Sviatoslav Richter

[Coopmv]

I just ordered this remastered SACD set:

I have the Richter's set on RCA Gold Seal.  While there is no doubt S. Richter was one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, his WTC is not quite my personal favorite ...

[Brian]

I just received this for review from MusicWeb.



According to Presto,
Recorded September 24 1972 [D960], June 10 1956, June 10-11 1962. Previously available as PR254032 [1994], CDM78726/7 [1993]

The booklet does not specify which of the two years (56/62) corresponds to which piece of music, and also does not say where the recordings were made. The essay does say, very vaguely, that he often played live in Prague, without confirming that he did so in this case.

EDIT: And if any of our Richter lovers are also Michelangeli lovers, I'm in a similar pickle with a poorly-documented Praga CD containing a Ravel Gaspard recorded "live May 22, 1960, broadcasted September 15, 1960," wherever Michelangeli was in May 1960.

[George]

I just received this for review from MusicWeb.



According to Presto,
Recorded September 24 1972 [D960], June 10 1956, June 10-11 1962. Previously available as PR254032 [1994], CDM78726/7 [1993]

The booklet does not specify which of the two years (56/62) corresponds to which piece of music, and also does not say where the recordings were made. The essay does say, very vaguely, that he often played live in Prague, without confirming that he did so in this case.

You'll find what you need here, Brian: http://www.trovar.com/str/discs/schubert.html

[Coopmv]

Still waiting to unwrap the following set ...

[Obradovic]

Does anyone know why the inexhaustible and indefatigable Svyatoslav Richter NEVER EVER attempted performing such works-pillars of the piano repertoire as Schumann's Kreisleriana, Carnaval and Davidsbündlertänze, Beethoven's 4th and Emperor Concerto, Brahms' 3rd Sonata and 1st Concerto among others? I'm sure, further to the above mentioned there are other major works he never attempted (Chopin's 2nd and 3rd Sonatas?). Puzzlingly, he was very fond of Kreisleriana (entry in his diary extolls a Neuhaus, his teacher, performance and the work itself). On the other hand I say nothing about the only Beethoven Sonata he never played, the Waldstein, because as it is well known he plainly hated it! But does anyone know what he was thinking about other major works he never played (in public at least) and recorded and why kept a distance from them? Thanks a lot!

[Holden]

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.

[Obradovic]

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.

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!

[Mandryka]

I say you should get the 1965 Carnegie Hall (i haven't heard the one on Brilliant)

[Obradovic]

I say you should get the 1965 Carnegie Hall (i haven't heard the one on Brilliant)

Label?

[George]

Label?

It may be on more than one. Check Trovar.com

[Mandryka]

I have it on Palexa.

What's the latest recording of him playing the Liszt sonata? I have one from 1971.

[Obradovic]

I have it on Palexa.

What's the latest recording of him playing the Liszt sonata? I have one from 1971.

Probably this is, I know that Richter played it frequently during the 60s but almost dropped it entirely later on. Unfortunately the twofer I mentioned above is in my parent's home (some 300km from where I'm writing these lines...) so I can't verify dates. And Decca's site doesn't help either: only release date is given (1991). Highly unlikely that this figure is pretty close to the recording year

[Holden]

From Trovar

Sonata in b, S 178

    (Carnegie Hall, New York, 1965 )
        Private Recording P-101 (LP) [ labelled Carnegie Hall, New York, 18 May 1965 ]
        Melodiya M10 47287 (LP, 1986)
        Philips 422137 (CD) [ labelled Budapest, 1960 ]
    (Moscow, 12 October 1965) on Brilliant Classics 92229/3 (CD)
    (Aldeburgh, 21 June 1966)
        Discocorp RR 454 (LP) [ labelled Budapest, 11 Feb 1958 ]
        AS Disc 342 (CD) or 345 (CD) or Historical Performers HP 26 (CD)
        Bianco e Nero BN 2433/2 (CD)
        Classica d'Oro CDO 3007 (CD 2001)
        Legend LGD 145 (CD)
        Music & Arts CD-600 (CD)
        Music & Arts CD-760 (CD) [ labelled Florence, 1971 ]
        Memories HR 4218 (CD)
        Nuova Era 013.6340 (CD)
        Seven Seas / King Records KICC 2267 (CD)
    (Livorno, 21 Nov 1966) on Philips 438620 (CD) or 446200 (CD) or 454545 (CD)

I have this along with the PCs and it sounds pretty darn good to me.

[Mandryka]

But Trovar is not very good here, no mention of the 1971 for example, or the Palexa. The Livorno 1966 is the least interesting of the ones I've heard in fact, though as Holden says, it sounds very good, it's well recorded.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

But Trovar is not very good here, no mention of the 1971 for example, or the Palexa. The Livorno 1966 is the least interesting of the ones I've heard in fact, though as Holden says, it sounds very good, it's well recorded.

Which label is the 1971 performance on? If it's the old Music & Arts release it's since been discovered to actually be the 1965 Aldeburgh performance.

[Mandryka]

Ha, you got there quick. I just came to edit my entry after looking carefully at Trovar.

It's labeled as Florence 1971 and I now see Trovar says that that's a mislabeling.

I found it on a Russian torrent, which shows this cover:

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Ha, you got there quick. I just came to edit my entry after looking carefully at Trovar.

The one I had in mind as 1971 may well be the same as the Livorno. It's labeled as Florence 1971 and I now see Trovar says that that's a mislabeling.  I don't like either in fact, so I rarely play them. I do remember the transfer I have sounds rougher than the Philips, I certainly had noticed that stylistically they're similar, and both different from the BBC or the Palexa.I'll listen to the alleged 1971 and the Livorno carefully tonight if I get time.

I found it on a Russian torrent, which shows this cover:

That cover is the old Music & Arts release I was talking about. I've had it for years. If the file on the torrent is from this disc then it's the 1965 Aldeburgh, not the Livorno.

I've always liked the Aldebergh performance, as well as the New York performance on Palexa, too. I don't remember the Livorno being subpar, but it's been a few years since I last heard it.

[Brian]

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."

[Mandryka]

I just found buried on my hard drive a recording of Richter in Varese in 1992 playing Brahms op 119 1 to 4. The sound is fine. I think it's very valuable because of the Op 119/4, which AFAIK is not easily available played by SR elsewhere, if available at all. I was given it ages ago by a serious Richter collector who I've lost contact with. I don't think he'd mind me sharing it privately -- PM me if you want it.

I found it buried because I've just been bowled over by Virsaladze's record of it, so I thought I'd go comparing.  I recommend the Virsaladze enthusiastically, as I do Ranki's and maybe Gieseking's too.

[ccar]

I just found buried on my hard drive a recording of Richter in Varese in 1992 playing Brahms op 119 1 to 4. The sound is fine. I think it's very valuable because of the Op 119/4, which AFAIK is not easily available played by SR elsewhere, if available at all.

These are the published Op 119 SR recordings I am aware of:

Op 119 No. 1 to 4 - 1959, Moscow - Olympia; 1965, Bergamo - EMI Italy (not easily available); 1965, Kiev - TNC

Intermezzi Op 119 No.1, 2 – 1992, Kempten - LIVE CLASSICS

Intermezzo Op 119 No.3 – 1963, Leipzig - MUSIC & ARTS

Rhapsody Op 119 No.4 – 1966, Locarno - PHILIPS


If you also look for private/non-published SR recordings (not easily available):

Op 119 No. 1 to 4 - 1965, Milan; 1965, Bergamo; 1965, New York; 1965, Duszniki-Zdroj; 1992, Varese; 1992, Bolzano

Intermezzo Op 119 No.1 - 1992, Cheltenham

Intermezzo Op 119 No.3 - 1992, Cesena
 
Rhapsody Op 119 No.4 - 1992, Cesena; 1992, Birmingham; 1992, London