Thanks to Jessica Duchen for publicising Richter's centenary today. The second or third LP I ever bought was a coupling of Pictures at an Exhibition with Prokoviev's Sonata No. 7 by Richter. I haven't played it for a long time, but I probably subconsciously judge other pianists' interpretations of either work by my memory of Richter.
The veils surrounding Richter's life referred to in Ms Duchen's piece surely derive from his homosexuality, something not safe to admit to in Russia. The supposedly progressive Communists, though they were quite happy to make use of gays in positions of power in the West, did not change anything in practice at home.
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Thank you for reminding me of this incredible artist. I've dug out my CD of his 1959 recording of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto and 1963 recording of Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto to listen to...
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