Yakov Flier

Yakov Vladimirovich Flier (Russian: Яков Владимирович Флиер; October 21 [O.S. October 8], 1912 – December 18, 1977; last name also spelled Fliere or Fliyer) was a Russian concert pianist and teacher.

Flier was born in Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Russia. He studied piano at the Moscow Conservatory with Konstantin Igumnov. By the 1930s he had become one of the most prominent Russian concert pianists. He mainly performed Romantic piano music, although he also played some contemporary music by the Russian composer Dmitri Kabalevsky. He taught piano for many years at the Moscow Conservatory. His notable students include Rodion Shchedrin, Viktoria Postnikova, Mikhail Pletnev, Lev Vlasenko, Mikhaïl Faerman, Bella Davidovich, Regina Shamvili, Shoshana Rudiakov, Mikhail Rudy, and Mūza Rubackytė.

He was a contemporary and sometime rival of Emil Gilels. In the 1960s and 1970s Fliyer began to perform in Europe.

He was awarded People's Artist of the USSR in 1966.