The Complete HMV Stereo Recordings

Like many other artists, the great Russian pianist Shura Cherkassky fled from what became Soviet Russia and settled in the USA. A student of Josef Hoffman, Cherkassky is considered by many critics to be the last great Romantic pianist. This release from the brand-new First Hand Records label is published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Cherkassky's birth. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 1956 and 1958, the set's 26 tracks were remastered at Abbey Road Studios from the original EMI/HMV tapes. Most are issued here in stereo for the first time and many have never before appeared on CD. Of special note are unpublished versions of Chopin's Ballade No. 3, the Gershwin Preludes and for the first time on CD, Litolff's Scherzo with BBC Symphony Orchestra led by Malcolm Sargent. This set, which features over two hours of music, is a significant historical piano release and provides a major boost to the limited Cherkassky discography currently available.