Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 5 / Piano Sonata No. 8
Sviatoslov Richter was a friend of the composer, and he  played all of this music in Prokofiev's presence. His performances have since  acquired almost cult status among pianists--a reputation they richly deserve.  The Fifth Piano Concerto is a pithy, technically difficult work in five short  movements, which Richter plays as though he had composed them himself. The  Eighth Sonata, by contrast, was composed during the Second World War, and the  contrast between simple lyricism and horrifying violence leaves no doubt  whatsoever as to what the composer was attempting to describe. These mid-price  reissues sound better than ever, and artistically speaking, they are priceless.--David Hurwitz