The Russian pianist Emil Gilels (1916–1985) was born in Odessa. After completing his studies with Heinrich Neuhaus in 1937, he was awarded first prize at the 1938 Ysaÿe International Festival in Brussels. After the Second World War, he toured the Soviet Bloc countries of Eastern Europe as a soloist.

He was one of the first Soviet artists, along with David Oistrakh, to be allowed to travel and give concerts in the West. His US debut, in 1955 playing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1, was a triumph. His UK debut in 1959 was met with similar acclaim, while his Salzburg Festival debut came in 1969.

Emil Gilels is regarded by many as one of the most significant pianists of the twentieth century and is universally admired for his superb technical control and burnished tone. His interpretations of the central German-Austrian classics formed the core of his repertoire, in particular Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann, as well as twentieth-century composers such as Debussy, Bartók and Prokofiev.

The Abbotsholme Arts Society was founded by Gordon Clark, Director of Music at Abbotsholme School, in 1968. During the 1970s it attracted the greatest musicians of the time, including Murray Perahia, Radu Lupu, Sviatoslav Richter, Martha Argerich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Clifford Curzon, Annie Fischer, Claudio Arrau, Krystian Zimmerman, Shura Cherkassky and Emil Gilels.

This authorised BBC tape has never been issued before. The recital is slightly unusual in that Gilels opens with Schumann’s rarely heard Four Klavierstücke op.32. Gilels only performed these pieces late in his career, from 1977 to 1984.

Similarly, the Brahms Ballades op.10 were only played by Gilels from 1975 for five years and then dropped. The Chopin Polonaise No.2 in C minor op.40 was likewise played in the mid-1960s but then became a rarity. And finally, Gilels played Chopin’s Third Piano Sonata for the first time as late as 1977.

This is an exceptionally rare CD and presents the great Russian pianist at his best in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. There is a beautifully played encore – Mozart’s D minor Fantasy K397 – which is also featured on this very well-filled 80+ minute disc.