Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat major, Op. 84

Since winning the Arthur Rubinstein Competition and the Sidney Piano Competition, Alexander Korsantia’s career has taken him to many of the world’s major concert halls, collaborating with renowned conductors such as Valery Gergiev, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Christoph Eschenbach, Yuri Bashmet and Paavo Jarvi and orchestras as the Chicago Symphony, the Kirov, Israel Philharmonic and Oslo Philharmonic. He has also given many recitals with renowned violinist Vadim Repin. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Korsantia has lived in the United States since 1992. He now resides in Boston where he is Professor of Piano at the New England Conservatory. Enjoying great popularity in his country of birth, he performed at the inauguration of Georgian President Saakashvili in 2004.

Korsantia’s live recordings, on two discs, present an attractive programme carefully chosen from recitals he has given since 1995 in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Toulouse, Boston and New York. The first CD features arrangements of Bach by Busoni, Egon Petri and Myra Hess’s famous version of the chorale Jesu, Joy of Men's Desiring, two Piano Sonatas by Haydn and Mozart’s Sonata in C major, KV330 and 20th century Russian and Georgian music. Korsantia has rearranged Gwido Agosti’s magnificent 1934 piano transcription of the last three pieces from The Firebird Suite to reflect more of Stravinsky's original orchestral sound. Stravinsky’s Tango is followed by Giya Kancheli’s Instead of Tango originally written in 1996 for violin, piano, bandoneon and double bass. Kancheli’s own piano arrangement is dedicated to three Georgian pianists, one of them Alexander Korsantia. The second disc is devoted to Sergei Prokofiev: his Pastoral Sonatina and Vision Fugitive, No 11, Op 22 bookend the Piano Sonata No 7 in B flat major and the substantial Piano Sonata No 8.

The great Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter has been a regular feature of the BBC Legends's catalogue since 1998 with twelve recordings released.

This early recital from the Royal Festival Hall in July 1961 was recorded when Richter was a rare visitor to the UK - a few days later, he played the Chopin/Debussy recital (BBCL40212) followed a week later by the Liszt Concertos (BBCL40312) as well as the Dvorak Piano concerto (to be issued).

All the works appearing in this recital have been recorded by Richter at various points during his career but the broadcast of 8th July 1961 has never been issued before and was a 'gala' event in London at the time.

Richter is a proven seller on BBC Legends and as Richter did not like recording in studio conditions, his BBC broadcasts bring out the very best of his artistry.