Sviatoslav Richter

[Mandryka]

Thanks for exploring this Carlos. I certainly would like to hear one of those early op119/4s just to see how his ideas about it changed over the 35 or so years. If you see a link to any of of the recordings, especially the 1959 Moscow or the 1965 Kiev, please let me know.

Op 119 must be one of the very few cycles that Richter performed in entirity. Is  119 a cycle, with a structure which brings all four pueces together?

[KeithW]

The general consensus is that if Richter thought that someone had made a recording that was better than he could make of a particular work then he never recorded it. There are also some pieces that were in his early repertoire that he dropped for probably the same reason. On his Beethoven, I've never read anywhere that he hated the Waldstein but it could be true. There were other LvB sonatas that he never recorded (or played for that matter). These inlcude:

Op2/2, Op10/1, Op 27, Op 28, Op 31/1, Op 78, Op 79 and Op 81a.

I recall reading somewhere - can't remember where, just now - that he didn't attempt works (like Beethoven PC5 and Rachmaninov PC3) where he believed he couldn't add anything new.   

[Mandryka]

Listening to Richter play Brahms op119 in Varese in 1992. I was really struck by how he makes it into a single work of four movements. Maybe other performances do likewise, if so I hadn't noticed so much. It's made me really rethink the opus.

[DavidA]

It sounds pretty convincing... Regarding the Liszt Sonata which one is the Great Richter Performance? The one I have in a Decca's twofer didn't thoroughly convince me, he was a bit slack IMO. I've heard good thinks about a 1966 live in Livorno. Thanks!

I have the Liszt sonata  on Brilliant from 1965. Tremendous performance as are the other performances in this set.

[Coopmv]

Praga's continuing to release more Richter albums, including a couple live recordings he actually apparently authorized for release:

BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonatas
Sonata No. 27 Op.90, No. 28 Op. 101, No. 29 Op. 106 'Hammerklavier'
Svjatoslav Richter
A legendary 'Hammerklavier' from the genius of Richter; who reduced the audience to holding their collective breath, to
avoid missing the last largo evolving into an irresistible allegro risoluto.
Live recordings: June 2 1965 [No. 27]; May 18 1986 [No. 28]; June 1975 [Hammerklavier] reissued from PR254022
authorised by Richter in 1996

SCHUBERT: Piano Sonatas II
No.16 in A minor, Op.42 D845 & No.17 in D, op.53 D850
Svjatoslav Richter
A juxtaposition of the first and second Grande Sonates for pianoforte of 1825, one a melancholic, intimate effusion that
does not  smile;  the other, brimming with frothy joy close to a stylised Tyrolienne, then a refined Ländler whose
emotional invention heralds Bruckner, followed by a moderato as light as it is timeless in its innocent, inalterable gaiety. A
portrait such as only Richter the painter knew how to compose.
June 14, 1956 (D 850), consists of previously released material
by PRAGA PR254 031 (P) 1994, CDM 78726/7 (P) 1993 agreed by Svjatoslav Richter in Paris in 1993

TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op.23
Symphony No. 6 'Pathétique' in B minor, Op.74
Svjatoslav Richter
Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
Yevgeny Mravinsky
An unusual pairing of Tchaikovsky's two most popular scores by two uncontested Russian masters: the resurrection of
one Richter's rare encounters with the most Russian conductor of the 20th century, Yevgeny Mravinsky.
An indispensable account from Praga's recorded legacy over the last 20 years.
Recorded Leningrad July 24, 1958

Some pretty terrible writing in those synopses; my favorite bit is that Mravinsky was "the most Russian conductor."

I presume these are completely different recordings from any CD's included in the Richter In Hungary set, which I have yet to unwrap ...

[DavidA]

I once booked into a Richter recital but was absolutely gutted when he cancelled at the last minute. One can hear what a recital was like from a very moderately priced disc of a recital he gave in 1967 at Spoleto. Some tremendous playing after which the audience breaks into hysteria. But who wouldn't?

[DavidA]

I have just bought Richter's performance of Beethoven's Hammerklaview Sonata - the Festvial Hall performance, London 1975. I listened to it on the radio at the time. I was envious of my in-laws who were actually at the concert. The whole concert is on the disc. There is a simply tremendous performance of the Beethoven which must be one of the greatest ever committed to disc. Richter's control, drama, sense of line are all incredible. Unfortunately the disc does not have room for the encore he played at the time which was to repeat the final movement of the Hammerklavier. There was a lot of comment made about it at the time but it has not found its way onto this disc which is produced by ICA. But the disk remains a must have for Beethoven and Richter enthusiasts. Or simply for lovers of great piano playing.

[Bogey]

I was able to pick this one up



but in vinyl form from France.

Philips [ France ] 6730 007 (LP)

No cover art on trovar available. 

[Bogey]

Finally found the exact issue I bought:



Gatefold with only French text in the interior.

[Bogey]

On lp....and very nice sound.  Richter's playing is incredibly clear.  Most impressed with this pressing by Melodiya.



Follow up question to my listening:

Looks like he recorded the Franck three times with with David Oistrakh, and the Brahms twice.  Any favored recordings from these with Richter and Oistrakh?

[Bogey]

Rolling this one out on the above EMI cd.  Anyone have a different pressing they prefer?

[DavidA]

Rolling this one out on the above EMI cd.  Anyone have a different pressing they prefer?

The Schubert is amazing!

[Bogey]

The Schubert is amazing!

Still on the Dvorak....Schubert for dessert.

[George]

The Schubert is amazing!

IMO, both are. 

[Bogey]

IMO, both are. 

Well, the Schubert did outshine the PC, but I believe that had to do with the composition rather than the playing.  Richter was fabulous on both.  The sound of the orchestra was a bit muddy, but I have come to expect that with PC's.  He does have a light touch, but he is definitely not a shrinking violet when it comes to hitting the key with force when he needs to.   

[Mandryka]

Looks like he recorded the Franck three times with with David Oistrakh, and the Brahms twice.  Any favored recordings from these with Richter and Oistrakh?

I do hope someone will answer this question. Ccar, where are you?

(I only know the Brahms from 29 March 1972 and the Franck from  3 March 1966)

[Bogey]

I do hope someone will answer this question. Ccar, where are you?

(I only know the Brahms from 29 March 1972 and the Franck from  3 March 1966)

Well, we have four out the five covered, as I have (on the same lp).

Franck
Sonata for Violin in A
with David Oistrakh (Moscow, 28 Dec 1968)
Melodiya/Angel 40121 (LP)

Brahms
Sonata for Violin no. 3 in d, opus 108, with Oistrakh
(Moscow, 28 December 1968)
Melodiya/Angel 40121 (LP 1970)

Looks like we are missing:

the Franck with David Oistrakh (Paris, 4 Dec 1968) on Le Chant du Monde LDC 278 885 (CD)

What are the source of your recordings?

[Bogey]

Is this the only place to find the Paris recording?

http://www.amazon.com/Concert-Paris-Dec-1968-Beethoven/dp/B001RASK7C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358898864&sr=8-1&keywords=Franck+with+David+Oistrakh+richter+Le+Chant+du+Monde

[Dancing Divertimentian]

The op.108 is here, too, Bill, and I think it's the same recording you linked to. But I've struck out trying to find it on the Amazons.




[asin]B000Y980UE[/asin]

[Bogey]

The op.108 is here, too, Bill, and I think it's the same recording you linked to. But I've struck out trying to find it on the Amazons.




[asin]B000Y980UE[/asin]

Thanks Don  for the foot work.  Now it becomes more of a quest.