Sviatoslav Richter, piano
This piece has to be about the least overtly virtuosic virtuoso piece in the piano repertoire, though it is extremely difficult to play due to its unrelenting subtlety and depth. Richter played it about as well as it could be imagined being possible.
The guitarist Paul Galbraith transcribed the piece for guitar and, in the process, designed a new eight string guitar with eight strings, a high string tuned to "a" above the high "e" string and a bass string below the low E tuned to the "A" below that. The luthier he worked with to design and build this new guitar used an idea from the late Renaissance instrument, the opharion of having an expanding string length with fanned frets. The instrument is held more like a cello and has a large resonator that the end-pin rests on. It's really something to see and you can see pictures of it and a read a description at Galbraith's website.
I think the transcription is, generally, a real success though the use of tremolo in one of the variations isn't something I'd choose to do if it were me.
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