Brahms: Piano Sonatas Nos.1 & 2, Klavierstucke;

Over the course of his long and successful career, the great pianist Sviatoslav Richter made his likes and dislikes well known. He favored live over studio recordings, and carefully chose the works he performed, often avoiding staples of the repertoire and sometimes the entire output of a particular composer. Apparently, in spite of his legendary recording of the second concerto, Johannes Brahms was not a Richter favorite. This recording makes one wonder why - as the insightful readings of these solo works seem every bit as 'legendary' as his playing on the concerto.