Behzod Abduraimov : Liszt, Saint-Saëns, Horowitz.

Piano International (May, 2013)
This live recording of a recital in 2011 in the new concert hall in Zaragoza, Spain, by the Cuban pianist Jorge Luis Prats is one of the most important recordings of a pianist released in the past year or so. Decca has a history of rescuing great pianists from undeserved phonographic neglect. One thinks of Jorge Bolet, Shura Cherkassky and, more recently, Nelson Freire.

In a way, Prats’ cause is even more worthy. Bolet, Cherkassky and Freire were neglected; but it is scarcely an exaggeration to say that Prats was about to pass from obscurity into oblivion. This marks his first appearance on a major label in 33 years, ever since …