Pictures at an Exhibition: Firkusny +Schubert, Martinu, Chopin, Smetana

The Czech born Rudolf Firkusny (1912 ? 1994) was one of the greatest pianists of the 20th Century and a lifelong champion of his compatriots, the composers Janacek and Martinu. After the political uprising in 1948 in Prague, he left for the US where he formed a number of partnerships with Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Pierre Fournier and Janos Starker. He also taught at the Juilliard and Aspen schools of music. He recorded for Capitol-EMI and DGG and has appeared on BBC Legends, on BBCL 4173-2.

This programme from London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1980, features two Czech composers, Martinu and Smetana, in addition to wonderful performances of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and Schubert’s Three Pieces D. 946.

Reviews of BBCL 4173-2: … a finely presented tribute to a greatly admired pianist. (Gramophone)