Elizabeth Gilels
A violinist of profound artistry who, as a revered teacher in Odessa, nurtured the talent of her younger brother, the great Emil Gilels.
1919–2008 (age 89)·Soviet and Russian violinist·Birthday: September 30·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Elizabeth Gilels possessed a musician's soul, first as a performer and then as a foundational teacher in the rich soil of the Odessa Conservatory. While her younger brother Emil would achieve global fame as a pianist, Elizabeth's path was one of deep, sustained influence within the Soviet musical system. She was a skilled violinist, but her lasting impact came from the classroom, where she trained generations of string players with the rigorous technique and interpretive depth characteristic of the Russian school. Her life was intertwined with her family's musical legacy; she was not only Emil's sister but also the aunt of the distinguished violinist Elena Gilels. For decades, she was a pillar of the Odessa musical community, shaping the early development of countless artists who passed through her hands.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Elizabeth was born in 1919, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Elizabeth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1919
Elizabeth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1919Born
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Started school
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1932Became a teenager
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Could drive
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1937Could vote
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Turned 21
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Turned 30
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 40
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 50
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 60
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 70
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 80
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Died at 89
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Key Achievements
- Had a long and respected career as a professor of violin at the Odessa Conservatory.
- Played a key role in the early musical development of her brother, the pianist Emil Gilels.
- Performed as a violinist, contributing to the cultural life of Odessa and the Soviet Union.
- Was part of a remarkable family musical dynasty that included her brother and her niece, violinist Elena Gilels.
Did You Know?
She was nine years older than her famous brother, Emil, and gave him his first music lessons.
Her father was a musician who worked as a clerk in the local sugar refinery's music society.
She lived through almost the entire 20th century, witnessing immense change in both her country and the world of classical music.
“The violin is not an instrument of noise, but a vessel for the soul's quiet voice.”
