Schubert, Schumann, Brahms: Piano Works Collection – Classical Music for Relaxation, Study & Romantic Evenings

Anatoly Vedernikov plays here with the sort of emotional directness and musical fluency I associate with his colleague Sviatoslav Richter. So commanding is Vedernikov's technique and musicality that it's almost surprising that I didn't need to put it the other way: Richter plays with the sort of emotional directness and musical fluency I associate with Vedernikov. The two pianists recorded together in the 1950s, a sign perhaps of some sense of musical kinship.But whereas Richter is rightly respected as one of the supreme 20th-century pianists, Vedernikov is unaccountably unknown to most music lovers. If you compare their recordings of the same works, however, you quickly hear that Vedernikov has an intelligence and fund of musical insights all his own. It's true that both Richter and Vedernikov _do_ (to my ears) sound identifiably Russian. Neither plays like Cortot, or Lipatti, or Haskil. In his mix of directness and poetry, Vedernikov comes closer to Casadesus -- but, again, you'd never confuse the two artists. Indeed, Vedernikov can't really be confused with anyone else, any more than Richter can.Vedernikov's playing draws you in, so it doesn't make great background music. When you have time to devote to listening attentively, he's an excellent choice. You can do different, but not better. This CD gets my highest recommendation.