Richter versus Gilels

[Papy Oli]

Now... about that "Piano Babes" thread.... 


thread duty :

I have one CD by Richter - Two by Gilels

make of that what you will 

[Brian]

Gilels' Beethoven is completely indispensable.
Much of Richter's Beethoven is indispensable too.

As much as Richter was characterized earlier in the thread as the more "bombastic" of the two, I find him a little foursquare at times. But, truth be told, I love them both and could listen to them endlessly, Gilels especially.

I suppose there IS one category in which a winner can be clearly identified: the ends of their careers. Gilels' very last recordings outshine Richter's rather depressing attempt to perform the Gershwin Piano Concerto in a live 1993 concert preserved on Hanssler. But he never intended for that to be heard on CD.

[bigshot]

Richter
Rubinstein
Gould
Gilels