Essential Richter: The Sofia Recital, 1958

Allegedly the recording of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition that inspired Keith Emerson, the Sofia Recital from 1958 is the definitive take on that wild expressionist tableau. For Schubert, Richter is almost shockingly tender and easy, and Liszt becomes pure abundance in his hands. A staggering amount of range in one performance with one instrumentalist.