Richter versus Gilels

[B_cereus]

Can someone explain why Richter seems to have the greater popular acclaim? (at least among the wider public). Is he regarded as the better of the two?

I thought they were both equally great in their own ways.

[anasazi]

Can someone explain why Richter seems to have the greater popular acclaim? (at least among the wider public). Is he regarded as the better of the two?

I thought they were both equally great in their own ways.

Could it be that there are a whole lot more CD reissues available of Richter than of Gilels?  Or it seems that way. That at least gives us more of Richter's art to appreciate at this date. 

I find it difficult to rank pianists, especially if they specialize in slightly different reportory.  Personally, I enjoy much of what both Richter and Gilels have recorded.  I even had the opportunity to see Gilels in concert once, and the man's pianism was nothing short of brilliant. 

Better than others? The best? Better than Richter?  I still do not not have a real clue.  I simply like them both.

[Holden]

It is quite possible that opinions will reverse in the next couple of years and Gilels will be more favoured than Richter. One advantage that Richter does have is a broader repertoire and it may be this that makes the difference.

Check out these two sites for a comparison

http://www.doremi.com/DiscGilComp.html
http://www.doremi.com/sr.html

They were obviously quite different pianists as well and the somewhat more bombastic Richter (is this a bombastic era?) appears to be the favoured one.

Regardless, as far as I'm concerned they were both superb!

[lukeottevanger]

Regardless, as far as I'm concerned they were both superb!

Absolutely - no need to choose!

(That said, Gilels is my favourite pianist, so.....!)

[B_cereus]

thanks for the replies guys

just out of interest on Facebook the Richter appreciation group stands at 352 members, while Gilels has only 134.

(also... Argerich 789 (agg) Gould 500 (agg), Horowitz 398, Brendel 107, Arrau 67, Rubinstein 63).

I know it's probably meaningless and I am expanding the thread topic a bit here, but i think that affirms my suspicion that Argerich and Gould have the biggest 'cult' following out there, followed by Horowitz and Richter.

I am just fascinated to try to understand why certain great pianists seem to attract more popularity than others (which seems to me unrelated to their comparative 'greatness'.). Could it be related to thier marketing or CD availability, as anasazi suggested? The record labels definitely repackage a lot of Horowitz, Argerich and Gould special issues all the time. 

[Sergeant Rock]

Absolutely - no need to choose!

No indeed...but if forced to, the three Gs are my favorite pianists: Gilels, Gould, Grimaud. Giles because of his extraordinary Beethoven; Gould because of his extraordinary eccentricity and individuality (he sings well too  ). Grimaud because of her extraordiary cuteness    Okay, that's really only a small part of why I love Grimaud: it's her way with the German Romantic literature that seduced me utterly: her Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms. She has a real affinity for this repertoire.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

thanks for the replies guys

just out of interest on Facebook the Richter appreciation group stands at 352 members, while Gilels has only 134.

Does Grimaud have an appreciation group?

Sarge

[George]

Can someone explain why Richter seems to have the greater popular acclaim? (at least among the wider public). Is he regarded as the better of the two?

I thought they were both equally great in their own ways.

Certainly Gilels's Brahms, Grieg and Beethoven are superb.

However, I would say the same of Richter's Schubert, Beethoven, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Haydn, Schumann and Chopin.

For this reason, I find Richter to be "better."

As for popular acclaim, for once they got it right. 

[MN Dave]

Celery or carrots?

[B_cereus]

Does Grimaud have an appreciation group?

Sarge

yup the lovely Helene currently has 156 fans there.

[johnsmith21997]

Helene Grimaud? I cannot respect any musician that sells themselves like a prostitute. I'd like to see a female classical musician -- although I will admit in recent times male performers have been taking part in ridiculous photoshoots -- that doesn't use her looks to sell records. Besides, of all the pianists this century has produced, you list Grimaud in your top three? Something seems wrong here... sounds like you have let a different head take advantage of you.

[Gurn Blanston]

Helene Grimaud? I cannot respect any musician that sells themselves like a prostitute. I'd like to see a female classical musician -- although I will admit in recent times male performers have been taking part in ridiculous photoshoots -- that doesn't use her looks to sell records. Besides, of all the pianists this century has produced, you list Grimaud in your top three? Something seems wrong here... sounds like you have let a different head take advantage of you.

Maybe true, maybe not. But that post you are replying to is 4.5 years old, and that poster hasn't been around in years, so I doubt you'll get a rebuttal from him...



----------------
Now playing:
Liszt-Ferenc Chamber Orchestra, Budapest / Sandor - Hob 28_05 Opera "La Infedelta Delusa" pt 09 Act 1 - (Aria - Vespina) Come piglia si bene

[Brian]

But that post you are replying to is 4.5 years old, and that poster hasn't been around in years, so I doubt you'll get a rebuttal from him...

Sergeant Rock has been around this week...

I'm not a big fan of Grimaud, but I find John Smith's point odd - given that EMI, Decca, and DG have spent more or less all the last 60 years pasting their stars' glamor photographs on the covers of CDs, it's strange to single out one pianist as an offender.




Again, why single out Grimaud?

[Sammy]

Helene Grimaud? I cannot respect any musician that sells themselves like a prostitute.

Don't you think that's a bit over the edge?

[Leon]

I think Grimaud can play.  Her Mozart is actually pretty good.  I find that sometimes reverse bias can come into play too; e.g. if she's too good looking she can't be talented ...

[Todd]

I hope Mr Smith doesn't learn about Yuja Wang.

[DieNacht]

Richter of course also had a much larger - potentially more interesting/selling - repertoire, and a better developed concert life in the West, than Gilels.

[Sammy]

I think Grimaud can play.  Her Mozart is actually pretty good.  I find that sometimes reverse bias can come into play too; e.g. if she's too good looking she can't be talented ...

An excellent musician of average looks is very good; one who is attractive is even better.

[Sergeant Rock]

What a delightful first post, Mr. Smith. So, you joined the forum just to attack me and Ms. Grimaud? I'm honored

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Sergeant Rock has been around this week...

I'm not a big fan of Grimaud, but I find John Smith's point odd - given that EMI, Decca, and DG have spent more or less all the last 60 years pasting their stars' glamor photographs on the covers of CDs, it's strange to single out one pianist as an offender.

Precisely. Why did he pick on Grimaud? Why not Glenn Gould, who posed for thousands of publicity shots. A small sampling from Google images:





To single out Grimaud as a whore is not only unfair and misogynistic, it's bordering on the sociopathic. Unfortunately his type is not uncommon. His type is often seen around classical music boards. Prudish, self-righteous, hates women (JdP!), especially attractive women--because he's never attracted one himself? because he's gay? because he had a castrating mother? I don't know. But it does amuse me to see how upset a simple picture of an attractive woman makes him. It amuses me less that he thinks it proper to insult her in the most demeaning way. Mr. Smith is not a good person.

Sarge