Death of an Oistrakh protégée, 78
RIPWe have been notified of the death of Liana Isakadze, a generous and gifted Georgian violinist who carried the flame of her teacher David Oistrakh around the world.
It was Oistrakh who brought her to Moscow and employed her for two years as his assistant, playing in his orchestra in major recordings.
She founded three festivals in Georgia and, in 2011, formed a ‘Virtuosi from Facebook’ orchestra. Heavy smoking and hard travelling, she always looked to give opportunities to young musicians.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union she lived in France, in Paris and in Grasse.
Yuri Revich writes:
Liana Isakadze, one of the greatest musicians, passed away.
She was my god mother, I basically grew up with her and her incredible talent, and, without hesitation I can use this word, with her genius musicality.
The only time by now I ever cried from emotions during the instrumental concert it was when she was playing Tchaikovsky violin concerto, during the second movement.
Her charismatic personality, her addictive laugh and wonderful jokes and stories will forever remain in the memories of people and her legacy is in her recordings for future generations to come.
I remember her as a brilliant soloist with the Sjaellands Symphony Orchestra back in the 1970’s !
Ms. Isakadze was 77, not 78. When Oistrakh had his fatal heart attack in Amsterdam (Liana and her brother were playing Brahms double with Oistrakh on the podium), Liana accompanied la mort Oistrakh on the train back to Russia, and then played a slow movement of Vivaldi at his funeral. She was a household name in Russia and Georgia and a state sponsored soloist and conductor for decades.