Indisputably one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, Sviatoslav Richter mesmerized audiences with his stunning pianism, charismatic stage presence and powerful interpretations of music ranging from Bach to Shostakovich. In these recordings, the earliest of which were made after he had won joint first prize at the All-Union Piano Competition in Moscow, Richter’s dazzling technique, fluency of execution and seamless legato are already to the fore. His 1948 recording of the Fantasiestücke, Op. 12, is here reissued for the first time since the original 78rpm issue.