brianvds
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I'm now playing a recording I haven't heard in quite some time. I think the last time I played it was in my old studio... prior to COVID. I remember one of my studio partners complaining, "Not this one again!" I replied, "What do you mean? I haven't played this in quite some time." He went on declaring that I was "full of shit" and played it far too often. I then challenged him and asked "OK... then who is it?" He bellowed, "Rachmanoff, Mother Fucker!" I then laughed and informed him that the composer wasn't even Russian. I was thinking of this little exchange today before deciding to play this recording again. Richter was an incredible pianist and Kondrashin and equally brilliant conductor. In spite of the fact that this recording is older than me it sounds fabulous.
I discovered the two Liszt concertos in my teens, and have been rather fond of them ever since. Considering what a pianist Liszt was, one would expect a Liszt piano concerto to be absolutely epic; instead, both of these are shortish, but both have their share of Lisztian fire and lyricism.