Sviatoslav Richter

[George]

I phoned them directly. Had my credit card handy.

Thanks. How much was it?

[Holden]

Thanks. How much was it?

Amazon didn't have it but MDT did and for less than 10BP I get this from them (I hope). This is about $20 Australian.

[George]

Amazon didn't have it but MDT did and for less than 10BP I get this from them (I hope). This is about $20 Australian.

Yeah, I saw that too, but I think it's a few buck cheaper through Parnassus directly.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Thanks. How much was it?

George, it came to $18.00 total w/ shipping.

[George]

George, it came to $18.00 total w/ shipping.

Nice price! Thanks. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Interesting new Doremi release. Includes a 1965 Carnegie Hall recital.








Contents as listed on HMV Japan (2CDs):

SCHUBERT: Sonata No.9 in B, D.575 First release ever.
BRAHMS: Ballades Op.10/1,2; Piano Pieces, Op.118/1,3,6 First release ever.
CHOPIN: 4 Scherzos: Op.20, Op.31, Op.39, Op.54
RAVEL: Oiseaux triste from Miroirs First release ever.
RACHMANINOV: Prelude, Op.32/12; Etude Tableau, Op.39/3,9 First release ever
　Live Performance, Carnegie Hall, New York, April 15, 1965

SCHUBERT: Sonata No.3 in E, D.459 First release ever. The only version by Richter known to be recorded.
　Live Performance, Hohenems, June 18, 1980
SCHUBERT: Two Impromptus, D.899/3,4 First release ever.
　Live Performance, Budapest, August 27, 1967
SCHUBERT: Moment Musical No.1 in C, D.780/1 First release ever.
　Live Performance, Budapest, February 11, 1958
SCHUBERT: March in E, D.606 First release ever. The only version by Richter known to be recorded.
　Live Performance, Moscow, May 3, 1978

[George]

Donwyn my good man,

Thanks so much!!!

[dirkronk]

Don't want to throw cold water on everyone's expectations of the 1965 Carnegie performances, but I recall hearing an off-brand CD of part of this concert years ago and the sound offered was so bad--quavery and off-pitch, like a stretched tape or LP with off-center pressing--that I opted NOT to purchase the thing. Let us hope that Doremi, whatever source they used, has remastered carefully before issuing. I'd sure like to hear this concert!

Thanks for the heads-up, donwyn.

Dirk

[George]

Thanks for the warning, Dirk! 

I guess I will hold out until someone can confirm that the SQ is OK.

[Holden]

George, it came to $18.00 total w/ shipping.

$21.95 (Australian) w/shipping which makes it $19.04 US. OK, so I lost a dollar but the speed with which it was delivered from MDT was amazing. So is the improvement in recorded sound.

[George]

$21.95 (Australian) w/shipping which makes it $19.04 US. OK, so I lost a dollar but the speed with which it was delivered from MDT was amazing. So is the improvement in recorded sound.

Yeah MDT don't mess around.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Donwyn my good man,

Thanks so much!!!

Just doing my part as a fellow Richterphile.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Don't want to throw cold water on everyone's expectations of the 1965 Carnegie performances, but I recall hearing an off-brand CD of part of this concert years ago and the sound offered was so bad--quavery and off-pitch, like a stretched tape or LP with off-center pressing--that I opted NOT to purchase the thing. Let us hope that Doremi, whatever source they used, has remastered carefully before issuing. I'd sure like to hear this concert!

Thanks for the heads-up, donwyn.

Dirk

Tough call as far as the sound. What I know of these 1965 Carnegie performances is they aren't official. No doubt "homegrown" straight from the audience.

Many years ago I managed to audition one (or both, I'm pretty sure) of those long OOP Intaglio pirate releases of one of Richter's 1965 Carnegie Beethoven recitals (this was back in the day of Sound Warehouse/Blockbuster Music). The sound was sufficiently dreary to put me off buying it (them).

Since then Leslie Gerber has reviewed them in Fanfare and actually gave them a qualified thumbs-up as far as sound. Which has me wondering if I wouldn't think better of them today had I the chance to audition them again.

So, I'm curious too how this Doremi stacks up. Hopefully a mag will review it soon and shed a little light on the subject.

[Zhiliang]

Hi,

I am looking for some great versions of Richter's Liszt Piano Concertos, and the B Minor Sonata. Anyone can recommend me any?

I only have the Philips issue of the concertos coupled with 3 Beethoven Sonatas.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Hi,

I am looking for some great versions of Richter's Liszt Piano Concertos, and the B Minor Sonata. Anyone can recommend me any?

I only have the Philips issue of the concertos coupled with 3 Beethoven Sonatas.

As far as the concertos there's really not much to choose from (due to lack of availability). There's the superb Philips studio recording of both concertos which you already have; then there's the live BBC Legends disc of both concertos with identical forces as Philips recorded a few days before the Philips recordings. These are what remain in print.

As far as OOP and very rare there's a first concerto with Ancerl and the Czech PO (1954) found on either Praga or Music & Arts, and a second concerto with Ferencsik and the Hungarian State Symphony (1961) last seen on Music & Arts.

For the sonata, there are two scorching accounts readily available - one on the new Decca series and another on BBC Legends from Aldeburgh. Both in good sound (the Decca in even better sound) and both from 1966.

[George]

For the sonata, there are two scorching accounts readily available - one on the new Decca series and another on BBC Legends from Aldeburgh. Both in good sound (the Decca in even better sound) and both from 1966.

There's also the one on the Brilliant label:

http://www.trovar.com/str/discs/liszt.html

[Zhiliang]

As far as the concertos there's really not much to choose from (due to lack of availability). There's the superb Philips studio recording of both concertos which you already have; then there's the live BBC Legends disc of both concertos with identical forces as Philips recorded a few days before the Philips recordings. These are what remain in print.

As far as OOP and very rare there's a first concerto with Ancerl and the Czech PO (1954) found on either Praga or Music & Arts, and a second concerto with Ferencsik and the Hungarian State Symphony (1961) last seen on Music & Arts.

For the sonata, there are two scorching accounts readily available - one on the new Decca series and another on BBC Legends from Aldeburgh. Both in good sound (the Decca in even better sound) and both from 1966.

Thanks Donwyn for helping me over here. Is there a huge difference in interpretation between the studio and live recording of the concertos? As in besides the value of collecting, is it worth getting the live version? Because i absolutely adore the studio one, and have yet to find another playing even near it (personally).

As for the sonata, is the Decca one the same as the old issue coupled with the concertos on Phillips?

[Zhiliang]

There's also the one on the Brilliant label:

http://www.trovar.com/str/discs/liszt.html

Thanks George for pointing that out. How is the recording of that? Have you heard it?

[George]

Thanks George for pointing that out. How is the recording of that? Have you heard it?

I have heard it once or twice, I don't recall it being especially good or bad (by Richter's standards, that is.) That box it comes in, recently OOP I believe, is essential IMO for some wonderful Schubert playing:

http://www.amazon.com/Sviatoslav-Richter-Concert-Historic-Archives/dp/B0002YCW1Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1219161169&sr=8-2

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Thanks Donwyn for helping me over here. Is there a huge difference in interpretation between the studio and live recording of the concertos? As in besides the value of collecting, is it worth getting the live version? Because i absolutely adore the studio one, and have yet to find another playing even near it (personally).

Glad to help, Zhiliang.

As far as the differences between the studio Philips and the live BBC Legends, sorry, but I couldn't say. I haven't heard the BBC Legends recording.

However, if you ever chance upon the live second with Ferencsik on Music & Arts (from Budapest) I would say, grab it (this one I have). It makes for a very interesting contrast to the London (Philips) performance. My synopsis: in Budapest the quality of performance is the same but with a different emphasis. Mainly in matters of dynamics. There's a 'flatter' response from Richter, more linear than deep. Part of this could be due to the comparatively thin mono sound (not as open as the stereo Philips) but part of this is undoubtedly due to the more streamlined approach of Ferencsik (Kondrashin is more 'layered'). That's not to say the performance is tepid. It's not. Just a different approach.

As for the sonata, is the Decca one the same as the old issue coupled with the concertos on Phillips?

I believe they are the same, yes.