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Shura Cherkassky was born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1909 and died in London in 1995. He was initially taught by his mother who had played for Tchaikovsky, but when the family moved to the US in 1923, he studied with his long-time teacher and mentor, the legendary Josef Hofmann, before auditioning for Rachmaninov. Prior to World War II, he had made his name in the US but from 1945 he extensively toured Europe and settled in London in 1961. The last of the great Romantic tradition of pianists, Cherkassky was described by Bryce Morrison as a 'mercurial genius', a unique personality, blessed with an incredible technique, who delighted in defying convention as no performance was identical. For a musician reluctant to visit the studio, live performances were the showcase for his stunning virtuosity and creativity caught on the wing. Album Tracks 1. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22~Andante sostenuto 2. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22~Allegro scherzando 3. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22~Presto 4. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat S. 124~I. Allegro maestoso 5. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat S. 124~II. Quasi adagio / III. Allegretto vivace - Allegro animato 6. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat S. 124~IV. Allegro marziale animato 7. 15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Introduzione col Basso del Tema Allegretto vivace - Tema 8. 15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. I 9. 15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. II 10. 15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. III 11. 15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. IV 12. 15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. V 13. 15 Variations and a Fugue (in E flat) Op. 35 'Eroica Variations'~Var. VI 14. 15 Variations and a Fugue (in
