YELENA BEKMAN-SHCHERBINA (1882-1951)
Russian pianist

Yelena Bekman-Shcherbina began her musical life at the age of six.  Her first teacher was Nikolai Zverev (though you will find this statement contradicted elsewhere by the claim that he only accepted male students) whose fame is entirely based on his having been the teacher of such pianistic luminaries as Siloti, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Igumnov, Keneman, and Goldenweiser.  She perfected her art in studies with Pabst and Safonov at the Moscow Conservatory, being awarded a gold medal.

She was passionate about contemporary music, performing the music of Debussy, Ravel, Scriabin and Albéniz, inter alia, and often giving the first performances of new works in Russia.

As can be heard in the very few recordings bellow, Yelena Bekman-Shcherbina had a superb technique and a beautiful tone.  Her playing is unimpeachable.  I have heard she made recordings of the music of Rachmaninoff and Scriabin, but have not yet found any.

Alexander Alyabyev (1787-1851)-Liszt  "The Nightingale"

recorded ca 1950