Emil Gilels (1916-1985) was a Soviet pianist, one of the greatest keyboard artists of the twentieth century. His playing was admired for strength, beauty of tone and immense technical command.

In the Pristine catalogue he appears in chamber music with Mstislav Rostropovich, Leonid Kogan and Alexander Dedyukhin.

Gilels’s pianism combined granite power with lyrical warmth. Even in chamber repertory, his sound carries a sense of concentrated authority and golden weight.

His page is essential despite a compact catalogue footprint. Gilels was not merely a pianist of force; he was a pianist whose force could glow.