Sviatoslav Richter Sviatoslav Richter Plays Franz Schubert

He is one of the most universally loved musicians on the classical planet. Tormented, unpredictable, Sviatoslav Richter was in permanent introspection, playing the piano as if to free himself from his demons and his obsessions. Participating in a Richter recital was always a shock for the listener, who left enriched by what he had been able to experience. Expressive density, contemplation, intimacy with the composer, even austerity were the characteristics of his piano art. His phobia of the studios has preserved what was truer and more spontaneous about him, thanks to numerous live and often “pirated” recordings, which make Richter one of the most documented pianists of the 20th century.

The art of the 20th century legendary pianists lives on in this century in the creative work of Grigory Sokolov, “the greatest pianist of modern times,” “the world's pianist No. 1,” “a genius” as the contemporaries name him. Sokolov's name ranks with the names of the great musicians of the past – Vladimir Horowitz, Sviatoslav Richter and Glenn Gould. The pianist gives quite a number of concerts annually in different cities of Europe, including a traditional klavierabend in his native St. Petersburg. Grigory Sokolov finished the special music school of the Leningrad Conservatory under Liya Zelikhman, and in 1973 he graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory under Moisey Khalfin. Later on, Sokolov became a professor of the St. Petersburg Conservatory where he taught for a long time. As early as at the age of twelve, Sokolov gave his first solo concert, and at 16 he received the first prize of the 3rd International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1966. That victory signified the beginning of Sokolov's career.