This CD is Japanese export. Moscow born and trained pianist Elena Kuschnerova, currently living in Germany, is the last discovery of Harold Schonberg (1915-2003), the former chief critic of the New York Times, and the only performing artist affiliated with great and controversial Russian composer Alexander Lazarevich Lokshin (1920-1987). An independent classical musician, she is pursuing an impressive concert and recording career on her own. Elena released 8 solo piano CDs and 2 chamber-music CDs on different labels. In addition, many of her live recordings are available as digital downloads in her own downloads shop. Harold Schonberg praised Elena's debut CD on Bella Musica and her Scriabin CD on Ars Musici in two reviews in the American Record Guide. He wrote on the Scriabin CD: "These are the best recorded performances I am familiar with". Elena's earlier Prokofiev CD on Ars Musici received German Record Critics' Award (Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik) and later it was included into the list of the best 50 piano recordings "for a lonely island" by the German magazine SCALA. Elena Kuschnerova's live Bach CD issued by Orfeo was given an all-stars review, as well as a rosette as a special honor, by the 2003/04 and 2005/2006 editions of the Penguin Guide to Classical CDs and DVDs. The latest Brahms CD released by Ars Produktion received the Supersonic Award from the Pizzicato magazine in Luxemburg. Although not all of Kuschnerova's CD have been given attention by the music press, all of them are marked by her unimitable style that immediately strikes any unprejudiced ear. On the artist's web site you can explore all her CDs and other recordings, including free full-length streaming from "Elena Kuschnerova Classic Radio". The Live in Tokyo CD offered on this page is a product of Elena's long collaboration with Steinway Japan, organizer of her spring concert tours throughout the country. This CD is not carried by any label and it is a rarity available only from CD Baby and from the artist's web site. If you like the Live in Tokyo CD, you can also buy Elena's great recording of Schumann's Etudes Symphoniques from the same recital that did not fit on this CD. It is available as downloads on her web site.