Classical Music for Aficionados

jcazador, Same with me. I have his 'Seasons' and '6 Pieces' on Virgin Classics, and '18 Pieces' on DG.

 Something I've had a long time I've always enjoyed is an MMG CD with Richter playing excerpts from the 'Seasons' as well as excerpts from Rachmaninov's Etudes-Tableaux. 

In case some one doesn't care for Pletnev, I can also recommend Antonin Kubalek's "Seasons' on Dorian and Ashkenazy's on Decca. 

The "Seasons' is so good it is really hard to go wrong. :-)

I love Pletnev's playing of The Seasons , that is my reference but have any of you ever listened to his Schumann. I love him playing Etudes Symphonique and his Fantasy in C major, I find his tone much more pleasing than most of the others with the exception of Arrau, in the last movement of the Fantasy his tone is orgiastic. Sorry for that but it is the only word I can come up with that tells the story of how I hear it. 
Now come on guys I have been reading about all these female pianists and no-one has mentioned the blindingly obvious, Martha Argerich. She certainly deserves a mention as she is now in her late seventies and she can still set the keyboard on fire, what about Gaspard, Scarlatti the D Minor Sonata  .Now I will give you all what you are saying of Buniatishvili's playing which is spellbinding at times . Her Pictures is breathtaking in some of the movements and likewise her Liszt , have yet to hear another woman play as tenderly and also as fiery as she can. She reminds me of the young Argerich , perhaps she will take over her mantle when she settles down an bit.

yes, Pletnev's Schuman is a gem
yes, Argerich is superb
and I have a recording of them playing together
Prokofiev Cinderella Suite
Ravel Ma Mere l'Oye  (Mother Goose)

Pletnev is one of the best around.  Not a bad conductor as well.
A little unorthodox, but a fine conductor nonetheless.

now listening
Tchaikovsky Piano Recital, Sviatoslav Richter (1983) RRC 1093
the master