Although natural within Zhitomir in Ukraine, Richter grew up within Odessa. Outstandingly, Richter was largely self-taught. Although his organist father provided him with a basic education inside music, Sviatoslav learned only by swimming a masterworks of the repertoire, including the soft scores of Wagner's music dramas. He gave his number one recital within 1934 however did non formally learn piano until three years late, once he enrolled in the Moscow Conservatory, which waived the entrance examination for the immature prodigy when it was clear he would non pass. He exposed by having Heinrich Neuhaus who also taught Emil Gilels, and world health organization claimed Richter to exist as "the genius pupil, for whom he had been waiting all his life". Around 1940, patch however the student, he gave the world premiere of the Sonata No. Half a dozen by Sergei Prokofiev, a composer sustaining whose works he was ever fallowing associated. He too became known for skipping mandatory lessons at a conservatory & existence expelled twice in the period of his 1st season.

He married a treble Nina Dorliak inside 1946. Around 1949 he won a Stalwithin Prize, which lead to extensive concert tours in Russia, Eastern Europe & China.

A West foremost became caring of Richter across recordings manufactured in the Fifties. He was non allowed to tour a United States until 1960, but while he did, he created the sensation. Touring, nevertheless, was non Richter's forte. He favorite an intimate concert venue, & inside late years took to swimming within microscopic, darkened halls, occasionally sustaining sole the little lamp lighting his piano. He died within Moscow while studying for the concert series he was to give.

His repertoire spanned most a major works of the soft repertoire. Among his noted recordings come works by Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach (whose Wohltemperierte Klavier he is said to have learned by memory within 1 year), Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, Sergei Prokofiev, Sergei Rachmaninoff and countless others. He is said to exist as a finest interpreter of the soft works of Robert Schumann. He gave a premiere of Prokofiev's Sonata there is no. Vii (which he learned inside merely foursome years prior to staging the performance of the function), & Prokofiev dedicated his Sonata there are no. Ennead to him. Apart from either swimming solo he besides enjoyed swimming chamber music with partners such as David Oistrakh, Benjamin Britten, Pierre Fournier and Mstislav Rostropovich. Sviatoslav Richter may become said to be one of a virtually all legendary, fascinating piano player of the 20th century.