Shura (diminutive of Alexander) Cherkassky was a Russian-American pianist of considerable skill. He specialised in performances of the romantic repertoire, and has performed until his death at 86. Cherkassky has recorded for a large number of record companies, the likes of Decca and Deutsche Grammophon.
Of the seven polonaises Chopin wrote, his sixth is the best known. A cornerstone of the romantic repertoire, it is also called Heroic. Chopin didn’t really like to add names to his music, but critics were talking about it like that. The sobriquet might originate in a letter from Chopin’s lover George Sand, who saw the music as a testament to a revolutionary proletarian spirit. She called the music un symbole héroïque.