Igor Hmelnitsky (1920-1987) was an outstanding pianist, son of a Ukrainian who emigrated to the East after the 1917 revolution, travelling via Java, where Igor was born, to Sydney. He had a distinguished Australian career both as pianist and as professor of piano. Luckily for us, the You Tube channel Vintage Sounds has posted items broadcast on ABC in 1970. These represent a wide repertoire and are all important to listen to; but the Scriabin tracks are what concern us here, and they are as follows:

These give us glimpses of a pianist by no means limited to Scriabin in his importance, but with the qualities needed for a fine Scriabinist: a fervid temperament, a huge technique which serves a vivid musical imagination, and a beautiful feeling for tone quality. Let’s hope that this wonderful find brings to light more Hmelnitsky performances.