Anna Klas, born Anna Gurevich, was an Estonian Soviet pianist and music teacher. She was born on January 23, 1912 in Riga and died on April 20, 1999 in Tallinn. In 1946 she was awarded the title Honored Artist of the Estonian SSR.
She was born into a Jewish family, the daughter of Iosif Gurevich and Ester Goz. In 1931 she graduated from the Tallinn Conservatory, and until 1933 she continued her studies at the Berlin Higher School of Music. According to recollections cited by her son, the conductor Eri Klas, her time in Berlin was an important formative period during which she encountered the musical life of one of Europe's leading cultural capitals and heard major musicians of the era.
In 1938 she married Eduard Klas. In 1941, during the war, she was evacuated to the Urals together with her two-year-old son Eri. From 1942 she began performing in a piano duo with Bruno Lukk. From 1943 to 1944 she lived in Yaroslavl, where she taught and gave concerts.
From 1944 to 1959 Klas was an associate professor at the Tallinn Conservatory. She trained a large number of pianists and for 40 years performed as part of the piano duo Anna Klas and Bruno Lukk. With this ensemble she toured through most of the Soviet Union, and several records by the duo were released by the Melodiya label. Their concert repertoire included practically the entire body of works written for two pianos.
In 1947 she received the State Prize of the Estonian SSR. From 1966 to 1979 she taught at the Riga Conservatory. She was also awarded the Order of the Badge of Honour in 1956.
Klas remained especially known as one half of the duo with Bruno Lukk, a partnership that became central to her artistic identity. She was buried in the Jewish section of Rahumäe Cemetery.
Connections
This figure has 1 connection in the Music Lineage catalog.