Sviatoslav Richter

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Just discovered this link to early Richter recordings, 1948-1951:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/ankhproductions/bobbeaudin/

Anyone have these?

George & company...

Just received vol.1 from the above series. It purports to being one of only two recitals ever given by Richter dedicated solely to Chopin (the other being his debut recital).

Nothing but good things to report about this disc. Sound is some of the finest I've heard from this vintage (Moscow, 1950) with an air of TLC applied to the transfer. IOW, it has professional written all over it.

The performances are vintage Richter: eruptive yet able to soften his touch to the merest hint of a whisper. All in all, highly recommended.

The contents of this disc are duplicated virtually in its entirety on Preiser. However reports are the results are less satisfying.

Seems Ankh is bent on producing product the way it should be. Bodes well for the rest of this series.

Vol. 5 is out but not listed on their website. I mention it because the contents are fascinating: Szymanowski's second piano sonata and Prokofiev's seventh sonata (filled out with Tchaikovsky's Grande Snoate Op.37) from a 1954 Warsaw concert.

[Renfield]

George & company...

Just received vol.1 from the above series. It purports to being one of only two recitals ever given by Richter dedicated solely to Chopin (the other being his debut recital).

Nothing but good things to report about this disc. Sound is some of the finest I've heard from this vintage (Moscow, 1950) with an air of TLC applied to the transfer. IOW, it has professional written all over it.

The performances are vintage Richter: eruptive yet able to soften his touch to the merest hint of a whisper. All in all, highly recommended.

The contents of this disc are duplicated virtually in its entirety on Preiser. However reports are the results are less satisfying.

Seems Ankh is bent on producing product the way it should be. Bodes well for the rest of this series.

Vol. 5 is out but not listed on their website. I mention it because the contents are fascinating: Szymanowski's second piano sonata and Prokofiev's seventh sonata (filled out with Tchaikovsky's Grande Snoate Op.37) from a 1954 Warsaw concert.

Oh, I have all four volumes, from this issue: I think I bought them last year, or over the summer. And I concur with the above being exceptional.

The third volume, too, is superb; while the second one with the concerto is also very good indeed!

The only one I don't especially remember is the fourth volume, but that might be my own lack of familiarity with most of its contents, rather than an issue of quality.

All in all, a fantastic release, and one of the best "Richter issues" in my collection, given just that "eruptive yet able to soften his touch to the merest hint of a whisper" quality donwyn mentioned above.

Highly recommended, i.e. Richter fans: buy!

[sidoze]

I wasn't as impressed with that volume. It pretty much sums up what I think of Richter's Chopin -- technically astounding yet unpoetic. Maybe it's just me though.

[George]

Seems Ankh is bent on producing product the way it should be. Bodes well for the rest of this series.

Bravo! Thanks for the info, Donwyn! 

Vol. 5 is out but not listed on their website. I mention it because the contents are fascinating: Szymanowski's second piano sonata and Prokofiev's seventh sonata (filled out with Tchaikovsky's Grande Snoate Op.37) from a 1954 Warsaw concert.

I have these three works by the pianist from 1954 and in the case of the Prokofiev, 1958, all from Moscow. These are from "Richter in the 1950s." It might be interesting to compare them to the ones you mention at some point. What did you pay for your CD, Don?

[Renfield]

Bravo! Thanks for the info, Donwyn! 

I admit I'd also have replied a lot earlier, had I noticed this thread existed.

[George]

I admit I'd also have replied a lot earlier, had I noticed this thread existed.

Well, I'll just have to my best to keep it active. Thanks for your input as well.

BTW, volumes 7-9 of the Master series was released this past Tuesday. Can someone please report how much material is now left un-re-released from the "Authorized Recordings" set on Philips? 

[Renfield]

Well, I'll just have to my best to keep it active. Thanks for your input as well.

Oh, it's probably my bad for not noticing; no worries.

Incidentally, I've also been eyeing volumes 7-9 of said "Master" series. Someone know if they're any good? I mean, unusually so? I do have quite a few Richter recordings already, that's why I'm asking.

[George]

Oh, it's probably my bad for not noticing; no worries.

Incidentally, I've also been eyeing volumes 7-9 of said "Master" series. Someone know if they're any good? I mean, unusually so? I do have quite a few Richter recordings already, that's why I'm asking.

All of the material in the Master series is from the OOP Philips Authorized recordings.

I have this link bookmarked:
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/p/phi42464a.html

[Renfield]

All of the material in the Master series is from the OOP Philips Authorized recordings.

I have this link bookmarked:
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/p/phi42464a.html

Ah, thank you!

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Oh, I have all four volumes, from this issue: I think I bought them last year, or over the summer. And I concur with the above being exceptional.

The third volume, too, is superb; while the second one with the concerto is also very good indeed!

The only one I don't especially remember is the fourth volume, but that might be my own lack of familiarity with most of its contents, rather than an issue of quality.

That's very good news! So Ankh has a pretty good track record, then.

Good to know as I'll likely pull the trigger on Vol.5 soon.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Bravo! Thanks for the info, Donwyn! 

Happy to oblige.

I have these three works by the pianist from 1954 and in the case of the Prokofiev, 1958, all from Moscow. These are from "Richter in the 1950s." It might be interesting to compare them to the ones you mention at some point.

Yeah, I wondered the same thing. These Ankh discs seem to tread roughly the same territory as the Parnassus. So it seems only natural to compare. How much Chopin is there on Parnassus? Any Preludes?

I plan to order the fifth volume soon so it'd be a real treat to gather a few nuggets and compare.

I'd also be interested to see how one company compares to the other as far as sound restoration. The one Ankh volume I have is without doubt one of the better things I've heard come out of 1950 Moscow - at least live, anyway. It could be Ankh just got hold of a very fine original/copy (as compared to the inferior Preiser) but whatever the case this disc certainly leaves a strong impression.

One item of note: listed on the packaging is a "Made In Canada" imprint. But Ankh doesn't seem to be distributed at all in the US or Canada. Neither country's Amazons lists them in an official capacity. Ditto Arkiv.

One oddity: the packaging also boasts - "This Chopin Recital Has Never Been Published Before". But that's incorrect. A Russian Masters release predates it. By how much I don't know. The aforementioned Preiser seems to be contemporaneous with Ankh though may actually predate it as well.

What did you pay for your CD, Don?

I got lucky and scored one new off Amazon UK (Caiman, actually) for about £8.99. Price adjusted and with shipping it totaled out to about $25.00 or so.

However, I've read it's possible to order directly from Ankh's website. But I'm confused as to Ankh's origins. Canadian? European? If European it could get a might expensive (for us in the States). But I've also read for a Trovar discussion member the going rate is something like $20.00 or so.

In any event I'll likely email them soon and will know more then.

[sidoze]

One oddity: the packaging also boasts - "This Chopin Recital Has Never Been Published Before". But that's incorrect. A Russian Masters release predates it.

But weren't those Russian Masters releases just CDRs? I remember Sokolov's early recital with Carnaval, on RM I believe.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

But weren't those Russian Masters releases just CDRs? I remember Sokolov's early recital with Carnaval, on RM I believe.

The way I see it Russian Masters is a web-base company that instead of producing actual CD's for distribution offers CDR's on an on-demand basis. For a fee, of course.

Different business model but still a company.

And as far as I can tell they take the time to do restoration work on their product. And nothing pirated that I can detect. Everything points to a legit company.

[sidoze]

Offering a fee, doing restoration work, all that's fine, but from whom did they license the material? As far as I understand it, they just ripped it from LPs, as in the Sokolov and Ginzburg recordings I used to own. If it's that simple then I could also make a living from it

[George]

lucky and scored one new off Amazon UK (Caiman, actually) for about £8.99. Price adjusted and with shipping it totaled out to about $25.00 or so.

However, I've read it's possible to order directly from Ankh's website. But I'm confused as to Ankh's origins. Canadian? European? If European it could get a might expensive (for us in the States). But I've also read for a Trovar discussion member the going rate is something like $20.00 or so.

In any event I'll likely email them soon and will know more then.

This email interchange may answer your question:

From me:

Hello, I have a few questions about the 5 volume set of early Richter recordings:

    1. Are your prices listed in Canadian Dollars?
    2. What is the cost for shipping to NY, NY, USA for 1 cd or all 5?
    3. Do you offer a discount for people purchasing all 5 volumes?
    4. Are these CDs avaialable in stores?
    5. How much of this material is also on the 5 volume set on Parnassus? I notice that the Tchaikovsky Grand Sonata appears to be the same performance.

Their reply:

Hi George,

1. Price are in US
2. Shipping for 1 CD is 6$ Shipping for 5 CD It is 18$
3. If you buy the five we will apply the 15.99 spetial to all CDs
4. they are available in Japan, Corea, Taiwan, some European countries.
5. None are on Parnassus. They are from different concerts (unless Parnassus did duplicate some of our productions). Moreover, we do real remastering of the original tapes.

Best regards


   

[E d o]

Just a heads up for members of the BMG music club. They just got Vol. 5 & 6 in the The Master Series. I'll be ordering Vol. 5/Schubert next sale.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Offering a fee, doing restoration work, all that's fine, but from whom did they license the material? As far as I understand it, they just ripped it from LPs, as in the Sokolov and Ginzburg recordings I used to own. If it's that simple then I could also make a living from it

Well, then, if this concert has been ripped from an LP that means this material has previously been published.

Which is all I was driving at...

Anyway, Russian Masters seems to carry some weight in historical collectors circles. The Trovar board mentions them in a positive light. And their website is professionally done. Plus Paul Geffen lends his name to the company and he hobnobs with the Gerber's and such. So, dunno...

[Dancing Divertimentian]

This email interchange may answer your question:

From me:

Hello, I have a few questions about the 5 volume set of early Richter recordings:

    1. Are your prices listed in Canadian Dollars?
    2. What is the cost for shipping to NY, NY, USA for 1 cd or all 5?
    3. Do you offer a discount for people purchasing all 5 volumes?
    4. Are these CDs avaialable in stores?
    5. How much of this material is also on the 5 volume set on Parnassus? I notice that the Tchaikovsky Grand Sonata appears to be the same performance.

Their reply:

Hi George,

1. Price are in US
2. Shipping for 1 CD is 6$ Shipping for 5 CD It is 18$
3. If you buy the five we will apply the 15.99 spetial to all CDs
4. they are available in Japan, Corea, Taiwan, some European countries.
5. None are on Parnassus. They are from different concerts (unless Parnassus did duplicate some of our productions). Moreover, we do real remastering of the original tapes.

Best regards

A wealth of information, George! Thanks!

At US prices these look mighty attractive...

[George]

A wealth of information, George! Thanks!

My pleasure. 

Me, I just bought volumes 7-9 of the Master series. I haven't listened to more than a volume or two of the nine yet and I have only heard the Richter in the 1950s set once, so I am out of the market for the moment.   

[Dancing Divertimentian]

My pleasure. 

Me, I just bought volumes 7-9 of the Master series.

Oooo, nice. You da man!

I'll likely shore up my Authorized Edition with some of these Masters series sometime this Christmas (gift cards). My budget is flat right now and I need to somehow work in a few of these Ankh discs. Not to mention I've taken an interest in that TNC Kiev edition. Not everything on that edition appears essential (duplications) but a few volumes I might take a stab at.

I haven't listened to more than a volume or two of the nine yet and I have only heard the Richter in the 1950s set once, so I am out of the market for the moment.   

I think I'll go ahead and pull the trigger on vols. 2 (Brahms concerto) and 5 (Prokofiev/Szymanowski) in the Ankh series. So far I'm impressed with the label's professional attitude. Far cry from the glut of Richter pirates.