Cherkassky: Nimbus Rediscovered Recordings Vol. 3

Shura Cherkassky was introduced to Nimbus by Wilfred Stiff, then a director of the London agent Ibbs & Tillett. Wilfred recognised a young label pushing ahead fast at the transition point between LP and CD, one with a fondness for artists whose careers were waning. Accordingly, he dispatched one of his most prestigious names to the Nimbus Studio. Cherkassky was at that time acknowledged as one of the 'great' generation whose undoubted king was Horowitz, but after a long, notable career that began in his mid-teens, his popularity in the concert hall and recording studio had fallen. Shura's late career was in need of a final boost.

Between 1981 and 1987 Cherkassky came to the studio every year, sometimes twice. In these visits he delivered his entire current recital repertoire… Looking back on forty-five years in the studio I can with confidence exclaim that Shura was unique, his imagination, humility, and daring allied to matchless command of colour put him in a class of one. © Adrian Farmer, Creative Director, Nimbus Records