Sviatoslav Richter

[George]

the Op.2 no3 is superb too, Beethoven 3rd sonata

You need to hear his Appassionata now, either 1960 RCA or Live Melodiya. 

[not edward]

Two more RICHTER: THE MASTER volumes, out in the new year

VOLUME 10

CD1

Chopin

24 Preludes, Op. 28

1-6. Nos. 6-11

7. No. 19

8. No. 17

9-10. Nos. 23 & 24

11. Barcarolle, Op. 60

12. Nocturne No.4 in F, Op. 15 No.1

13. Polonaise No.7 ion A flat, Op. 61 "Polonaise-fantaisie"

Liszt

14-16. Sonata in B minor



CD2

Liszt

1. Polonaise No.2 in E, S223 No. 2

2. Scherzo in G minor, S153

3. Nuages gris, S199

4. Consolation No.6, S172 No. 6

5. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 17 in D minor, S244

6. Klavierstück in F sharp, S193

7. Mephisto Polka, S217

12 Etudes d'exécution transcendante, S139

8-10. Nos. 1-3

11. No. 5

12-13. Nos. 7 & 8

14 No. 11

15. No. 10

3 Etudes de concert, S144

16. No. 3 "Un sospiro"

17. No. 2 "Gnomenreigen"



The great Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter, considered by many to be the greatest pianist of the 20th century, died on August 1st 1997. The previous Philips-only Richter Edition has been out of the catalogue for several years. The final releases in the Richter Edition are now released and include the present 2CD set of Chopin and Liszt.



VOLUME 11

CD1

1-4. Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 14

5. Stravinsky: Piano Rag-music

6-7. Shostakovich: Prelude and Fugue in C minor, Op.87 No. 20



CD2

1. Webern: Variations, Op. 27

2-4. Bartók: 3 Burlesques, Sz47

5-6. Szymanowski: 2 Métopes, Op. 29

7-11. Hindemith: "1922" Suite for Piano, Op. 26



The great Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter, considered by many to be the greatest pianist of the 20th century, died on August 1st 1997. The previous Philips-only Richter Edition has been out of the catalogue for several years. The final releases in the Richter Edition are now released and include the present 2CD set of twentieth-century repertory which was first released on Decca.

[George]

Two more RICHTER: THE MASTER volumes, out in the new years.

Thanks for the heads up, edward! 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Just my luck......

Q

Some of the Brahms pieces are AWOL, too, mostly the late miniatures...

[samtrb]

You need to hear his Appassionata now, either 1960 RCA or Live Melodiya. 

Actually this is on my wish list !

[George]

Actually this is on my wish list !

>>>>MOVE TO CART 

[Holden]

Actually this is on my wish list !

Yes, a good choice but this is an even better combination

[samtrb]

better in what meaning ? the brahms n2 is on my wish liszt too    but i don't mind listening to his beethoven n1 too, anything wrong with it?

[George]

better in what meaning ? the brahms n2 is on my wish liszt too    but i don't mind listening to his beethoven n1 too, anything wrong with it?

Not to my ears.

[Holden]

better in what meaning ? the brahms n2 is on my wish liszt too    but i don't mind listening to his beethoven n1 too, anything wrong with it?

No, but the performance of the Brahms is an absolute classic.

[sidoze]

10 March - Supraphon release of Richter playing Shostakovich and Chopin

http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2685636

[Dancing Divertimentian]

10 March - Supraphon release of Richter playing Shostakovich and Chopin

This is very good news. The Shostakovich is some of the finest out there. I've owned the earlier Supraphon CD for many years. What's amazing is the high quality of the 1956 mono sound. Pure and clear and with body. I can imagine a proper remastering will breath even more life into the sound. (Although one cut - the 4th prelude - appears new to CD and might be from 1954).

It's interesting they've changed the coupling. Used to be Schumann. But since it's the same Schumann also found on DG (it was a joint venture) I suppose changing things is appropriate. 

The Chopin looks tempting. Don't know its origins. Studio? Live?.....

[sidoze]

It's interesting they've changed the coupling. Used to be Schumann. But since it's the same Schumann also found on DG (it was a joint venture) I suppose changing things is appropriate. 

Schumann is coming out separately: http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2685637

The Chopin is probably live.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

(Although one cut - the [DSCH] 4th prelude - appears new to CD and might be from 1954).

The Chopin is probably live.

I should have scrolled down further. Here's the info from HMV:

Shostakovich: Preludes & Fugues - No.3, 4, 6, 7, 2, 18
Mono Recoredings: 3,4/12/1956 & 30/11/1956

Chopin: Etudes op.10 - No.1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12
Chopin: Etudes op.25 - No.5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12
Chopin: Polonaise No.7 op.61
Mono Recoredings: 21/2/1960 (Live)

[bassio]

Great you guys were reading my thoughts. I was just want to open a thread about Richter's Beethoven.

I love his Op.2 No.3 - the Live in Prague. A marvellous account.

Can someone guide me which discs to get for a considerable chunk of his Beethoven.

And how many Appasionatas on record? I only heard one of them (and not sure which version): astounding technique but it left me cold. Which is his very best version?

And I have not heard his Op.111, where can you find that Don?

[dirkronk]

And how many Appasionatas on record? I only heard one of them (and not sure which version): astounding technique but it left me cold. Which is his very best version?

According to the discography compiled by Ates Tanin, with dates given European style (can't bring up the other online discography I used to consult):

Piano Sonata No.23 in f, Op.57

8/1/51 - Moscow - Live - (PT)
1/11/59 - Prague - Live - PRAGA 254 021 (CD)**
59 - Kiev - Live - TNC H1463-64 (2CD)**
9/6/60 - Moscow - Live - MELODIYA/BMG 29462 2 (CD)**
19/10/60 - New York - Live - DOREMI DHR-7864-9 (6CD)** [N]
29-30/11/60 - New York - RCA 6518-2-RG (CD)**
23/12/60 - New York - Live - (PT)*
20/9/92 - Briosco - Live - (PT)*
22/10/92 - Eindhoven - Live - VPRO EIGENWIJS EW 9301 (CD)*
25/10/92 - Amsterdam - Live - PHILIPS 438 486-2 (2CD)**
5/1/93 - Siena - Live - (PT)*
? - ? - Live - excerpt - WARNER/NVC ARTS 3984-23029-2 (DVD)** [N]

I own the ones in boldface. Richter's Moscow 1960 is probably cited most often as the "best" overall--though I'll leave it to you to decide what that means; I personally find this performance very nicely balanced (BTW, this recording has been released on MANY vinyl versions, some of which used to cite the date as 1959, but all CD versions I've seen/heard give the date as shown). His studio RCA 1960 is the best recording and offers power and excitement; that's the one I usually recommend, and it comes in two editions, both of which are illustrated higher up on this page (Holden's post). The live Carnegie Hall from October 1960 offers added nervous energy and assorted fingerslips but also a sense of occasion and edge-of-your-seat thrills that still manage to entrance me whenever I put it on. Certainly I wouldn't give up ANY of the versions I own, finding felicities in each that warrants continued ownership and listening.

I'm curious about the late versions, but have never heard these. People whose ears I trust have warned me not to waste my money (though if I ever get a chance to listen free or find these priced low in a used CD emporium, I'll probably give them a try).

I once heard a live version not listed above--on some small CD label that claimed the performance was from 1965. Sound was awful, with horrendous wow and what sounded like tape stretch, and the performance wasn't all that impressive. If you ever see this one, give it a miss.

Cheers,

Dirk

[George]

Great you guys were reading my thoughts. I was just want to open a thread about Richter's Beethoven.

I love his Op.2 No.3 - the Live in Prague. A marvellous account.

Can someone guide me which discs to get for a considerable chunk of his Beethoven.

I'd get the cheap Brilliant Classics set, for it's great Beethoven and even greater Schubert. Includes his Op. 111 too.

Go to Russian DVD.com for his incredible Beethoven Melodiya CD. Includes the great live Appassionata and a great live Pathetique.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Great you guys were reading my thoughts. I was just want to open a thread about Richter's Beethoven.

I love his Op.2 No.3 - the Live in Prague. A marvellous account.

Can someone guide me which discs to get for a considerable chunk of his Beethoven.

And how many Appasionatas on record? I only heard one of them (and not sure which version): astounding technique but it left me cold. Which is his very best version?

And I have not heard his Op.111, where can you find that Don?

Bassio,

Like George said, the Briliant box is probably your best bet for quality one-stop Richter Beethoven. Including the Op.111. I don't actually own the box but I've read nothing that would put me off buying it were I in the market for it (although I believe it's OOP, now).

Otherwise you have to look far and wide for Richter's Beethoven, on labels like Praga, BBC Classics, Music & Arts, etc...

As far as Op.111 specifically, I can say for certain that the performance in the Brilliant box is an excellent one. That's because I'm the happy owner of the performance in an earlier issue - in a long OOP Music & Arts four-disc compilation (pictured below). It's well recorded, too (at least it sounds good on M&A), which is always nice when it comes to Richter.

I might even say, if you're up for the hunt, seek out this Music & Arts compilation - not just for the Op.111 but for all the other goodies it contains, as well. This could well be the finest of all Richter compilations for it's ingenious mix of repertoire and well-chosen performances. With all-around good sound, to boot.   

It's all prime Richter in such eclectic repertoire as Beethoven, Debussy, Schumann, Scriabin, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Prokofiev, Moussorgsky, Rachmaninoff, and topped off with a heart-wrenching performance of Wagner's(!) tiny piano piece, Dedication (marvelous!!).

[bassio]

Hey Thanks for the suggestions 

So you do recommend these over his RCA and Decca Beethoven?

[George]

Hey Thanks for the suggestions 

So you do recommend these over his RCA and Decca Beethoven?

The RCA is excellent, I wouldn't miss it, though if you just buy one Appassionata, get the Melodiya, for it contains his sole recording of the Pathetique, also live.

The Decca can be skipped IMO, was too late in his career, the Brilliant Box is much better, plus you get some of his Schubert with that.