85 Minutes of previously unpublished Richter. Performances from 1984 in Tokyo, and 1976 in Moscow. Haydn and Debussy were particular favourites of Richter and as always, hearing him play on different occasions is always so rewarding.

CONDUCTS SHOSTAKOVICH LENINGRAD PHILHARMONIC ORCH

“made at public concerts, and involves applause between items, and some occasional coughs. The microphone picks up piano action noise, and the tone is not ideally free. BUT none of these faults mask for a moment the art of Richter, who, I am inclined to suspect, is the greatest interpreter of music (piano or otherwise) in the world” “Schubert he plays simply, lyrically, with perfectly judged articulation and rhythm ... Liszt: Valse oubliée: begins with a gentle, very affectionate, whimsical rubato that lifts, but never disturbs, the rhythm; and then suddenly away he goes with the repeated-note theme and you jump out of your skin at the precision and strength and musical control ... warm bass harmonies like the relaxing sun on a Mediterranean beach and the final recitative fades away with almost intolerable pathos. The second Valse oubliée merges into the muffled clatter of a barrel-organ (-a genius made it, and another is turning the handle). ... Transcendental studies: superior performances will only be heard in heaven. In Feux follets, an ethereal sensibility unmatched in my experience.” (Gramophone)

GREGORIAN CHANT: EARLY INTERPRETERS / VARIOUS

IN THE 1950'S 1

An outstanding recital by Ukrainian-Israeli-American pianist, live in Havana, Cuba

Yehudi Menuhin was one of the 20th century's most celebrated violinists and conductors. This collection of early recordings from Parnassus highlights Menuhin's artistry in his younger years. Featuring works from Schumann, Brahms and Enescu this is a collection any violin enthusiast should have in their collection.

Parnassus is proud to present a new collection of first commercial releases of spectacular live performances from pianist Sviatoslav Richter. Taken from recordings made by audience members and live broadcast sources, and now remastered and restored by Gene Gaudette of Urlicht Audiovisual, Richter Supreme is a must-have collection for Richter fans. Devotees of Richter know that even he had those supreme moments in which he exceeded his extremely high standards. When producer Leslie Gerber listened to the centerpiece of this recording, a recital at Hunter College, New York in 1965, he was convinced that this performance qualified as "Richter Supreme". Throughout the performance of works by Schubert, Brahms, Debussy, Ravel, Prokofieff, and Rachmaninoff, the listener experiences Richter at the very height of his powers, technical prowess allied to the most penetrating musical interpretation. This concert may not introduce any new Richter repertoire, but gives us the opportunity to listen in on a master musician at the height of his powers. Completing the set are two further rarities: a 1988 Tokyo performance of Hindemith's ferocious Suite '1922', which shows Richter bringing out all the music's challenging qualities, and building the finale to an apocalyptic frenzy unlike his earlier studio recordings, and an early 1958 Budapest broadcast of the Bart�k Second Piano Concerto with the Hungarian State Orchestra under J�nos Ferencsik. A treasurable document of greatness.

BACH J.S.: 48 PRELUDES & FUGUES - LIVE IN

STRAVINSKY & PROKOFIEV CONDUCT THEIR WORKS

His playing presents a delicious paradox... individualistic almost to the point of recreation, while so utterly natural, so profoundly honest, you could hardly imagine the music otherwise. [Beethoven Variations[: tautness of playing, absolute rhythmic security, burbling pianissimos, knife-edged sforzandos, artful rubato and unremitting sense of purpose... delicate observations occur by the bar... [trans-criptions]: (Mendelssohn; Rimsky-Korsakov; Tchaikovsky): scintillating, full of musical interest. His reworking of Liebesleid is extremely beautiful. [his own music]... each sounds as if spontaneously improvised... The C sharp minor Prelude retains it's magic through perfect timing. That is perhaps where Rachmaninov remains most inimitable: it wasn't how he struck the keys that mattered, but when. (Gramophone)

Two CD collection of recordings from the 1940s.

IN THE 1950'S 6

Parnassus Records is pleased to release a follow-up to their acclaimed "Black Swans" anthology, which returned to international availability extraordinarily rare early recordings of African-American opera singers. The new release, "Black Swans at Mid-Century", contains over two hours of music and focuses on Black artists of the mid-twentieth century.

COLLECTION OF AMERICAN SONGS / VARIOUS

ONE PIANO: FOUR HANDS

SCRIABIN RECITAL

PIANO WORKS

Live Performances by the Great Black Harpsichordist [Black Swans Series]. "Amazingly inventive and fearless playing" - Kenneth Cooper; "She deserves a chance at a major career" - New York Times

Recordings of Elizabethan songs and Negro Spirituals, from scarce LPs made for the Fellowship of Reconciliation in the early 1950s by the great civil rights leader, who was also an excellent singer

RICHTER IN LEIPZIG: PIANO SONATAS

STRING QUARTETS 1 IN C OP 51 1 / 2 IN A OP 51 2

With the possible exception of Casals, no one has had a greater impact on the world's perception and appreciation of the Cello as 20th Century solo instrument than Hungarian American Janos Starker (1924-2013). This album brings together his earliest recordings and show his artistry at it's most penetrating. Unavailable for many decades, their release now is revelatory.

Following the worldwide success of our Mravinsky DVD of iconic Shostakovich symphony performances, we expand his video repertoire into a collection of great Russian standards by various composers under his legendary baton.

Volume One was warmly received by critics and pianophiles alike. Jacob Lateiner's reputation was massive in his lifetime but he did not make very many studio recordings. This release and it's previous volume correct that anomaly with great distinction. Noted as a Beethoven interpreter, this album combines the Greatest of his Beethoven interpretations with the most famous of works by Schumann, Ravel and Liszt.