Sviatoslav Richter

[George]

"Pianist of the century"?

That's pretty far-reaching for such a tiny box (nine CDs). More like 100 CDs and then we'd be getting close (I can dream ).

Well, they don't say "Box of the Century," it's called "Pianist of the Century." I can't disagree. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

  True!

[Coopmv]

"Pianist of the century"?

That's pretty far-reaching for such a tiny box (nine CDs). More like 100 CDs and then we'd be getting close (I can dream ).

I think this is an appropriate accolade.  There are no pianists, living or dead, who have had as wide a repertoire as Richter's, from baroque to classical to romantic.  Glenn Gould might have excelled at Bach but I am not impressed with his performance of Beethoven or Chopin.  Emil Gilels were excellent at Beethoven but he had never recorded any WTC.  Richter seemed to excel in just about any keyboard works.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I think this is an appropriate accolade.

Oh, I think so, too. 

There are no pianists, living or dead, who have had as wide a repertoire as Richter's, from baroque to classical to romantic.

You touch on the very issue I have with this box. DG is shooting for the marketing stars with this title but no matter how it's intended the title is misleading. I don't know of any nine CDs (in reality only about six CDs) that could even begin to adequately represent Richter's art. It would take a couple dozen just to get out of the starting gate!

The choice of title seeks to fabricate myth based on what shards are in DG's catalog. DG thinks they can get away with it since Richter is such a known commodity but they forget they're merely one tiny cog in the Richter machine. They play their part but they're hardly in a position to trumpet "Richter is the pianist of the century and here we have all the proof!!"

Place this DG box in the context of the REST of Richter's enormous output and THAT is the true picture of Richter.

DG might better title this box "Herein can be found a small sampling from a great pianist. Give it a whirl".

[Coopmv]

Oh, I think so, too. 

You touch on the very issue I have with this box. DG is shooting for the marketing stars with this title but no matter how it's intended the title is misleading. I don't know of any nine CDs that could even begin to adequately represent Richter's art. It would take a couple dozen just to get out of the starting gate!

As a matter of fact, did Richter ever record any Bach keyboard works for DG?  I have his WTC on RCA Gold Seal, which is an excellent set in my opinion.  I agree with you there that DG really does not have all the goods to make its case.  Perhaps it should have licensed some of Richter's recordings from BMG/RCA?

[Dancing Divertimentian]

As a matter of fact, did Richter ever record any Bach keyboard works for DG?

He did. He recorded a small selection from WTC. All live from an Italian tour.

Perhaps it should have licensed some of Richter's recordings from BMG/RCA?

BMG I agree with since no one else seems interested in keeping these recordings in print. Melodiya actually owns the copyright to that old BMG edition and has just recently decided to reissued a few of these recordings independent of BMG (I guess the joint venture is now dissolved) but sadly it's hardly comprehensive. 

RCA would be tough as they seem intent on reissuing all their Richter material themselves.

[Coopmv]

He did. He recorded a small selection from WTC. All live from an Italian tour.

BMG I agree with since no one else seems interested in keeping these recordings in print. Melodiya actually owns the copyright to that old BMG edition and has just recently decided to reissued a few of these recordings independent of BMG (I guess the joint venture is now dissolved) but sadly it's hardly comprehensive. 

RCA would be tough as they seem intent on reissuing all their Richter material themselves.

First of all, BMG and RCA are basically one company and didn't BMG and Sony merge their respective music business in some capacity a while back?  At this point, Sony itself is in the worst shape it has been in years, it is not clear whether its deeply troubled (audio/video/playstation) hardware business will affect how it executes its music business.  As such, it is not clear if RCA necessarily has a clear vision as to what it needs to do to market some of its valuable assets such as the Richter material.

[Mandryka]

Great performance...

Sviatoslav Richter: Chopin Étude Op.25 No.11 (4'08)
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/fym7EOV5f1A

Richter in Winter Winds is posibly my favourite performance of any pianist in any fast Chopin Etude. I mean the one in the Praga box -- but the one on the video is pretty damn fine.

Sometimes I get disappointed by Richter's Chopin beacause it is a bit too extrovert for my tastes -- not enough melancholy. But in  Op.25 No.11 he's king.

[Holden]

Well, they don't say "Box of the Century," it's called "Pianist of the Century." I can't disagree. 

This is all Richter ever recorded with DG. He was not on their regular roster of pianists and a number of the recordings happened to coincide with other events. Checking Richter's DG Discography (briefly) shows that he basically recorded with DG between 1956 and 1962 (the Triple Concerto with HvK in 69 being an exception). Furthermore, the majority of those performances were recorded outside of Germany and a number are live. Let's face it, DGG just didn't cut it for Richter.

[George]

This is all Richter ever recorded with DG. He was not on their regular roster of pianists and a number of the recordings happened to coincide with other events. Checking Richter's DG Discography (briefly) shows that he basically recorded with DG between 1956 and 1962 (the Triple Concerto with HvK in 69 being an exception).

That Triple Concerto was actually on EMI, or did he record it twice?

As for the 1956 to 1962 point, those were great years for the pianist IMO, but yeah, 9CDs only scratches the surface. Like I said earlier, I don't think I will will be getting this set as I already have all of the DG material except for that one Schubert lieder CD with Dieskau.   

[Coopmv]

That Triple Concerto was actually on EMI, or did he record it twice?

As for the 1956 to 1962 point, those were great years for the pianist IMO, but yeah, 9CDs only scratches the surface. Like I said earlier, I don't think I will will be getting this set as I already have all of the DG material except for that one Schubert lieder CD with Dieskau.   

I will definitely go for the set since I currently have no DG recordings by Richter.  This will at least spare me the time from having to hunt down the individual recordings ...

[Dancing Divertimentian]

First of all, BMG and RCA are basically one company...

Yes, but RCA still retains the rights to its own recordings and continues to release them under the RCA banner. BMG didn't always own RCA.

Whereas BMG proper apparently has nothing to show for its short-term partnership with Melodiya. Which makes sense as these recordings were Melodiya originals anyway (there were no new recordings under this partnership). BMG just came in and helped streamline things for Melodiya in the tumultuous days following the fall of communism. It was a very timely venture for both companies.

As such, it is not clear if RCA necessarily has a clear vision as to what it needs to do to market some of its valuable assets such as the Richter material.

Well, that's not exactly true. As far as Richter, RCA's vision since the LP days has been to keep pretty much everything they own in print. There have been lapses from time to time but here in the CD era practically everything in RCA's stable is in print (some Beethoven and Chopin excepted).

[Coopmv]

So which labels have the most extensive recordings of Sviatoslav Richter on tapes in the vault?  If it is not DG, is it EMI, or is it Melodyia (spl??)?
But the SQ of Melodyia cannot be trusted.  No? 

[George]

So which labels have the most extensive recordings of Sviatoslav Richter on tapes in the vault?  If it is not DG, is it EMI, or is it Melodyia (spl??)?
But the SQ of Melodyia cannot be trusted.  No? 

It's spread out, Melodiya, Praga, EMI, Parnassus, ankh, etc...

[Dancing Divertimentian]

So which labels have the most extensive recordings of Sviatoslav Richter on tapes in the vault?  If it is not DG, is it EMI, or is it Melodyia (spl??)?

Well, it's complicated. 0:)

Let me try this:

Think of a tree. Melodiya is the trunk. The branches represent all the pirate labels that have pilfered from Melodiya's trunk (stash of recordings) over the years. These include: Urania, Yedang, Russian Revelation, Russian Disc, and a gaggle of others.

Think of another tree. The BBC is the trunk. The branches represent all the pirate labels that have pilfered from the BBC's trunk over the years. These include: Music & Arts, AS Disc, Historical Performers, Memories, and a gaggle of others.

Think of yet another tree. The bootleg recordings are the trunk. The branches represent all the pirate labels willing to issue bootlegged recordings. These include: Intaglio, Icone, Memoria, Multisonic, and a gaggle of others.

And on and on.

Keep in mind there's no rhyme or reason to the above illustration and there are plenty of instances where branches from one tree siphon off from one or more of the other trees (is there no honor among trees?! ).

And this is just on CD.

[Holden]

That Triple Concerto was actually on EMI, or did he record it twice?

Ah, the power of assumption. I don't own that recording and naturally assumed that HvK would have recorded with DG (he certainly did in 1970).

[George]

New Richter Series on Naxos begins with this CD, available 3/30/09, already listed at MDT:



SVIATOSLAV RICHTER (1915-1997)

Early Recordings Vol. 1

1948-1956 Recordings


Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828);

Moments musicaux, Op. 94, D. 780:

No. 1 in C major Recorded in Moscow, 1952

Impromptu, Op. 90, D. 899: No. 2 in E flat major Recorded in Moscow, 1950

Impromptu, Op. 142, D. 935: No. 2 in A flat major Recorded in Moscow in 1952


Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849):

12 Etudes, Op. 25: No. 5 in E minor Recorded in Moscow in 1952


Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856):

Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 (excerpts): No. 1. Des Abends

No. 2. Aufschwung; No. 3.Warum?

No. 5. In der Nacht; No. 8. Ende vom Lied Recorded in Moscow in 1948


Robert SCHUMANN:

Humoreske in B flat major, Op. 20 Recorded in Moscow in 1956


Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Ward Marston

"In these recordings, the earliest of which were made after he had won joint first prize at the All- Union Piano Competition in Moscow, Richter's dazzling technique, fluency of execution and seamless legato are already to the fore."

"His 1948 recording of the Fantasiestücke, Op. 12, is here reissued for the first time since the original 78rpm issue."

[Brian]

Zoinks! 

Also, I thought Ward Marston and Naxos had parted ways ... glad this is not the case.

[George]

Zoinks! 

Also, I thought Ward Marston and Naxos had parted ways ... glad this is not the case.

Me too, Brian. 

[Mandryka]

New Richter Series on Naxos begins with this CD, available 3/30/09.

Perfect timing for my birthday.