Emil Gilels has long been one of my favorite pianists. He excelled in virtually everything he played, & as Heck148 has pointed out, Gilels had a huge repertory. Here are some of the 'desert island' Gilels recordings that I've most treasured over the decades:
--Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4, with conductor Leopold Ludwig:
https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Concer...rds=emil+gilels&qid=1551553791&s=music&sr=1-9
--Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 21, Op. 53 "Waldstein", DG--this is one of the finest Waldstein Sonatas on record, IMO:
Here it is remastered in excellent Ambient Surround Sound Imaging (AMSI):
https://www.amazon.com/Gilels-Klavi...quence&qid=1551553962&s=music&sr=1-1-fkmrnull
And the original DG CD release:
https://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-So...384HFBFJ47N&psc=1&refRID=3J999Z6BN384HFBFJ47N
--Beethoven Piano Sonata Nos. 7, 25, 26 "Les Adieux", & Eroica Variations, live 1980 recordings, Hänssler label:
--Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 27, Op. 90 (1974 DG):
--Beethoven--Piano Sonatas Nos. 30 & 31, DG--Gilels' final DG recording before his untimely death:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZODDFB/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp
https://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Kl...n+30+31&qid=1551555930&s=music&sr=1-2-catcorr
https://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Pa...ds=emil+gilels&qid=1551553843&s=music&sr=1-22
--Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106--a January 26, 1984 live recording at the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory--if memory serves, this was Gilels' final concert (& it's better than his studio Hammerklavier DG recording, IMO--as Gilels was often better live in concert, rather than in the studio):
--Schubert Moments Musicaux (this is one of Gilels' most essential recordings):
--Schubert Fantasy in F Minor, four hands, D. 940 (with his daughter Elena):
--All of Gilels' DG Mozart recordings: Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27, KV 595, etc.:
https://www.amazon.com/Piano-Concer...l+gilels+mozart&qid=1551554465&s=music&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Recor...l+gilels+mozart&qid=1551554465&s=music&sr=1-5
--Bach French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816 for RCA (if only Gilels had recorded more Bach, which clearly, judging from this recording, he was exceptional at):
--Prokofiev Piano Sonata No. 8:
--Prokofiev Piano Sonata No. 2:
--Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 (Fritz Reiner, CSO):
--Brahms Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (Eugen Jochum, BPO):
--Gilels' famed 1969 Carnegie Hall recital:
--Live at the Prague Spring Festival 1973:
My old LP:
https://www.amazon.com/Wolfgang-Ama...pra phon&qid=1551554675&s=music&sr=1-2-fkmr0
https://www.amazon.com/Emil-Gilels-...pra phon&qid=1551554675&s=music&sr=1-1-fkmr0
Gilels was also active as a chamber musician, performing in a piano trio with violinist Leonid Kogan and cellist Mstislav Rostropovich:
, and in a violin-piano duo with Kogan, as well:
, and with the Amadeus String Quartet in chamber works by Brahms & Schubert:
, and
. But be warned that the sound quality can be variable on the mono piano trio & violin sonata recordings:
.
My two cents.