He was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1966. Among his prominent students were Nikolai Petrov, Evgeny Mogilevsky, Lubov Timofeyeva, Valery Afanassiev, Ludmila Knezkova-Hussey, Eliso Virsaladze and Youri Egorov.

Ah the Neuhaus sound! I don't know why Yakov Zak has not enjoyed the international acclaim of Gilels, Richter, and Berman. It can'e be because he didn't have as pretty as face as his colleagues. I suppose it might be due to the fact that he died just as the fever of discovery of great Russian pianists was peaking in the USA in the mid-70s. But he is every bit as worthy of adoration.

The performance of the opening movement of the Chopin 3rd sonata is spectacular. It is perhaps the most dynamic and most masculine, if I may say so, interpretation I know, and very exciting. Where is the rest of the sonata? And yes, I like it much better than that of Gilels.

Yakov Zak's 1939 recordng of Alfred Grünfeld's "Soirée de Vienne" is an extraordinary document. His Kinderszenen rocks. The Chopin B minor waltz, in spite of the eerie sound, is among the most perfect performances of any Chopin waltz. And his recordings of the Kabalevsky 3rd and especially the Prokofiev 7th sonatas are to die for.

Yakov Zak's performances with orchestra are spectacular. His playing, a combination of beautiful tone, incredible subtlety and larger than life force is overwhelming. In my book, the recording of the Prokofeiv 2nd concerto stands along side the one by his pupil, Nikolai Petrov, as one of the most wonderful concerto performances ever. And the others by Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Chopin and Brahms, are equally fine. I was particularly interested to hear the Brahms conducted by the great Soviet violinist David Oistrakh whose accompaniment is superb.

Yakov Zak performed and recorded many works for two pianos with Emil Gilels. A number of these wonderful recordings can be enjoyed by visiting the Gilels-Zak Piano Duo page.

Chopin Piano Concerto 2 in F minor, Op 21
Kurt Sanderling conducting the Leningrad Philarmonic Orchestra

i Maestoso
13:12 ➢ ii Larghetto
21:56 ➢ iii Allegro vivace

recorded in 1948

Chopin Mazurkas

in C♯ minor, Op 63~3
in C minor, Op 30~1

recorded in the 1940s and 1950s

Chopin Piano Sonata 3 in B minor, Op 58
i Allegro maestoso

Chopin Waltz 10 in B minor, Op 69~2

recorded ca1949-1950

Schumann Kinderszenen, Op 15

1 Von fremden Ländern und Menschen
2 Kuriose Geschichte
3 Hasche-Mann
4 Bittendes Kind
5 Glückes genug
6 Wichtige Begebenheit
7 Traümerei
8 Am Kamin

9 Ritter vom Steckenpferd
10 Fast zu ernst
11 Fürchtenmachen
12 Kind im Einschlummern
13 Der Dichter spricht

Liszt "Apres une lecture de Dante"

recorded in the 1950s

Brahms Piano Concerto 1 in D minor, Op 15
David Oistrakh conducting the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

i Maestoso
ii Adagio
iii Rondo - Allegro non troppo

recorded live in 1969

Brahms 10 Klavierstücke

Intermezzo, Op 118~1
01:33Intermezzo, Op 118~2
06:28Capriccio, Op 76~8
08:59Intermezzo, Op 76~4
11:24Intermezzo, Op 76~7
14:32Capriccio, Op 76~5
16:58Intermezzo, Op 117~1
21:05Rhapsodie, Op 119~4
25:21Intermezzo, Op 117~2
29:05Capriccio, Op 76~2