Sviatoslav Richter

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Supposedly it's the 1958 Melodiya studio recording in the box set that is linked to above ... There's been quite a lot of releases of it, I own a good-sounding Melodiya LP, and a Membran-Intense Media 10CD Richter box (233080) (plus I think it's also the one in my Regis 6CD Richter box, rrc6011, but there it just says 'first released in 1960'). Yet both have perhaps a somewhat less satisfying sound, as far as I remember ... however, that 1958 recording has a good sense of progression as well as a lot of pianistic variation and temper. The Sofia one has rather uneven sound, but also many fans. I just have it on LP. I also have an even earlier recording by Richter, but prefer the 1958.

That Melodiya LP sounds particularly tempting!  I'll scroll up though to also look at that set.  Thank you so much for your comments. 

PD

[MusicTurner]

You're welcome. But just use 1958 as a guiding principle, probably for digital media material, since my LP was a new mint one, bought in Hungary around 1990, I think. Obviously, a good deal of the old Melodiya LPs will probably have some surface noise ... and of course, Sofia might be enough.

The earlier one I have is from Moscow 1952, a 2CD on the Andromeda label andrcd5038, just to complete the info. But not a fan of that one.

EDIT: am listening to the Membran now, sound is actually quite good.

And to clarify: Richter's studio 1958 was actually later in the year, than the 1958 Sofia recital, I read. The linked box set contains a Budapest live 1958 recording.

[prémont]

EDIT: am listening to the Membran now, sound is actually quite good.

Yes, it usually is. Rumors tell, the it's because they have stolen the latest remastering from the original label. I have btw never seen any proof of that.

[staxomega]

EDIT:  Any fans here of his Pictures at an Exhibition recording? 

Yes indeed I am a big fan of the Sofia recording now on Philips. It's the only Pictures of an Exhibition I like on piano and I've heard Cherkassky, Pogorelich, Brand and others. This needs the full tonal colors and textures of the orchestra to come alive. I think it's mainly from him taking tempos that can't be summed up very easily and even with the audience noise and live setting you can still hear him spin some color into it.

[doremi]

Hi there
I am new on this Richter site.
I used to be on Yahoo groups many years ago:I guess it closed down.
Lucky me-my first post about my favourite Richter record.
I bought this Philipps LP some 35 years ago-
Richter allowed its edition due to the special atmosphere !!
Regards
G

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Hi there
I am new on this Richter site.
I used to be on Yahoo groups many years ago:I guess it closed down.
Lucky me-my first post about my favourite Richter record.
I bought this Philipps LP some 35 years ago-
Richter allowed its edition due to the special atmosphere !!
Regards
G

Nice!  And welcome to the forum!   

PD

[George]

Found this long OOP set today in mint condition for only $150!

[Jo498]

What if...

we could put together an ideal cycle of Richter's 23 Beethoven Sonatas (+ Andante favori & Diabellis,

I didn't look through the whole thread but I am apparently still missing one sonata, if he played 23 of them? Which one?
(I think I have heard some recording of all of them but opp. 10/2 and 14/1)

op.2/1
op.2/3
op.7
op.10/2 (had not been aware of that one)
10/3
13
14/1+2
22
26
31/2+3
49/1+2
54
57
90
101
106
109
110
111

[Holden]

I didn't look through the whole thread but I am apparently still missing one sonata, if he played 23 of them? Which one?
(I think I have heard some recording of all of them but opp. 10/2 and 14/1)

op.2/1
op.2/3
op.7
op.10/2 (had not been aware of that one)
10/3
13
14/1+2
22
26
31/2+3
49/1+2
54
57
90
101
106
109
110
111

He only recorded 22 of the sonatas.

[Jo498]

Thanks; as I had not been aware of the op.10/2 at all, I was not sure if I had missed another one. Richter is probably the only pianist who played/recorded the Andante favori but not the Waldstein sonata

[Mandryka]

Thanks; as I had not been aware of the op.10/2 at all, I was not sure if I had missed another one. Richter is probably the only pianist who played/recorded the Andante favori but not the Waldstein sonata

I think the op 10/2 is worth a listen. For a while I was well into the BBC Legends op 14s.  I think Sofronitsky recorded Andanti favori but not Waldstein.

He played the op 14 sonatas all through his performing career  - there are recordings from 63 to 94 - that is potentially worth exploring.

[Mandryka]

I didn't look through the whole thread but I am apparently still missing one sonata, if he played 23 of them? Which one?
(I think I have heard some recording of all of them but opp. 10/2 and 14/1)

op.2/1
op.2/3
op.7
op.10/2 (had not been aware of that one)
10/3
13
14/1+2
22
26
31/2+3
49/1+2
54
57
90
101
106
109
110
111

Did you ever get to hear the op 10/2? I have this CD which I can send to you (the files that is) if you want.

https://www.discogs.com/release/7866367-Beethoven-Richter-Richter-At-Pleyel

[Todd]

This set was mentioned previously in this thread, about a decade ago initially.  It includes 19 sonatas and some other works.  I'm not sure if is still available new, but it's a nice one stop Richter plays LvB box, I can report that.  It includes a 10/2.

[Jo498]

I never tried to acquire anything close to complete Richter because the number of live recordings seemed to be unfathomable. I have

op.2/1 + 10/3  + 31/2 EMI studio 1961-77
op.2/3 + 7 + 90 Ariola Eurodisc 1971-75 (Olympia CD)
op.14/2 + 49/1+2 1963 (Philips CD + Liszt)
op.13 + 57 Melodiya BMG 1959-60
op.90 + 101 + 106 1965-86 (Praga CD)
op.109 + 110 + 111 1963 Leipzig (Parnassus CD)

and the Brilliant Beethoven/Schubert/Liszt box that seems to have different (Russian? live 1965 - 1975) recordings of op 2/3, 7, 31/2, 90, 101, 110, 111 and 31/3 of which I don't have any other.

I have another op.57 as filler for the Brahms's 2nd concerto with Leinsdorf. And an op.26 from 1959 I got from a friend long ago, but don't know the source/location.

I used to have a lateish recording of op.54 and 110 on a disc called "Richter - the Philosopher" but I didn't like that too much and don't have it one anymore.

So I probably also never heard op.22 with Richter which is likely as I never liked that sonata very much although I now like it more than I used to.

[JBS]

Some basic info on this new release

Piano Sonata 18 in E Flat major  "Hunt" Op 31/3*
Piano Sonata 27 in e minor Op 90*
Piano Sonata 28 in A major Op 101*
Piano Sonata 31 in A Flat major Op 110**

*recorded Lucerne 2 Sept 1965
**recorded La Grange de Meslay 29 June 1965

Live recordings. The Lucerne instrument is more metallic than usual, but nothing else caught my ears as a reason why these recordings were never released.

[AnotherSpin]

Some basic info on this new release

Piano Sonata 18 in E Flat major  "Hunt" Op 31/3*
Piano Sonata 27 in e minor Op 90*
Piano Sonata 28 in A major Op 101*
Piano Sonata 31 in A Flat major Op 110**

*recorded Lucerne 2 Sept 1965
**recorded La Grange de Meslay 29 June 1965

Live recordings. The Lucerne instrument is more metallic than usual, but nothing else caught my ears as a reason why these recordings were never released.

I tried listening to this album a few days ago, and gave up after 10 or 15 minutes.

[Mandryka]

I tried listening to this album a few days ago, and gave up after 10 or 15 minutes.

Strangely enough I listened to the Leipzig op 110 after listening to the lost tapes one -- and I loved it!

[AnotherSpin]

Strangely enough I listened to the Leipzig op 110 after listening to the lost tapes one -- and I loved it!

What I see in Richter is this: an extraordinarily gifted musician who, alas, seemed unable to make proper use of his talent—turning almost everything he touched into something mannered and, frankly, in poor taste. Naturally, others hear something quite different. I've been listening to Richter since I was a child, and more often than not, I find myself thinking: that's enough, I simply can't go on. There may be exceptions—recordings I can listen to through to the end—but none come to mind at the moment. As for the lost tapes. I must admit, I felt no joy at their discovery, though I did try, having seen the release on Qobuz.

[Jo498]

Maybe the tapes were really "lost"/inacessible or people with access thought that there were already enough live/bootleg recordings of Richter out there. Not sure how many opp. 31/3 and 101 (I have at least one of each) but there have been several different live recordings of opp 90 (even a studio one) and 110 out there.
And yes, Richter is mannered in op.110 with the oddly slow 2nd movement but I disagree that he is mannered everywhere.

[Mandryka]

What I see in Richter is this: an extraordinarily gifted musician who, alas, seemed unable to make proper use of his talent—turning almost everything he touched into something mannered and, frankly, in poor taste. Naturally, others hear something quite different. I've been listening to Richter since I was a child, and more often than not, I find myself thinking: that's enough, I simply can't go on. There may be exceptions—recordings I can listen to through to the end—but none come to mind at the moment. As for the lost tapes. I must admit, I felt no joy at their discovery, though I did try, having seen the release on Qobuz.

Poor taste in delicate music certainly - but his style is OK for Beethoven I think. There's also a certain organological pleasure in hearing how he drives a piano - the timbres etc. And I would say he was at his best in chamber music.