Sviatoslav Richter

[Pat B]

Looks like the Complete Sony-RCA box has been pulled. Amazon now says "This title will be released on April 14, 2015."

[George]

Looks like the Complete Sony-RCA box has been pulled. Amazon now says "This title will be released on April 14, 2015."

I don't think it has been pulled. Amazon.co.uk has copies and has had copies for at least a few weeks now.

[Brian]

Looks like the Complete Sony-RCA box has been pulled. Amazon now says "This title will be released on April 14, 2015."

My ImportCDs order got canceled, too. I wonder if Sony botched production or distribution for the American market? The folks who ordered from Europe are fine.

[Holden]

It is a great performance. I have yet to compare it side by side to the pianist's favorite recording of the work, the one with Maazel.

Haven't heard that one.

[kishnevi]

My ImportCDs order got canceled, too. I wonder if Sony botched production or distribution for the American market? The folks who ordered from Europe are fine.

In fact, I am listening to it now.  (CDs 13 &  14, Carnegie Hall 12/26/60 recital).
I got mine from Amazon UK at the same time as the Decca/DG box.

Perhaps it is simply a matter of more than expected number of people ordering in or through Europe which required reallocating units originally planned for the US .

I never have figured out the logic, in this age of online ordering and downloading, of releasing in Europe and the US at dates which are sometimes widely divergent.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Stumbled on an ultra cheap but generously filled download on AmazonUK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0079FRG0G/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp

Might be a good introduction for the uninitiated or for those looking to fill a few holes. And the price can't be beat. Unfortunately there's zero documentation.

[king ubu]

Whaddya mean by "pulled"? mine's on the way, is there any issue with it?

[Pat B]

Whaddya mean by "pulled"? mine's on the way, is there any issue with it?

Just that US amazon had it for sale, and now show it as to be released in April. My copy (ordered from grooves-inc.com, based in Switzerland IIRC) has arrived. I've listened to about a third of it, no problems yet. It might just be a US distribution glitch.

[king ubu]

Okay, thanks! I've seen that happen on many a newly released set. Probably some production delays after an entire batch has been sold off (sometimes this happened right on release date - you could pre-order a box, and on release date, you'd actually get another date a month or so in the future, I think actually the Universal Italy Richter solo box was one such case). And hah, I wish grooves-inc were really based in Switzerland - would have saved me from paying those obnoxious fees going along with VAT payments due on imports (my Boulez DG 20c box was shipped from Germany to Switzerland - had I know that, I'd have ordered it elsewhere).

But back to Richter, looking forward to the box!

[Steebo]

Just ordered the Complete Sony-RCA box for £15.76 inc postage from Amazon Uk affilliate,you will probably need to be quick though!

[Brian]

I have the latter two, and I ordered the first but it never arrived. Maybe you should choose based on what repertoire you are most interested in?

A lot of people love the live Carnegie Hall recitals in the first box, but from what I've heard on streaming, there are some misses - along with some very very big hits (that Rachmaninov, mmm!).

The EMI Icon box is a cross-section - the Schubert sonatas can be a bit slow for me, and his Grieg concerto is far from my favorite, but you also get the Handel keyboard suites, plus Prokofiev's Fourth Concerto, Berg's chamber concerto, and the very famous coupling of Dvorak's piano concerto with Schubert's Wanderer Fantasy.

The Universal box is huge and contains just about everything. From Haydn sonatas to collaborations with Benjamin Britten, from great live Schumann and Liszt to Brahms chamber music, it's bigger in scope, range, and awesomeness.

[Karl Henning]

That Icon box is something of a temptation, for me particularly because of the Berg.

[Brian]

Is the Universal box the Decca, Philips, & DG one?

Yes.

[George]

Which should I get:

Complete Album Collection

Amazing performances, sub-par (noise reduced) sound.

Complete Decca, Philips & DG Recordings

Great sound. As far as performances go, a real mixed bag.

Icon: Sviatoslav Richter

I have said before (and will say again now) that this is the best overall Richter box (for multi-composers) for sound and performance. Most of the recordings are from Richter's peak, while the Universal set has some stuff from him past his peak.

Speaking only of performance, the best Richter box is the In Prague set. Hopefully one day Brilliant puts it out at a reasonable price. 

[George]

I have the latter two, and I ordered the first but it never arrived. Maybe you should choose based on what repertoire you are most interested in?

I think price should also be an issue. I wonder how much each is going for these days.

A lot of people love the live Carnegie Hall recitals in the first box, but from what I've heard on streaming, there are some misses - along with some very very big hits (that Rachmaninov, mmm!).

Well said, that Rachmaninoff is awesome!! (but then his Rachmaninoff always is.)

[George]

Yeah, that BC set is not known for it's sound.

I think the combo idea is a wonderful one! You'll get to hear Richter in his prime live and in the studio. 

[Pat B]

I am leaning towards the Complete Album and Icon combo just because of the content.

That's a good plan. I agree with George that the Icon would be #1 choice, and the Sony-RCA set complements it nicely. But I doubt you can go wrong with any or all of these. (In case anybody cares, I have the Sony-RCA and Icon sets, and about a third of the Universal stuff.)

Be aware that there is a fair amount of duplication within the Sony-RCA set. But I don't think you will regret it.

[kishnevi]

I have both the Sony and Universal boxes, and would not want to be without either.  I intend to reel in the Icon box, but I need to make a bigger dent in the Rubinstein box first.
As a practical matter, I would go for the Universal box first.

[George]

Now enjoying a first spin of this lovely 2CD set. First release of these performances, in great sound!

[George]

I just got a message that this 3-CD set has shipped.



I haven't ordered the others yet.

Just so you know, most (all?) of the performances from that Authorised series was reissued (same mastering) in The Master series for Decca in 2CD sets.