The genius of Sviatoslav Richter

David Mellor, Sunday 22 March 2015, 7pm.

Friday 20 March saw the centenary of the birth of the great Ukranian pianist, Sviatoslav Richter. 

One of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, Richter was acclaimed for the depth of his interpretations, his virtuoso technique, and his vast repertoire, which ran to around 80 different programmes, not counting chamber works. Richter played everything from Handel and Bach to Stravinsky, Bartók, Britten, and Gershwin. He always worked tirelessly to learn new pieces. 

Richter believed that musicians should "carry ... out the composer's intentions to the letter" - a belief which led him to be critical of others who were a little looser in their interpretations and, most often, himself - especially if he made mistakes.

Tonight, David delves into the life and times of this enigmatic performer. As well as fine solo performances, we’ll be hearing many of Richter’s most famous collaborations with other artists, conductors and orchestras.