"Since his death, Sviatoslav Richter has emerged as the Grateful Dead of classical pianists. Wherever he played tape r…"

"Great pianists often have one trait that dominates others: Sergey Rachmaninov’s left-hand thrusts, Alfred Cortot’s ru…"

"Criticism is a very personal affair-no two people can hear alike, neither can their reactions be standardized. I have…"

"Great pianists usually have one or two facets that dominate their performances in ways that beget adjectives: Horowit…"

"The interpreter is really an executant, carrying out the composer's intentions to the letter. He doesn't add anything…"

"I am not a complete idiot, but whether from weakness or laziness have no talent for thinking. I know only how to refl…"

"Richter was like a god to me. I met him in Warsaw in 1991. Because I wanted to watch him rehearsing, I literally lay …"

"My teacher was influenced by the Russian piano school. For him, Richter and Gilels were the great heroes and they bec…"

"Richter magnetized me, like he did so many others, and I wouldn't have missed his concerts for anything. I think he c…"

"Of all the pianists with whom Prokofiev worked during the Soviet period of his life, he clearly preferred Richter. On…"