Viktoria Postnikova

Viktoria Valentinovna Postnikova (born 12 January 1944), Russian pianist. Original, vintage, pen and ink, "on-the-spot" illustration by George 'Georges' Krishizki. The hand drawn illustration has been signed by Postnikova and additionally signed, dated and titled by Krishizki: "Georges / 1979 / Viktoria Postnikova playing concerto No 4 for Piano and Orchestra, G minor, Opus 40 by S. Rachmaninoff."

Postnikova's repertoire is extremely broad, covering works by composers such as Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Haydn, Mozart, Liszt, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms and Rachmaninoff and from more contemporary periods music by Busoni, Ives, Britten, Shostakovich andSchnittke. One of her greatest accomplishments is her recording of Tchaikovsky's complete piano works.

She takes part in concerts, recordings and recitals at home and abroad with her conductor husband Gennady Rozhdestvensky, whom she married in 1969. She is also an accomplished chamber musician, having given recitals in the CIS and France with Yehudi Menuhinfeaturing the complete Brahms violin and piano sonatas along with sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven and Bartók.

George 'Georges' Krishizki (March 22, 1924 – December 20, 2001), Russian-Polish-American illustrator who came to the U.S. in 1949. While he earned acclaim for his renderings of the city’s architectural landmarks, it was his on-the-spot drawings of musicians in performance that attracted an especially appreciative audience. In a 1973 article published in conjunction with two simultaneous exhibitions, Georges explained the genesis of his long-running engagement with the concert hall: “I’ve always enjoyed going to concerts, and one day I decided it would be fun to combine my interests in music and art and make sketches of musicians during performances.”  Indeed, the most remarkable feature of Georges’ oeuvre, apart from the astounding range of performers who gladly expressed their approval and appreciation by signing, is the skill with which the drawings are accomplished.

This original pen and ink illustration, measuring approximately 9 x 12, on heavy-weight sketch paper, is in fine condition with some light overall toning. Its verso is blank and clean.