EMIL GILELS AT HIS BEST - TSCHAIKOWSKY - NEW YORK 1969

Peter Tschaikowsky [1840-1893] Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb minor I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso II. Andantino semplice III. Allegro con fuoco Emil Gilels, piano ❤️ Symphony of the Air Alfred Wallenstein, conductor _________________________________________________________________ Following his triumph at Brussels, a scheduled tour and American debut at the 1939 New York World’s Fair was aborted because of the outbreak of the Second World War. Sergei Rachmaninoff, living in exile from Russia, had heard of the reputation of Gilels, and began to listen to Gilels’ radio performances. Rachmaninoff subsequently regarded Gilels as his pianistic successor, and sent him his medal and diploma. This medal, engraved with the profile of Anton Rubinstein, and the diploma were once presented to Rachmaninoff to symbolize his succession from Rubinstein, and Rachmaninoff himself added Gilels’ name to the document. Gilels treasured these relics a