Igumnov Konstantin Nikolayevich, *1 May (19 April) 1873 Lebedyan (Tambov Governorate), †24 March 1948 Moscow, Russian pianist and pedagogue. Between 1888 and 1894 he studied at the Moscow Conservatory under S. Taneyev, A. Arensky, A. Siloti, and P. Pabst (piano), as well as M. Ippolitov-Ivanov (music theory and composition) and V. Safonov (chamber music). At the same time, between 1892 and 1895, he studied at the Faculty of History and Philology of Moscow State University. In 1895 he took part in the International Anton Rubinstein Piano Competition in Berlin, receiving an honorary diploma. Between 1896 and 1898 he taught and performed in Moscow, after which he worked at the Music Academy in Tbilisi (1898–99). Upon returning to Moscow, he became professor at the Conservatory in 1899. From 1918 onward he directed its piano department almost continuously, and between 1924 and 1929 served as rector of the institution. In 1940 Igumnov received the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, and in 1946 he was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the USSR. Igumnov’s playing, though seemingly devoid of virtuoso display, was distinguished by fluid phrasing, a singing tone, and masterful pedal technique. His repertoire included works from the Classical and Romantic traditions as well as compositions by Russian composers, especially Tchaikovsky, M. Glinka, A. Rubinstein, and A. Lyadov. He gave the first performances of A. Glazunov’s Piano Concerto No. 1, S. Rachmaninoff’s Piano Sonata No. 1, A. Scriabin’s Sonata-Fantasy No. 2 Op. 19, and many other Russian works. As a teacher, he established a distinguished piano school whose pupils included N. Orlov, L. Oborin, I. Dobrowen, Y. Flier, M. Grinberg, and A. Babadjanian.
Literature: J. Milshteyn, Konstantin Nikolayevich Igumnov, Moscow, 1949; 2nd ed., 1975; D. Rabinovich, Portraits of Pianists, Moscow, 1962; 2nd ed., 1970.
