What do they put in the water in Odessa to produce so many musicians?
Violinists Nathan Milstein and David Oistrakh and pianists Shura Cherkassky, Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels are among those who have emerged from this Ukrainian city on the Black Sea.
Benno Moiseiwitsch, one of this century's best-loved classical pianists, was the oldest of this group.
Born in 1890, he studied in Odessa, winning a major prize aged nine, and then in Vienna under Theodor Leschetizky.
He made his UK debut aged 19 and later decided to settle in this country, taking British nationality in 1937.
He toured the world, including China and Japan. He died in London in 1963 aged 73.
-Roger Moodiman, Marine Parade, Brighton
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article