Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Flat / Fantasie In F Minor / Mazurka No. 23 / Etude No. 4

Released in 1952 by His Master's Voice, the BLP 1013 record is a testament to the mid-century transition to the 10-inch long-playing format. This recording features Shura Cherkassky performing Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat, supported by the Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of Anatole Fistoulari. The selection reflects the era's focus on high-fidelity captures of virtuoso romantic repertoire, showcasing Cherkassky’s distinctively nuanced approach to the keyboard during his prime recording years.

The record also includes solo piano works by Chopin, specifically the Fantasie in F minor, Mazurka No. 23, and Etude No. 4. These pieces were chosen to highlight the technical range and expressive capabilities of the performer within the technical limitations and artistic standards of the early microgroove vinyl era. Critics of the time often noted the clarity of the Philharmonia’s accompaniment and the intimate, somewhat idiosyncratic phrasing that would become a hallmark of Cherkassky’s celebrated career.