Sviatoslav Richter

[Zhiliang]

As I mentioned earlier, I'd suggest taking on a performance basis, as I have heard his best work on specific performances of the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

I finally dug out a list I made for a friend on another board of recommendations for Richter CDs. I will post it below for you:

1. Prokofiev Piano Sonatas 6-8, Sofia Recital - Great Pianists of the Century or get the Sofia Recital separately on Philips, but the Prokofiev is not to be missed (PM me if you have trouble finding it.)

2. Beethoven Sonatas Pathetique and Appassionata, Bagatelles and Choral Fantasy on Melodiya (THE best Beethoven disc Richter has put out)

3. Beethoven Sonatas 109 -111 "Live at Leipzig" on Parnassus

4. Rachmaninoff PC 2 and Prokofiev PC 5 on DG (better than the one with the Tchaikovsky coupling, another essential Richter CD)

5. Liszt Piano Concertos cond by Kondrashin on Philips

6. Schumann Fantasy in C on Various EMI CDs

7. Schumann Waldszenen, 6 Fantasiestucke, Toccata, Novellette, Marsch on DG (not the Supraphon as the sound is not as good)

8. Bach WTC Live at Innsbruck on Victor or the much easier to find RCA Salzburg version where the performance is still very good, but the sound is somewhat over-reverberant

9. Debussy Preludes complete on BBC Legends

10. Chopin/Scriabin on Praga and any other Richter Praga CDs you can get including the whole set (very expensive.)

11. Also, any Schubert by the pianist you can get!

Wow, thats a great list for a beginner for me, thanks a lot once again. I tried looking through my cds and actually managed to find the Sofia recital and two other cds that are not on your list now. Cant believe i only tried listening to the Schubert Impromptus and Pictures at an exhibition inside. I have never seen the Melodiya Beethoven disc around though.

You know something? I actually felt that the Doremi Carnegie Hall recordings sound actually alright. The great playing actually shines through. Thanks for the lowering of expectations for me and when i compared it to the William Kapell Rediscovered cd, this is still so much better.

[George]

Wow, thats a great list for a beginner for me, thanks a lot once again. I tried looking through my cds and actually managed to find the Sofia recital and two other cds that are not on your list now. Cant believe i only tried listening to the Schubert Impromptus and Pictures at an exhibition inside. I have never seen the Melodiya Beethoven disc around though.

It's here - http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Piano-Sonatas-Vol-2/dp/B000001HCQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1245197389&sr=8-4

You know something? I actually felt that the Doremi Carnegie Hall recordings sound actually alright. The great playing actually shines through. Thanks for the lowering of expectations for me and when i compared it to the William Kapell Rediscovered cd, this is still so much better.

LOL, that's happens sometimes for me, too. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

What say 'ye on this recording:



Sonata in A minor D845
recorded in Moscow in March 1957

Sonata in D major D850
recorded in Moscow in August 1956

Impromptu in E flat D899/2

recorded in Moscow in 1950

That's very tempting, Bill. And probably the best of the transfers available. Still, the original Melodiya recordings are bound to be best of all but since they're currently unavailable (why?) there's little for one to do.

I actually have this D.845 on Urania, and I enjoy the performance, but unfortunately Urania isn't one of the more honorable record labels out there (they're pirate). Which means sound-wise things could be a whole lot better.

Anyway, if you take the plunge let us know your impressions.  

[Holden]

I wholeheartedly agree with George's suggestions and would like to add these:



some of the best Rachmaninov playing you'll ever hear.

Schubert, outside of the sonatas, by a master.

The best Brahms PC2 ever (IMHO) plus a brilliant LvB Appassionata!

And not to be missed, his Debussy.

[George]

some of the best Rachmaninov playing you'll ever hear.

I fully agree. I didn't include this one because he said he already got it. 

And not to be missed, his Debussy.

I listed that one. I guess you missed it. 

[Zhiliang]

Thanks George and Holden for all the recommendations.

I am now ordering the BBC Debussy on MDT now. Cant wait for all of them to arrive.

I also saw this, and its Praga.



Is it any good?

I couldnt find it on the Trovar discography.

[George]

Thanks George and Holden for all the recommendations.

Your welcome!

I also saw this, and its Praga.



Is it any good?

Well, it made my list:

10. Chopin/Scriabin on Praga and any other Richter Praga CDs you can get including the whole set (very expensive.)

In other words, yes! It's superb! 

[Zhiliang]

Haha, you are making me poor 

Ordered 7 Richter discs in the last 3 days.

[Holden]

I fully agree. I didn't include this one because he said he already got it. 

I listed that one. I guess you missed it. 

It's end of term. I'm tired, jaded and maybe a bit of dementia is setting in!

[George]

It's end of term. I'm tired, jaded and maybe a bit of dementia is setting in!

Hey another plug for Richter's Debussy certainly can't hurt, right? 

[Holden]

Hey another plug for Richter's Debussy certainly can't hurt, right? 

Thanks George, the sentiment is really appreciated.

[ezodisy]

not sure if this has been mentioned yet

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/3577540

Sviatoslav Richter in Budapest

Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 19 in C Minor, D958
Schumann: Toccata in C Major op. 7
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
Rachmaninov: Prelude in G-sharp Minor op. 32 No. 12
Debussy: Preludes Book 1 : The Hills of Anacapri
Debussy: Images Series 2 : Bells through the Leaves

Sviatoslav Richter, piano

recorded 9-Feb-1958

The Budapest performance is more closely and sympathetically recorded than the Sofia one (though the audience seems not much healthier). Again, it is the courage of this performance that deserves to be singled out - the huge risks he takes, most of which pay off brilliantly.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

not sure if this has been mentioned yet....

Thanks for that, ez. Edward actually brought it up here.

[George]

Brahms
Sonata No. 1 in C Op. 1
Sonata No. 2 in f sharp Op. 2
Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35: Book 1
Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35: Book 2
Klavierstücke, Op. 118: No. 3 - Ballade in g
Klavierstücke, Op. 119: No. 4 - Rhapsody in E flat
Fantasien, Op. 116: No. 5 - Intermezzo in e
Klavierstücke, Op. 76: No. 8 - Capriccio in C   

Schumann
Fantasia in C, Op. 17
March in g, Op.76 No. 10
Concert Studies On Caprices by Paginini, Op. 10: no. 4 in c, no. 5 in b, and no. 6 in e
Novellette in F Op. 21 No. 1
Blumenstück, Op. 19
Nachtstücke, Op. 23

Q

Did you (or anyone else) ever get this set? I have never seen it for less than $80, then today it popped up for $45 at amazon. I decided to think it over (for some crazy reason) and it was gone an hour later when I went back. 

[Que]

Did you (or anyone else) ever get this set? I have never seen it for less than $80, then today it popped up for $45 at amazon. I decided to think it over (for some crazy reason) and it was gone an hour later when I went back. 

Yes I did! Much to my satisfaction.
I forgot how much I paid but it was somewhere in the region of $45.

Q

[George]

Just read a message over at the Sviatoslav Richter Yahoo group about the mastering on this set. Apparently DG claims that the set has been remastered, yet the person who posted on the Yahoo group reports that there is no sound difference compared to earlier CD releases. I haven't got it myself because I have all but one work from the set, but wanted to report this for people like me who thought that they might be missing out on a sound upgrade by not buying the set.

[George]

I would add the Preiser recording of Chopin Preludes.

Just got this today. Should get to it over the weekend.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Just got this today. Should get to it over the weekend.

Did you just order this, George? If so, the same concert is on Ankh in improved sound and might be the better buy. I have the Ankh and can attest to the wonderful refurbishing they bestowed on the sound. Much better than anything else I've heard from a live Russian concert from the early 50's (1950 in fact).

Plus there's more filler on the Ankh including two nocturnes that can only be found on this disc.

[George]

Did you just order this, George? If so, the same concert is on Ankh in improved sound and might be the better buy. I have the Ankh and can attest to the wonderful refurbishing they bestowed on the sound. Much better than anything else I've heard from a live Russian concert from the early 50's (1950 in fact).

Plus there's more filler on the Ankh including two nocturnes that can only be found on this disc.

I bought the Preiser at a local store. Is the Ankh reasonably priced and easy to find?

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Is the Ankh reasonably priced and easy to find?

Yes, it's on Amazon and goes for around $21-22 or so (it's volume 1). That seems to be the going rate for Ankh discs even if you order from the company directly.