Credits:

Gina Bachauer

Description:

A collection of recordings by a Greek female pianist who was active and popular in a male-dominated era. This is the first newly remastered compilation of Gina Bachauer's recordings from the seven albums of "Mercury Living Presence." A Greek woman pianist who thrilled audiences and challenged stereotypes, Gina Bachauer was born in Athens in 1913 and studied Bach with Busoni, Brahms with Rachmaninoff, and Ravel with Cortot. Although she suffered the misfortune of losing her family to the Nazis in the middle of her life, she emerged as a pianist of immense culture and strength of will. Her recordings are only a small part of her repertoire. Gaspar at Night," inspired by three poems by Aloysius Bertrand, is uniquely composed with readings of the poems by Sir John Gielgud interspersed between the pieces. She was also the first female pianist to record Stravinsky's "Three Movements from 'Petrushka'" at a time when gender discrimination was more pronounced than today. In original jacket. Universal Music/IMS