Sviatoslav Richter

Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter was born March 20, 1915, in Russia, and grew up to become a classical pianist under the Soviet system. His virtuoso technique let him master an unusually vast repertoire, but what set him apart was the depth he brought to each interpretation—a combination that drew praise across borders and decades. By the time he died on August 1, 1997, the consensus had hardened: he was one of the greatest pianists the century produced, possibly the greatest. The recordings remain the argument.