| Biography | Irina Zaritskaya was a Ukrainian pianist.
Zaritskaya started playing the piano at the Childrens Music School in Kiev until 1953, and subsequently continued her studies at the Central Special Music School in Moscow Conservatory with Professor Tatiana Kestner. She graduated in 1958 and entered the Moscow Conservatory, where she was accepted into Yakov Zaks class and received lessons from Yakov Flier. She received her graduation diploma in 1963.
For many years, Zaritskaya only performed within the Soviet Union, appearing with the countrys best orchestras and conductors, including Kirill Kondrashin, Rudolf Barshai and Natan Rakhlin. In 1961, she appeared in Warsaw, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 2, Kabalevskys Piano Sonata No. 3 and a matinée recital of six preludes.
In 1972, Zaritskaya emigrated to Israel, binding her professional careers both as a performer and teacher with the Rubin Academy of Music. In 1985, she moved to England and settled in London. She appeared occasionally with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and accompanied violinist Boris Belkin. She primarily taught at the Royal College of Music, but also at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Purcell School. Her students include Danny Driver, Eytan Pessen, Wu Qian and Alba Ventura.
Zaritskaya's final concert appearance was on 9 August 1995, at the Jubilee 50th International Chopin Festival in Duszniki where she performed works by Scriabin, Prokofiev, Kabalevsky and Chopin. |