Sviatoslav Richter

[Mandryka]

Thanks ccar. I hope it arrives!

[Bogey]

Thoughts on this performance?

[George]

Thoughts on this performance?

Richter has said that he prefers this recording to the Leinsdorf one he made of the same work that the critics love. I compared the two recently, but I can't for the life of me recall what my findings were. I can do it again this weekend and let you know.

[Holden]

Is this the same recording?

[George]

Is this the same recording?

Yep, that's the one I have.

[Bogey]

Thanks, buddy!  Hope all is well. 

This pressing is new one on 180 gm vinyl.  $34 I believe. This label has been outstanding with its sound so far, so considering it.

[Coopmv]

Not great sound, but what awesome playing! (Beethoven's last three Sonatas plus late Brahms and a Chopin Nocturne as encores.)

I bought this CD some 2 months ago, the SQ is not bad IMO ...

[Coopmv]

Thanks, buddy!  Hope all is well. 

This pressing is new one on 180 gm vinyl.  $34 I believe. This label has been outstanding with its sound so far, so considering it.

Bill,  I did not know you are the Mr. Vinyl.  I have not played a single one of my 4000+ LP collection in over a year ...

[Bogey]

Bill,  I did not know you are the Mr. Vinyl.  I have not played a single one of my 4000+ LP collection in over a year ...

If you are having storage issues, Stuart I heard that Colorado has a dry (but not overly) climate that is perfect for storing your lps.

[Coopmv]

If you are having storage issues, Stuart I heard that Colorado has a dry (but not overly) climate that is perfect for storing your lps.

My sister and her hubby are now in the mountains of Telluride, which I have never visited.  They have some 50 acres out there.  I heard from them that CO has been unusually dry the last few years.

No, I can still manage my space since I stopped buying LP's in 89 or 90.  My CD collection finally surpassed my LP collection early last year.  I think my big CD buying days will be soon over ...

[Brian]

George, I posted this in Recordings You Are Considering, too:



This is Prok 1, Tchaik 1, Bach BWV1052, with Ancerl and Talich in Prague 1954.

I have one Supraphon Richter CD, the Schumann collection (Fantasie, Waldszenen, etc), are there more essentials from that label?

I have two Richter Tchaik 1s: Karajan/DG, and this one:

http://www.youtube.com/v/DB_lKSNwZZM

[George]

George, I posted this in Recordings You Are Considering, too:



This is Prok 1, Tchaik 1, Bach BWV1052, with Ancerl and Talich in Prague 1954.

I have one Supraphon Richter CD, the Schumann collection (Fantasie, Waldszenen, etc), are there more essentials from that label?

Actually that Schumann Supraphon is too noise reduced for my taste, so I haven't bothered to get more.

[Brian]

Actually that Schumann Supraphon is too noise reduced for my taste, so I haven't bothered to get more.

Do you know the performances on that CD from elsewhere maybe? I can't imagine they'd be bad given who's on the stage, but was curious...

[George]

Do you know the performances on that CD from elsewhere maybe? I can't imagine they'd be bad given who's on the stage, but was curious...

Yeah, the Schumann was released on another label, I forget which one.

Th Prokofiev is a great performance, I have it on an earlier Supraphon CD. The Tchaikovsky I don't know. I hope to not hear that work for a long time. 

[ccar]

Do you know the performances on that CD from elsewhere maybe? I can't imagine they'd be bad given who's on the stage, but was curious...

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Do you know the performances on that CD from elsewhere maybe? I can't imagine they'd be bad given who's on the stage, but was curious...

The Schumann was originally a joint Supraphon-DG venture and for some reason it was left to DG to initially release everything, probably for better western distribution (this was the Soviet-bloc era).

For decades the Schumann has been in DG's catalog and currently some of it is available as filler on the Richter Schumann PC disc (but not in totality) whereas it's available in its entirety in the Richter DG box.

Supraphon did eventually release the Schumann on the CD below (also in ccar's post above) in inferior sound than the initial DG CD (I have both). Don't know why the sound wouldn't be on par with DG's but them's the facts.

I haven't heard the latest Supraphon release of the Schumann so can't comment on that one.

[Brian]

Okay, I guess my original post must have been confusing. I already OWN the Schumann, I'm asking for opinions on the Tchaik/Prok/Bach concertos with Talich/Ancerl.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Okay, I guess my original post must have been confusing. I already OWN the Schumann, I'm asking for opinions on the Tchaik/Prok/Bach concertos with Talich/Ancerl.

Well, as far as the Tchaikovsky, I have it on the disc below (from 2003) and if the sound weren't so problematic for me I'd be much more enthusiastic about the performance. No doubt it's first-rate Richter/Ancerl/Tchaikovsky but the sound is just punchless. The piano sounds 'plinky' in places and the orchestra can at times sound small. Not exactly what this work needs.

Of course, hi-fi stereo was a few years in the future in 1954 so allowances have to be made.

Overall though everything is played professionally and even exquisitely. Just listen hard.

The rest of the disc incidentally is much better recorded (from ten years later) and the impact is greater.   

[George]

Okay, I guess my original post must have been confusing. I already OWN the Schumann, I'm asking for opinions on the Tchaik/Prok/Bach concertos with Talich/Ancerl.

As it turns out, I own the remastered Tchaik/Prok/Bach CD and the original Tchaik/Prok CD on Supraphon (pictured below.) It's scary when you realize that you own a CD that you never remember buying. 

I just compared them side by side and I can say that the remaster clearly has been noise reduced, dulling an already dull sounding recording. To me, this already takes it out of the running. I had forgotten that I had this CD because I only bought it to have the Bach. Because I don't like the sound, I don't think I've ever played the CD.

Since the older one: is available on amazon new for $12.50, I'd say that's the way to go. The Bach isn't on there, but the sound is better. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Since the older one: is available on amazon new for $12.50, I'd say that's the way to go. The Bach isn't on there, but the sound is better. 

Are my eyes deceiving me or does that cover actually say "Digital Recording"? LOL...