Richter Archives, Vol. 14- Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. !4, 15, 17, 22 & 27; K. 449,450,453,482,595

Historic recordings made in Moscow and Leningrad between 1966 and 1973. Sviatoslav Richter (1915-1997) is numbered among the finest pianists of the twentieth century. He exhibited all the best traits of the Russian school of playing: dynamism, lyrical expressiveness, and a wide range of tonal color. Combined with his typical thoughtfulness, subtlety, and attention to style, these qualities assured Richter of a distinguished international career.

For many listeners, indeed, he was the paragon of balance among virtuosos, the pianist who exhibited the greatest equality among the elements across his musical palette. The West first became aware of Richter through recordings made in the 1950s. He was not allowed to tour the US until 1960, and then created a sensation. Touring, however, was not Richter's forte. He preferred an intimate concert venue, and in later years took to playing in small, darkened halls, sometimes with only a small lamp lighting his pia! no.