Sensational: a first recording by Géza Anda of Chopin’s 12 Etudes Op.10. He once said of Op.10 No.1 that you have to have been a pianist for 25 years before you can play it.

The Hungarian pianist Géza Anda (1921–76) was a celebrated interpreter of classical and romantic repertoire. Particularly noted for his performances and recordings of Mozart, he was also a tremendous interpreter of Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms and Bartók. In his heyday he was regarded as an amazing artist, possessed of a beautiful, natural and flawless technique that gave his concerts a unique quality. But since his death in 1976 at the age of fifty-four, his high reputation has faded somewhat from view.

Recorded: Mozarteum 27/7/1965

“this Chopin evening offered more than 50 works by this master (including the encores offered in response to stormy applause). So little remains other than to take off one’s hat to the performer: Géza Anda is one of the great Chopin players, and history will judge him thus, after Cortot.
What he today possesses is a determining factor in this: his high degree of technical mastery, his orchestral sound as well as his fine lyrical lines, an art of pedalling that can entice bass sounds from the Steinway piano as if there were wind instruments playing, in short a distinctive, subtle culture of expressive means…something that distinguishes his finest performances… As a result, this first concert of the festival was greeted by jubilation in the audience.” - Salzburger Nachtrichten 29/7/1965