Elena Berdnikova

Elena Berdnikova (born Egorova, 9th of November 1945, Stalinabad/since 1961 Dushanbe, Tajik SSR) - a pianist and a concertmaster. 

In 1947, Elena’s father was assigned to work in Riga, and since then the Egorov family has been inseparably connected with Latvia. Elena showed musical talent at an early age. Therefore, in 1952 her parents enrolled her in the Emīls Dārziņš Music School, where she studied piano under Nina Binyatyan. In 1963, Elena Egorova entered the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian State Conservatory, where she studied in the class of Professor Herman Braun. She graduated in 1968, receiving qualifications as a teacher and accompanist.

From 1967 (while still a student) to 1972, Elena Egorova had been working as an accompanist for the ballet company of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Latvian SSR.

In 1969, as an accompanist, she participated in the All-Union Competition of Young Ballet Dancers and Choreographers in Moscow. At this competition, the choreographic miniature Threat (music by Pēteris Plakidis, choreography by Juris Kaprālis) received the second prize.

In 1972, after marrying Valentin Berdnikov, she moved to her husband’s homeland, the Yakut ASSR (now the Republic of Sakha, Russian Federation). At the Yakut State Musical Theatre, she had been working as an accompanist until 1976, after which the family decided to return to Riga.

After returning, and until 2010, E.V. Berdnikova worked as an accompanist at the Latvian State Conservatory. In 2001, she was awarded a Master’s degree.

While working at the String Instruments Department of the Latvian State Conservatory, Elena Berdnikova took part in numerous international competitions and concerts.

As part of exchange programs, she further refined her skills abroad, including in Germany (Weimar), at the Paris Conservatory (under the Erasmus program), at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, and elsewhere.

Since 1993, E. Berdnikova participated in the traditional “Musical Tuesdays” held at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Riga, organized on the initiative of Imants Kokars, then rector of the Latvian Academy of Music. These concerts became a unique opportunity for young performers to experience the concert atmosphere and present themselves to a wide audience, benefiting from the exceptional acoustics of the cathedral hall.

In 1991, while continuing her work at the Music Academy, Elena Berdnikova accepted an offer to become an accompanist and pianist with the orchestra of the Latvian National Opera (since 2015 – the Latvian National Opera and Ballet). She worked at this theatre until 2023.

One of the highlights of her artistic career was touring abroad with the ballet company. Particularly memorable was a performance in Salzburg, Austria, renowned for its annual summer festivals.

Since 2011, after leaving the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, E. Berdnikova has been working as an accompanist at different Riga schools of aesthetic education, where she continues to work to this day (as of 2026).

Elena Berdnikova served as a musical consultant for two ballet films produced by Latvian Television:

– the one-act ballet Don Juan to music by Richard Strauss (choreography by Juris Kaprālis, 1970);

– the ballet Labyrinths of Love to music by Richard Strauss (choreography by Juris Kaprālis, Telefilma-Rīga, 1971).

Family:

Father – Vladimir Egorov (1906–1971), an economist by education, was assigned to work in Latvia in 1947. For many years, he worked as chief accountant at the Riga Carriage Works.

Mother – Nina Egorova (née Puzanova; 1909–1988), worked as a primary school teacher at the 64th seven-year school in Riga (Mežaparks).

Husband – Valentin Berdnikov (b. 1946), an aviation engineer, full member of the Russian Noble Assembly.

Daughters:

Olga (b. 1974) – lives in England, works in the field of information technology.

Tatiana (b. 1981) – lives in Riga, has degrees in philology (French language) and law.

Brother:

Vladislav Egorov (1937–2020), graduate of the Riga Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers; lived and worked in Kaunas (Lithuania).

Sister:

Lyudmila Ivanova (née Egorova; b. 1937), graduate of the Riga Medical Institute, Doctor of Medical Sciences (Dr. med.), leading patent specialist.