Vladimir Belov (pianist)

Vladimir Belov (1906–1989) was a Russian pianist and teacher. [ [http://einam.com/pages/russian.htm holophrastic quodlibetarian] ]

A student of Felix Blumenfeld, he launched a successful career as a concert pianist. After a traumatic onstage blackout, he decided to quit performing and devote himself solely to teaching. The only occasions in which he agreed to perform were concerts in memory of his teacher, Blumenfeld.

As a teacher in the Moscow Conservatory, he was known to be very soft-spoken and lenient with students, whom he taught as a group (his entire class attended each lesson, taking turns at the piano). Among his students were Aleksandr Baltin [ [http://www.grovemusic.com/shared/views/article.html?from=search&session_search_id=834142893&hitnum=1&section=music.45552 Grove Dictionary of Music] entry: Aleksandr Baltin] and Edison Denisov [ [http://www.grovemusic.com/shared/views/article.html?from=search&session_search_id=834142893&hitnum=2&section=opera.007754 Grove Dictionary of Music] entry: Edison Denisov] . He also edited a few Russian sheet music editions (typically with many fingering options) [ [http://www.grovemusic.com/shared/views/article.html?from=search&session_search_id=834142893&hitnum=7&section=music.48265.29 Grove Dictionary of Music] entry: Franz Liszt/Works] .

A rare LP recording of Belov is available in the Melodya label, titled "Pupils of Felix Blumenfeld". It features recordings of Maria Grinberg, Simon Barere, Vladimir Horowitz and Belov (playing pieces by Blumenfeld). Although short, this recording attests to his being a formidable pianist. [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.classical.recordings/browse_thread/thread/7b999bba79ea1e61/01837155410abd1a?hl=en&lnk=st&q=+pupils+blumenfeld+horowitz+barere&rnum=2#01837155410abd1a]

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