A classic suite of Edvard Grieg lyrical pieces performed by Emil Gilels is getting a reissue, courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon’s new Original Source series.

Originally recorded in 1972, Grieg Lyric Pieces sees the Russian grandmaster tackle 20 of the 66 lyrical pieces the Norwegian composer and pianist wrote during his lifetime. The new reissue is due out on October 10th. Although Grieg’s body of work is a classroom staple (and therefore, sometimes misregarded as amateur), Gilels was inspired to record his own renditions of the lyrical pieces after hearing a Norwegian folk-song that interpolated one of them on the radio. Per Gramophone Magazine, “He then went on to discover the rest, and came to the conclusion that they are ‘not merely simple, childlike pieces’, but that they ‘open up a world of great intimacy of feeling.’”

Widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time, Gilels studied piano starting at the age of 5, and performed his first public concert in 1929, at the age of 12. He eventually became one one of the first Soviet pianists permitted to play in the West, making his American debut in 1955.

Helmed by Deutsche Grammophon, The Original Source series reissues celebrated classical records on vinyl. Each disc is remastered by the team at Berlin’s Emil Berliner Studios using 100% pure analogue techniques, then produced by Optimal on 180g virgin vinyl. The releases come with recording documentation and additional photos of the recording process. Other forthcoming reissues in the series include Herbert von Karajan & Die Berliner Philharmoniker’s Scheonberg – Berg – Webern (out September 12th) and Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert’s Bach: Ouvertüren BWV 1066, 1068 (out October 10th).

Shop The DG Original Source Series now.

Format: UK English