The two concertos featured on this DVD are by composers indelibly linked to Emil Gilels's career.

Thaikovsky's First Piano Concerto was the work in which Gilels made his triumphant 1955 American debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy.In this
1966 Moscow performance Gilels, at the height of his powers, delivers a no-holds-barred approach to the work's thorny technical challenges.The pianism is thrilling , yet
there is nothing of the showman in his reading.Gilels meets misic on its own terms and his strong musical personality remains at its service.

Shumann was a composer greatly loved by Gilels and his music was frequently the centerpiece of his recital programs.The composer provided a superb canvas for musical
colorists and Gilels was one of the best.Previous issues in VAI's Gilels DVD edition contain some of Schumann's most sublime music for solo piano.With this release we
now have Gilels as soloist in the composer's only concerto for piano and orchestra in a scrupulously musical performance.

Program details:
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
1. I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito
2. II. Andantino semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I
3. III. Allegro con fuoco

ROBERT SCHUMANN [add dates]
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
4. I. Allegro affettuoso
5. II. Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso
6. III. Allegro vivace

Encore:
7. Schumann: Arabesque, Op. 18

Great Hall of The Moscow Conservatory
1966 (Tchaikovsky) / 1976 (Schumann)