Nina Oxentyan (Organist)
Organist Nina Oksentian has long been one of St Petersburg’s most highly
acclaimed musicians. A pupil and the assistant of the renowned Isai
Alexandrovich Braudo for many years, she maintains the finest traditions of
Russian organ performing and is passing these on to her own students.
Nina Oksentian performed at celebratory Bach concerts in Leipzig together
with Dmitry Shostakovich back in 1950. Since that time she has taught at the
Leningrad-St Petersburg Conservatoire. She has trained several generations of
renowned Russian organists. She toured widely throughout the Soviet Union and
abroad. The organist’s concert appearances follow the old St Petersburg
tradition of performing different kinds of organ music – solos, in ensembles and
as an accompanist. Nina Oksentian’s repertoire includes very early pieces
written for the instrument to works by contemporary composers.
In their delighted reviews, Russian and European critics have referred to the
performer as “an amazing mistress of the organ”, noting the “expressiveness and
warmth” of the sound, her magnificent taste, virtuoso playing, “individual
touch” and the “beauty and energy” of her performances.
Nina Oksentian is a Professor of the St Petersburg Conservatoire and a
People’s Artist of Russia.
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