Sergei Rachmaninov; Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Piano Concertos (Sviatoslav Richter)

Information

Composer: Sergei Rachmaninov; Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

• Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
• Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23

Sviatoslav Richter, piano

Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra / Stanisław Wisłocki

Vienna Symphony Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan

Date: 1959; 1962

Label: Deutsche Grammophon

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/rachmaninov-tchaikovsky-piano-concertos-richter-4901

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Sergei Rachmaninov (1 April [O.S. 20 March] 1873 – 28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. He is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music. His music was influenced by Tchaikovsky, Arensky and Taneyev. Rachmaninov wrote five works for piano and orchestra: four concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. He also composed a number of works for orchestra alone, including three symphonies, the Symphonic Dances Op. 45, and four symphonic poems.

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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Romantic Russian composer. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popular concert and theatrical music in the current classical repertoire, including the ballets Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, the 1812 Overture, his First Piano Concerto, Violin Concerto, the Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy, several symphonies, and the opera Eugene Onegin. Despite his many popular successes, Tchaikovsky's life was punctuated by personal crises and depression.

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Sviatoslav Richter (March 20 [O.S. March 7] 1915 – August 1, 1997) was a Soviet pianist known for the depth of his interpretations, virtuoso technique, and vast repertoire. He is considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. Richter worked tirelessly to learn new pieces. His vast repertoire, around eighty different programs, not counting chamber works, ranged from Handel and Bach to Szymanowski, Berg, Webern, Stravinsky, Bartók, Hindemith, Britten, and Gershwin. Despite his large discography, Richter disliked the recording process, and most of Richter's recordings originate from live performances.

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