Richter, Sviatoslav Teofilovich (1915-1997)

Ukrainian-born Russian pianist. He was an outstanding interpreter of Schubert, Schumann, Rachmaninov, and Prokofiev, among others.

Born in the Ukrainian town of Zhitomir, Richter was brought up in Odessa. He learned the basics from his organist father, but from the age of nine seems to have been largely self-taught; throughout his life he was known as a phenomenal sight-reader. At the age of 15 he became a répètiteur at the Odessa opera, playing accompaniments for singers in rehearsal. Richter studied with Neuhaus at the Moscow Conservatory from the age of 19.