Richter 8

1. Scherzo for piano No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20, CT 197
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter

2. Scherzo for piano No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31, CT 198
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter

3. Scherzo for piano No. 3 in C sharp minor, Op. 39, CT 199
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter

4. Scherzo for piano No. 4 in E major, Op. 54, CT 200
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter

5. Bunte Blätter (14) (Colored Leaves) for piano, Op. 99
Composed by Robert Schumann
with Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter

Tracks:

Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: The Cottage Maid (Welsh)
Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: The Last Rose Of Summer (Irish)
Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: Chiling O'Guirg (Irish)
Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: English Bulls (Irish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: St. Patrick's Day (Irish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: O Mary, At The Window Be (Scottish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Oh, Thou Are The Lad Of My Heart (Scottish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Fur Elise
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 8 In C Minor ('Pathetique') - Adagio cantabile
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat - Alla Danza Tedesca. Allegro assai
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 7 In D - Menuetto (Allegro)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: The Creatures Of Prometheus - Finale. Allegretto
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat - Menuetto (Moderato e grazioso)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 20 In G - Tempo di menuetto
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 8 In F - Allegro scherzando
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor ('Choral') - Ode To Joy
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 15 In D ('Pastoral') - Rondo (Allegro ma non troppo)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 6 In F ('Pastoral') - Hymn Of Thanksgiving

Amazon.com

For the parent looking to ease their child into a familiarity with classical music, this is a very well chosen set of Beethoven works. It begins with a generous selection of airs composed late in the composer's life. The presence of the flute as the lead instrument on these selections has a soothing quality that moves the ear in an ideally subtle way, especially as it gives way to the more excited piano sonata pieces. Zoltán Kocsis's reading of "Pathétique" is followed by Claudio Arrau's take on the 7th, 15th, and 18th sonatas and Sviatoslav Richter's lyrical take on the 20th ("Pastoral"). Programmed amidst the piano pieces, which are great studies in dynamics and musical spacing, are some fine orchestral snippets, none longer than five minutes. The collection does a fine balancing act, condensing works that don't inherently lend themselves to shortened renditions and carefully managing moods, entry, and egress to each segment. This is fine anthology work. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Beethoven for Babies.......2007-05-21

My baby and I really enjoy this CD. It is so fun to feel the baby get excited when I play it. I have a pillow speaker and just place it right up against my stomach. It evens helps me to get in a nap or just rest for a while.

Nicest classical CD I have found for my baby (& me).......2005-09-01

This is a very pleasant CD to listen to, and I think the quality of the music is excellent. I enjoy listening to this with my 10 month old son, and we also listen to the radio and lots of modern music. I recently purchased 5 of the classical "Baby Einstein" CDs and I consider them to be inferior to this Beethoven for Babies CD. The Baby Einstein are very synthesized sounding and I think they are annoyingly mellow and kind of dopey. This Beethoven CD is beautiful. In fact I'm going to buy 1 or 2 more from this series.

Ode To Beethoven.......2005-05-13

The actual reason I bought this cd is for "Fur Elise" but it turned out to be much more than I bargained for. Before road rage sets in while sitting in a traffic jam during rush hour, play this. If you need to take it easy and escape from your reality, play this. Need something to play at work that's not explicit or offensive, play this. Of course, it's not Beethoven himself, but if you need some quiet time, play this. Even while you read, you could play this. If you want some authenticity to your collection, get Beethoven for Babies.

Pseudoscientific crap, but some of the music is good here.......2004-05-27

The 3 stars is only because the hucksters that put this together at least had the decency to tracks featuring Arrau & Richter on this CD. A lot of these "turn your baby into a genius with classical music" CDs and tapes feature only lousy musical performances from hack musicians you have never heard of.

That having been said, if you are stupid enough to believe any of this "Mozart Effect" horse manure --- which continues to have no support in any sort of controlled test environment --- then your babies will probably inherit your limited intellectual capacities & no amount of Beethoven & Mozart will ever be able to help them.

If, on the other hand, you are introducing Junior to classical music, you could do worse --- but you could also do better. Go get Arrau's complete Beethoven sonatas & concerti, get the Berg Quartett's complete Beethoven quartet cycle, and get John Eliot Gardiner's complete Beethoven symphonies --- just for a start. Also, don't stop with Beethoven & Mozart. My 9-month old daughter gets a diverse exposure to a thousand years of music, and very little is off limits. She got acquainted with the Bartok Quartets within her first couple of months, and it doesn't look like we have created an axe murderer or anything like that.

Anyway, if you want to create a classical music lover, do it right and go the distance, rather than doing it piecemeal with CDs like this. Your baby may still be a moron, but at least will be a moron with exquisite taste.

Nicest classical music CD I've found for my baby (& me).......2003-11-23

Average customer rating:

Bach for Relaxation
Peaceful and Beautiful
Bach to knit up your raveled sleeve of care
My favorite...
Wonderful for baby!

Bach for Relaxation

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mozart for Relaxation
Beethoven for Relaxation
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Rachmaninoff for Relaxation

ASIN: B000003G7C
Release Date: 1998-01-13

Tracks:

Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Suite BWV1012: Allemande
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6: Adagio ma non tanto
The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude In C
Trio Sonata No. 4, BWV1079: Andante
Violino solo e Basso l'accompagnato
Sonata BWV1005: Largo
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4: Andante
Violin Concerto BWV1041: Andante
Flute Sonata BWV1034: Andante
The Goldberg Variations: Aria
Lute Suite No. 1 BWV996: Courante
Sonata No. 1 For Violin And Harpsichord BWV1014: Andante
The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude In E - Flat Minor (excerpt)
Concerto For Flute, Violin, And Harpsicord BMV 1044: Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2: Andante
Sonata BWV1001: Siciliano
Prelude In D Minor BWV999
Orchestral Suite No. 3 BWV1068: Air On The G-String

Customer Reviews:

Bach for Relaxation.......2007-03-09

This is a great CD of instrumental Bach music. I listen to it very often

Peaceful and Beautiful.......2002-11-01

I have purchased this CD twice, first for myself to listen to during labor and secondly for a friend who has a new, very stressful job. I love the music on this CD, it is wonderfully played and listening it to it during labor was very helpful and uplifting. Now both my daughter and I enjoy listening to it, and during fussy days it calms her down a bit, which is very nice. The music truly brings on a serene feeling without making one sleepy, which means its great for anytime you just need to relax yet stay alert. I'll be giving it to my friend for the holidays, and I'm sure she'll love it as much as we do.

Bach to knit up your raveled sleeve of care.......2001-12-19

What better way to begin 'Bach for Relaxation' than with "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." This CD is not dumbed-down Johann Sebastian Bach just because it advertises itself as relaxation music (which was my initial fear before purchase). Good orchestras and soloists perform the nineteen well-chosen chamber works, ranging from the deceptively simple "Prelude in C" from "The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1" (Sviatoslav Richter, piano) to selections from the powerful Brandenburg Concertos.

This is Bach in his most serene, mathematically perfect form. None of his mighty organ or choral works will disturb your contemplative mood as you drift through the sixty-eight minutes of this CD.

I'm usually asleep by track fifteen, the adagio from "Concerto for Flute, Violin & Harpsichord BWV 1044."

Another very good CD in this 'relaxation' series from BMG RCAVictor is "Cello for Relaxation."

My favorite..........2000-11-21

This is one of my favorite classical CD's. It is a composition of soft, calmer Bach, and is perfect for almost any occassion. This is a great CD for first time classical listeners or long time fans ... It functions as perfect dinner background music, or to listen to alone. I highly recommend this compilation of Bach.

Wonderful for baby!.......1999-12-04

We received this as a baby gift and it has been a godsend. Our newborn relaxes to the sound of this when nothing else works. We also love it for ourselves; the CD contains the best of Bach's less fiery works, and the musical interpretation and recording quality are outstanding.

Schumann: Piano Concerto / Sviatoslav Richter

Average customer rating:

Robert Schumann piano Sviatoslav Richter
Richter plays Schumann
& I thought Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1 was my favorite!
schumann's chamber concerto
Best of the best

Schumann: Piano Concerto / Sviatoslav Richter

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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Schumann: The 4 Symphonies

ASIN: B000001GQS
Release Date: 1996-04-09

Tracks:

Konzert Fur Klavier Und Orchestera - Op. 54: 1. Allegro Affettuoso
Konzert Fur Klavier Und Orchestera - Op. 54: 2. Intermezzo Andantino - Attacca
Konzert Fur Klavier Und Orchestera - Op. 54: 3. Allegro Vivace
Introduction Und Allegro Appassionato G - Dur Op. 92
Novellette F - Dur Op. 21 No. 1
Toccata C - Dur Op. 7
Waldszenen Op. 82: Entry
Waldszenen Op. 82: Hunters On The Lookout
Waldszenen Op. 82: Lonely Flowers
Waldszenen Op. 82: Place Of Evil Fame
Waldszenen Op. 82: Friendly Landscape
Waldszenen Op. 82: Shelter
Waldszenen Op. 82: Bird As Prophet
Waldszenen Op. 82: Hunting Song
Waldszenen Op. 82: Farewell

Amazon.com essential recording

If you want to judge a pianist's versatility, listen to his or her recording of the Schumann Piano Concerto. It requires virtually everything a pianist should have to offer: poetry, virtuosity, expansive expression alternating with poised restraint. What a glorious test piece this is. Richter, who was famous for his Schumann playing, passes every test here. His meltingly beautiful delivery of Schumann's melodies touches the heart, and his execution of the most difficult passages is so smooth and effortless that it never calls a bit of attention to itself. In this piece and the Introduction and Allegro, the excellent orchestra also covers itself with glory. The solo pieces are no less wonderful. The way Richter plays the difficult Toccata is almost scary in its combination of power and velocity. The Forest Scenes is a slightly older recording (1956) than the others (1958), but it still sounds lovely. Catch Richter's whirlwind playing of "Traumes-Wirren" and you'll understand right away why other pianists had such respect for his technique. Listen to his "Prophet Bird" and he'll touch your heart. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Robert Schumann piano Sviatoslav Richter.......2007-03-08

Dexterity of Richter is world class . As a classical pianist I was disappointed with the frequency response of the recording. Although probably digitized still a lot of the frequencies were missing. If I had to choose again I would select a relatively recent performance .

Richter plays Schumann.......2005-12-05

All of us who admire the supreme interpretative status of Sviatoslav Richter know about his variable temperament. That personal feature permeated every piece he played in his fruitful career. The Piano Concerto has been played for so many pianists in the most different approach. It is a piece of irresistible romantic ethos, who can deny it? .

This version remained indeed, as one the most prominent in the market for years; but there were many more: Lipatti, Michelangeli, Rubinstein, Cortot ,Van Cliburn, Yves Nat among many others, we should wait until the most elegant, expressive, eloquent and committed performance ever recorded : Ivan Moravec with the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Vaclav Neumann (a very hard to find CD).

That fact established more than just a line; a true frontier, a reference pattern, very hard to surpass until this date. Richter 's performance is something inexpressive, he could make a major and best performance. But despite of it, remains among the ten best available and trustable versions.

The rest of the CD is absolutely perfect .I don't know about any other version of Introduction and Allegro capable to match with it. His Novelette is very expressive and sensitive with the only exception of the monumental version of Wilhelm Kempff and one register of Emil Gilels.

The Toccata is simply memorable; there are , however two very remarkable version: Martha Argerich and Vladimir Horowitz. The Waldzsenen Op. 82 is a a very genuine jewel.

Go for this, keeping in mind there are better options respect the piano Concerto.

& I thought Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1 was my favorite!.......2004-11-04

That is...until I heard the first few notes of this Schumann concerto. I was literally in tears the first 50 times I listened to the 1st movement of this concerto. Personally I'm not a big fan of Schumann's work, but this is the absolute best piano concerto, and it is a "must buy" for any piano lover. This recording also substantiated my love for Richter's playing.

schumann's chamber concerto.......2003-07-17

as the other reviews have said, this is a remarkable performance. the ensemble playing is crisp without being rigid, and the players are recorded with the clarity of a chamber orchestra: all the instrumental soloists are distinguished and the balance with the soloist is perfect. richter creates a subtle range of moods within the overall perspective of each movement -- hard to do in a concerto role, as the orchestra must contribute to the effect -- though his dynamic contrasts are not as extreme as typical. the cumulative effect is apollonian, magisterial, and timeless. the solo pieces are marvelous technical and interpretive displays as well.

Best of the best.......2002-09-20

This recording of Schumann's concerto is simply the best: the orchestra is very good (despite reviews to the contrary), the soloist-orchestra interplay is superb, and Richter's playing is divine.

If you listen to this recording repeatedly, and then compare it with other good or very good recordings (Lipatti, Serkin, Moravec, Staier), you'll notice the differences: you will be aware how these latter pianists search for the correct interpretation of certain passages, and often they succeed. You'll be also aware, however, that Richter does not interpret. He simply plays it the way Schumann must have intended the work, i.e. the way it has to be played. It's not a matter of technique - in this respect, many(but not too many) pianists are as good as Richter. It's just like Schumann's spirit has penetrated Richter's nervous system and guides his fingers.

When you're not listening to the concerto for a long time, and then try to "play" it in your head, you will reckognize that it "sounds" like the Richter-Rowicki recording. And you will notice flaws in all other recordings.

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 5 In G Major: 1. Allegro con brio
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 5 In G Major: 2. Moderato ben accentuato
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 5 In G Major: 3. Toccata - Allegro con fuoco (piu presto che la prima volta)
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 5 In G Major: 4. Larghetto
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 5 In G Major: 5. Vivo
Sonata For Piano No. 8 In B Flat Major: 1. Andante dolce - Allegro moderato - Andante
Sonata For Piano No. 8 In B Flat Major: 2. Andante songando
Sonata For Piano No. 8 In B Flat Major: 3. Vivace - Allegro ben marcato - Andantino - Vivace
Visions fugitives op.22: No. 3, No. 6, No. 9

Amazon.com essential recording

Sviatoslov Richter was a friend of the composer, and he played all of this music in Prokofiev's presence. His performances have since acquired almost cult status among pianists--a reputation they richly deserve. The Fifth Piano Concerto is a pithy, technically difficult work in five short movements, which Richter plays as though he had composed them himself. The Eighth Sonata, by contrast, was composed during the Second World War, and the contrast between simple lyricism and horrifying violence leaves no doubt whatsoever as to what the composer was attempting to describe. These mid-price reissues sound better than ever, and artistically speaking, they are priceless. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 5 / Sviatoslav Richter.......2006-08-31

excellent recording. prompt service frm amazon

Concerto Not Quite Perfect.......2006-03-11

Don't get me wrong these performances, esp. the ones forom the keyboard have all of the energy, stength and heart that you would expect from Richter. I can not find one fault with his playing here. It is the recording itself that I have an issue with. The recording balance in the concerto is way off. The piano is always (incorrectly) projected as being louder than the orchestra. If you've ever been to a paiano concerto concert, you know that this is simply not true. Therefore, I give it 4 stars.

Prokofiev and Richter's pianistic magic.......2002-11-23

Prokofiev considered his 5th Piano Concerto to be unjustly neglected at the expense of his ever-popular 3rd. On the evidence of this September 1958 recording, he was right! Richter and the Warsaw National Philharmonic are flawless and sparkling with the spirit of Prokofiev, a light, urbane wit seldom heard since Mozart. The 8th Sonata is another spirit entirely, perhaps Prokofiev's most profound and complex work. There are gentle passages following turbulence and darkness that are of the utmost beauty, and Richter's playing is a marvel.

Other than his 2nd Symphony, Prokofiev's modernist impulse is clearest in his works for piano. The 7th and 8th Sonatas especially are masterworks of the early 20th century, and Richter's is THE 8th!

Definitive Eighth.......1999-12-25

I usually have in mind a list of the ten greatest piano recordings of all time. Luckily, having no particular label affiliation, I am compelled to make my choices solely by personal preference, Millenial Collections notwithstanding. The Fifth Concerto is rarely if ever, played. Richter's version is superb. But the Eighth Sonata receives the most excruciatingly beautiful performance. The lyricism, drama, colour are all qualities in this performance that have remained with me for decades. An essential recording for anyone who loves the piano.

BBC Friends: Richter (Great Performers of the Twentieth Century)

Average customer rating:

Highly recommended
Top-Notch Richter
Excellent set for a great price
Terrific Richter set

BBC Friends: Richter (Great Performers of the Twentieth Century)
Schumann
Manufacturer: BBC Legends
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Sviatoslav Richter Plays Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann
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ASIN: B00005Y33C
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Tracks:

Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 37 in E major: Allegro moderato
Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 37 in E major: Andante
Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 37 in E major: Finale. Tempo di Menuet
Chopin: Nocturne in E minor, Op. posth. 72 No. 1: Andante
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22: Allegro con brio
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22: Adagio con molta
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22: Menuetto
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 11 in B flat major, Op. 22: Rondo. Allegretto
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Introduzione col Basso del
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Tema
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variotaion I
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation II
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation III
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation IV
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: VAriation V
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation VI
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation VII. Canone
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation VIII
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation IX
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation X
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation XI
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation XII
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation XIII
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation XIV
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Variation XV
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Coda
Beethoven: 15 Variationen mit einer Fuge: Finale. Alla Fuga. Allegro con

Tracks:

Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Thema. Andante
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Etude I. Un poco piu vivo
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Etude II
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Etude III. Vivace
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Etude IV
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Etude V
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Variation I
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Variation II
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Variation III
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Variation IV
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Variation V
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Etude VI. Agitato
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Etude VII. Allegro
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Etude VIII
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Etude IX. Presto
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Etude X
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Etude XI
Schumann: Etudes symphoniques, Op. 13: Appendix: Etude XII. Allegro
Chopin: Nocturne in F major, Op. 15 No. 1: Andante cantabile
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 23 No. 1 in F sharp minor: Largo
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 32 No. 9 in A major: Allegro moderato
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 32 No. 10 in B minor: Lento
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 32 No. 12 in G sharp minor: Allegro
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 23 No. 8 in A flat major: Allegro vivace
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 32 No. 1 in C major: Allegro vivace
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 32 No. 2 in B flat minor: Allegretto
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 32 No. 6 in F minor: Allegro appassionato
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 32 No. 7 in F major: Moderato
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 23 No. 2 in B flat major: Maestoso
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 23 No. 4 in D major: Andante cantabile
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 23 No. 5 in G minor: Alla marcia

Amazon.com

This bargain-priced two-CD set makes Richter's performance of Haydn's Sonata No. 37 in E Major available for the first time in the compact disc era. The pianist performed this work only in the 1967 season. And his remarkable interpretation--imaginative, rhythmically expressive, and always sensitive to the play of Haydn's wit--has not been available since a Turnabout LP disappeared into vinyl oblivion about 20 years ago. The other repertory on these discs is available elsewhere, much of it (the Beethoven Sonata No. 11 and "Eroica" Variations, the 12 Rachmaninov Preludes, and Schumann's Symphonic Études) in superb studio versions. These concert performances, recorded in England during the late 1960s, are nonetheless indispensable to anyone interested in Richter.

The "Eroica" Variations, for example, have a Promethean quality and a manic energy that are missing in the studio versions. Richter's Schumann was never less than inspired and never more so than on this occasion in Royal Festival Hall, London, in 1968, when he played the Symphonic Études. There is technical control, variety of nuance, and grasp of design. And there is Richter's chord playing, which was one of the wonders of 20th century pianism. There are other great performances of this work, but none in which every chord in the insanely difficult finale rings out with such power, majesty, and clarity. It's impossible to think of another pianist--not even the composer himself--who ever played Rachmaninov's Preludes with such power and finesse. In the carillon display of the B-flat major Prelude, for example, Richter emphasizes the lower notes of chords in a manner that makes the bass sonorities all but seize the listener by the throat. Piano playing doesn't get any better than this. --Stephen Wigler

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended.......2006-08-23

Jeff Lipscomb has done a great job reviewing this CD so I wanted to comment that the performances of the Rachmaninoff Preludes and the Schumann Symphonic Etudes by Richter here are the two best of that music I've ever heard. Can't say I've comapred it with every alternative but I've listened to a number of them and Richter's are just superb. "Magical" is another word that comes to mind in relation to the Rachmaninoff.

Top-Notch Richter.......2005-06-25

As with many listeners, my musical tastes were largely formed by the very first records I owned (in my case, that was back in the 1960's). My piano teacher idolized both the piano music of Schumann and the piano playing of Rachmaninov, so naturally my first-ever "Carnaval" was Rachmaninov's on an RCA Camden LP (still un-matched imho). Soon after, I bought a mono Decca LP of "Waldscenen," performed to perfection by a Russian pianist whose name was then new to me: Sviatoslav Richter.

This extraordinary 2-disc BBC Legends set presents some of Richter's very finest playing. Like many of the greatest conductors (e.g., Furtwangler, Schuricht, Ancerl, etc.), Richter was usually more adventuresome and imaginative when playing "live" in front of a concert audience. Such is the case here. What follows is a brief rundown of this set's contents:

1. This marvelously alert and rhythmically inflected Haydn Sonata No. 37 is probably my favorite Richter performance of ANY Haydn. As Stephen Wigmore's excellent Amazon editorial here points out, this was once available on a long-gone Turnabout LP that was another of my earliest Richter records.

2. Richter's Chopin tended to be rather uneven from one performance to the next, but here the two Nocturnes are turned out as beautifully as any I have heard, right up there with the likes of Stefan Askenase & Tamas Vasary in their complete sets.

3. This Beethoven Sonata #11 in Richter's hands is a study in huge contrasts of both tempo and dynamics. It's a fairly objective reading (preferable in most respects to his studio account for Philips), but there are surprises around every corner. The only recording I have heard that transcends Richter's is the 1950's Kempff (arguably the finest single performance in that pianist's excellent mono DG set of the complete sonatas).

4. Beethoven's 15 Variations & Fugue on a Theme from "Prometheus" was sort of a preliminary sketch for the last mvt. of the then work-in-progress 3rd Symphony. That's why the work is usually known today as the "Eroica" Variations. Richter's emotionally satisfying performance is the finest I have heard (I also love the old Schnabel, but some of its passagework is a little rushed and unsteady).

5. Schumann was always one of Richter's strongest suits: only a handful of other pianists in my experience (e.g., Alfred Cortot, Yves Nat, Rachmaninov, and on occasion Walter Gieseking) could match his fire & poetry in this composer's music. Listening to Richter's account of the incredibly hard-to-play "Symphonic Etudes" is like eavesdropping on intimate and deeply private ruminations. As was his custom, Richter squeezes all five of the posthumous variations (published by Brahms with Clara's consent) between etudes 6 & 7. Of the three "live" versions that I have by Richter, this one is the most forceful and slightly more extroverted (the others: the more subtle account on Olympia CD and the even more poetic interpretation in Richter's 15-disc Praga CD set). My other favorite readings are those by Nat (EMI) and Freire (INA).

6. Words fail me when it comes to these 12 Rachmaninov etudes: not even the composer's accounts are as incredibly colorful and fluent as what Richter gives us here.

In short, this CD set is one of the finest examples of Richter's artistry it has ever been my pleasure to hear.

Highest recommendation.

Jeff Lipscomb

Excellent set for a great price.......2003-09-07

This is an excellent set with a great selection of pieces played by Richter. The highlight for me on these cd's are the Rachmaninoff preludes. Richter was definently the greatest interpreter of the Rachmaninoff preludes, its a shame he never recorded all of them. The Haydn is played elegantly. Both Beethoven pieces are great. And the Schumann is spectacular

Terrific Richter set.......2002-07-15

The Schumann "Symphonic Etudes" are a trifle heavy-handed but with some beautiful moments. The Haydn sonata is delightful, and the Beethoven selections tremendous. But I'm writing this review because this set must be snapped up for the Rachmaninov preludes. This is some of the most ravishing piano playing I've heard in a long time, op. 23,#4, in particular. The sounds is quite good, and captures well Richter's enormous dynamic range. Buy with confidence!

Average customer rating:

Sviatoslav Richter at his best
Delighted
Staggering piano playing, even by Richter's standards

Sviatoslav Richter in the 1950s, Vol. 3

Manufacturer: Parnassus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Sviatoslav Richter in the 1950s, Volume 4
Sviatislav Richter in the 1950s, Vol. 1
Sviatoslav Richter in the 1950's, Vol. 5
Sviatislav Richter in the 1950s, Vol. 2
The Sofia Recital 1958

ASIN: B000006O34
Release Date: 2000-09-16

Tracks:

Annees De Pelerinage: Vallee D'Obermann
Annees De Pelerinage: Au Bord D'Un Source
Annees De Pelerinage: La Sposalizio
Annees De Pelerinage: Aux Cypres De La Villa D'este
Annees De Pelerinage: Sonnetto 123 Del Petrarca
Venezia E Napoll (II, Suppl. 1-3): Gondoliera
Venezia E Napoll (II, Suppl. 1-3): Canzona
Venezia E Napoll (II, Suppl. 1-3): Tarantella
Son No.8 in c, Op.13: Allegro Molto E Con Brio
Son No.8 in c, Op.13: Adagio Cantabile
Son No.8 in c, Op.13: Rondo: Allegro

Tracks:

Son No.3 in d, Op.49: Allegro Feroce
Son No.3 in d, Op.49: Andante Con Moto
Son No.3 in d, Op.49: Rondo: Presto
Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte
Gaspard De La Nuit, No.2: Le Gibet
Jeux D'Eau
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales
Miroirs, No.4: Alborado Del Gracioso
Etude Tableau in E flat, Op.33, No.6
Prld in c, Op.23, No.7
Prld in b flat, Op.32, No.2
Gavotte From 'Cinderella' Op.95, No.2

Amazon.com

Much of the repertoire here is new to Richter's ever-growing discography, notably 53 minutes worth of transcendent Liszt Années de Pelerinage excerpts, and a haunting Ravel Le Gibet. A live Beethoven Pathetique sonata proves more individual and arresting than Richter's excellent studio recording, as does this 1954 Weber 3rd Sonata to the better- recorded 1966 Philips version. Richter fans, however, will truly be floored by a whirling Ravel Alborado del gracioso and Rachmaninoff's Études- tableaux in E-flat, played better than humanly possible. Don't pass this set up! --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Sviatoslav Richter at his best.......2006-10-09

"I detest analysis, which kills fantasy and which is the enemy of art...Enough with musical blah-blah; music speaks for itself."
- Sviatoslav Richter

Sviatoslav Richter was the greatest pianist of the 20th century. This is of course quite an audacious comment to make, considering the very same 100 years saw the likes of Vladimir Horowitz, Arthur Rubinstein, Alfred Cortot, and a host of other towering musicians and virtuosi, but let us consider the grounds on which this statement is built; Sviatoslav Richter was a fusion of formidable technique, innate musical and structural conception, breath-taking sonority and tone; he was a magician, a direct link between instrument and composer, unrestrained and yet forcefully controlled by musical instinct; his repertoire encompassed everything from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier to the mysticism of late Scriabin, from Chopin to Hindemith, Von Weber to Prokofiev...in simpler words, Richter was the complete pianist, an astounding musician in the lineage of Liszt and Rubinstein.

Therfore it comes as little surprise that Richter will be cherished and remembered as one of the greatest Liszt interpreters who ever lived, and the historic recordings of excerpts from "Années du Pèlerinage" and "Venezia e Napoli" represented on this 2-CD set only reinforce his Lisztian stature - they are equal to his legendary performances of better-known masterpieces such as the Sonata in B minor, "Funérailles", and the "Transcendental Etudes", again blending awesome technical accomplishment with power and an aura of intense concentration typical of Richter...it is difficult to think of a better "Sposalizio", and the "Tarantelle" is flashy and colorful, conveyed in all of its Neapolitan splendor.

While the Liszt suffers from a somewhat mediocre sound, Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata in C Minor is a fountain of sonorous beauty and represents Richter's playing at its best. The Rondo is of stunning delicacy and élan, and the contrasts in the first movement are perfectly-balanced, combining both the light "cantabile" touch and inner depth which Op.13 calls for.

It is also interesting to note that this compilation of early Richter recordings offers both Liszt and Ravel, displaying the former's influence on the French composer's music. "Pavane pour une infante défunte" is one of those performances that never leaves the listener - just hearing it once carves a deep impression on the memory...the same must be said of "Alborada del gracioso" and "Le Gibet".

Three Rachmaninoff works are offered as well, the first being the E-flat Minor Etude-Tableau, Op.33/5, another the Prelude in C Minor (Op.23/7), and last but definitely not least, the Prelude in B-flat Minor from Op.32. The Etude-Tableau is played with a hint of sarcasm à la Prokofiev, grandly eloquent and sweeping, recalling Rachmaninoff's performance of the Presto from Chopin's Sonata in B-flat Minor. The Prelude in C Minor is always magnificent under Richter's fingers - it is the cold, unforgiving wind blowing across the barren Siberian steppe! The B-flat Minor Prelude, so chaste, so innocent, so melancholy, only leaves us hungry for more. And let us not forget - before we begin drooling and screaming for more Richter - Prokofiev's witty little "Gavotte" from Cinderella which closes this compilation quite nicely, a personal favorite of the pianist....Encore!

Delighted.......2002-08-07

I purchased this set more than a year ago and left it aside thinking I had bought it by mistake having the material on other cd...

Only to discover it a few days ago:I regret I had not listened to it before!!

Every item is superb,especially the 'jeux d'eau'(much slower than the Newark version),and the 'au bord d'une source'

The Weber sonata sounds even better than other version(thought the Praga version is superb too).The bass D yields a spectacular effect.

The Rachmaninov preludes offer the 'live' sound and a very musical Richter

Staggering piano playing, even by Richter's standards.......2000-10-12

What can I say? Two CDs-worth of previously unissued music from possibly the greatest pianist of the century at the height of his powers in some of his ideal repertoire AND IN EXCELLENT SOUND. Special higlights for me are the Liszt, especially "Vallee d'Obermann" and "Au bord d'un source", and above all "Le Gibet". Whew! I can't imagine a more haunting performance of this centerpiece of Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit" cycle. Why on earth didn't Richter record (or indeed play at all) the whole thing? He loved to tease us with the gaps in his repertoire, of course, but maybe even he couldn't see how to match the intensity he achieves in "Le Gibet" in the other two movements. What a loss....

Tracks:

Sonata In B Minor, S. 178
Funerailles
No. 1 'Prelude'
No. 2 (Molto Vivace)
No. 3 'Paysage'
No. 5 'Feux Follets'
No. 7 'Eroica'
No. 8 'Wilde Jagd'
No. 10 (Allegro Agitato Molto)
No. 11 'Harmonies Du Soir'

Album Description

Sviatoslav Richter (1915-1997) is numbered among the finest pianists of the 20th century. He exhibited all the best traits of the Russian school of playing: dynamism, lyrical expressiveness, and a wide range of tonal color. Combined with his typical thoughtfulness, subtlety, and attention to style, these qualities assured Richter of a distinguished international career. For many listeners, indeed, he was the paragon of balance among virtuosos, the pianist who exhibited the greatest equality among the elements across his musical palette. The West first became aware of Richter through recordings made in the 1950s. He was not allowed to tour the U.S. until 1960, and then created a sensation. Touring, however, was not Richter's forte. He preferred an intimate concert venue, and in later years took to playing in small, darkened halls, sometimes with only a small lamp lighting his piano. The centerpiece of this release, the B minor Sonata of Liszt, was recorded live in Carnegie Hall on May 18, 1965 when Richter was at the height of his powers, and only one week after Vladimir Horowitz had appeared on the same stage for his famous "Return Recital". Funérailles recorded Budapest, 1958; Etudes, Moscow, 1956.

Customer Reviews:

great music, great pianist, terrible recording.......2006-10-09

No one can deny Richter's brilliance, especially as applied to the notoriously difficult Liszt repetoire. Unfortunately, this monaural recording was made live in the '50's and the tape hiss is more audible than the upper piano register. Another reviewer (RBS) noted that the sound quality was not great (!); actually it is terrible. I don't know enough about sound engineering to know if remastering would save it; it sounds as if it were taped with one mike.

One of the last giant pianists in Liszt's repertoire!.......2006-08-21

To play Listz demands from you several fundamental aspects; a total domain of the breadth into the phrasing, plain conviction of the meaning of the thematic material beneath the score and additionally, an evilness technique, a sense of the organic flow of the piece. To be true just a few pianists may sustain for instance the overall attention of the listener playing a particular piece of The years of pilgrimage, for instance.

In this sense we might consider Richter as one of the most distinguished interpreters of Liszt during the sixties and one of the most important in the seventies, because fortunately several emblematic pianists emerged in the seventies: Bruno Rigutto, Lazar Berman, Mijail Rudy, apart of the expected reappear of Erwin Nyireghihazi in 1973.

Sviatoslav Richter was gifted of that ability to create atmospheres, aspect nothing to easy to achieve, because there are so many details to take into account at the meantime that it turns a very heavy burden to sustain.

Nevertheless he did it, and if he has not entirely included among the great Lisztian pianists, he has earned a significant place, since the last two decades.

One of the most difficult barriers to surpass in the case of Richter has to do with his ambitious repertoire that barely in four decades established by himself many achievements in which concerns privileged composers. From Tchaikovsky to Cesar Franck, on one hand; but his Schubert (Sonata D. 960)and his Schumann (Búnte blatter) literally renovated the soul of the flaming performer according the tradition established by Sigismund Thalberg, Anton Rubinstein or Adolf von Henselt. He was by far, much more introspective than his homologous Horowitz, but his repertoire was infinitely major, as well as his abstraction capacity.

So that's the reason why I don't even hesitate just a blink, at the moment to recommend you this special compilation of Liszt' s works. These performances possess vigor, audacious and mercurial expression.

ONE OF THE GREATEST PIANISTS: TECHNICALLY ASTOUNDING, EMOTIONALLY POWERFUL.......2006-02-13

Five Amazing Stars!! I would give it SIX but...(see my note). Sviatoslav Richter was simply in a class attained by few classical pianists. A contemporary of Vladimir Horowitz, he was one of the best there ever was!! And, as shown on this CD recorded between ages 40 and 50, he was a thorough-going perfectionist who was demanding: demanding of himself, of his instrument, and of his audiences. This CD captures him playing Liszt like his life depended on it. Technically astounding and emotionally powerful, he didn't let one extreme over take the other, but maintains a balance that simultaneously dazzles us and touches our sensibilities. Certainly not an easy task for any artist, but perfect for any pianist tackling the complexities of Liszt, who was arguably regarded by many as perhaps the world's best pianist himself. Imagine playing something he composed!

Recorded in three locations spanning the years 1956 to 1965, he was in his prime and playing his "A" game when these recordings were made. And, of course, Liszt is no easy task for any pianist. Indeed, I use Liszt as a guage of a pianist's degree of accomplishment, there is simply no place to hide. Mortals don't rush in to a Liszt performance without some pause. Richter is AWESOME throughout.

The Piece De Resistance is the 1965 Carnegie Hall recording of Liszt's B Minor Sonata and it is BREATHTAKINGLY beautiful. Beyond the beauty, some of the passages are absolutely jaw dropping, nearing the edge of physical fingering possibility, as Liszt probably intended. Of the Transcendental Etudes/S.139, my favorites are an absolutely scorching read of No 2 (Molto vivace), with some of the bass notes lost in the recordings shortcomings, and a wonderfully heroic read of No. 5 (Feux follets), and No 8 (Wilde Jagd) with it's searing arpeggio. Highly Recommended with a caution. Five Stars.

(Notes:
*The recording quality is good but not great, Indeed it cries out for remastering in the future. There is one jump from a vinyl disk imperfection in one place and some audible noise in other places, requiring equalizer adjustments. The bass notes are muddled at times. Also some pieces end abruptly. Some of the audience coughing makes it tough on the listener but, hang in there, Richter's power passages more than make up for the bad mike placement. These performances cry out to be heard. These days the mike is placed to nullify audience noise and enhance the music. No wonder Keith Jarrett is so hard on his audiences. LOL.
* UPDATE: in the 12 months of my ownership, this CD has never left it's rotation in my 5 CD changer and is played first each morning of every day. With Ahmad Jamal and Elis Regina getting similar special treatment, only two CD slots are available for new music.)

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 Op. 13; Tchaikovsky: Grand Sonata Op. 37; Franck: Prélude, Choral et Fugue

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 Op. 13; Tchaikovsky: Grand Sonata Op. 37; Franck: Prélude, Choral et Fugue

Manufacturer: Archipel
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000FUF94C
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Average customer rating:

impressive!
Sviatoslav Richter I - Philips
Excellent...if you can find it
Available elsewhere
Richter -- Prokofiev's Greatest Interpreter

Sviatoslav Richter 1

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Sviatoslav Richter 2
Sviatoslav Richter 3
BBC Friends: Richter (Great Performers of the Twentieth Century)
The Sofia Recital 1958

ASIN: B00000DI3F
Release Date: 1998-11-10

Tracks:

Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Gnomus
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Old Castle - Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Old Castle - Promenade (Continued)
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Tuileries Gardens
Pictures At An Exhibition: Bydlo
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet Of The Chickens In Their Shells
Pictures At An Exhibition: Samuel Goldenberg And Schmuyle
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Market-place At Limoges
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Catacombs. Sepulchrum romanum - Cum mortuis in lingua mortua
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Catacombs. Sepulchrum romanum - Cum mortuis in lingua mortua (Continued)
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Hut On Fowl's Legs (Baba-Yaga)
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate Of Kiev
Moment Musical In C, D. 780 No. 1
Impromptu In E Flat, D. 899 No. 2
Impromptu In A Flat, D. 899 No. 4
Etude In E, Op. 10 No. 3 'Tristesse'
Valse oubliee No. 1 In F Sharp
Valse oubliee No. 2 In A Flat
Etudes d'execution transcendante: No. 5 Feux follets
Etudes d'execution transcendante: No. 11 Harmonies du soir - Sviatoslav Richter
Prelude In G Sharp Minor, Op. 32 No. 12 - Sviatoslav Richter

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 6 In A, Op. 82: 1. Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata No. 6 In A, Op. 82: 2. Allegretto
Piano Sonata No. 6 In A, Op. 82: 3. Tempo di valzer. Lentissimo
Piano Sonata No. 6 In A, Op. 82: 4. Finale. Vivace
Piano Sonata No. 7 In B Flat, Op. 83: 1. Allegro inquieto
Piano Sonata No. 7 In B Flat, Op. 83: 2. Andante caloroso
Piano Sonata No. 7 In B Flat, Op. 83: 3. Precipitato
Piano Sonata No. 8 In B Flat, Op. 84: 1. Andante dolce
Piano Sonata No. 8 In B Flat, Op. 84: 2. Andante sognando
Piano Sonata No. 8 In B Flat, Op. 84: 3. Finale. Vivace

Amazon.com essential recording

Sviatoslav Richter's 1958 recital recording here of Pictures at an Exhibition is worth the price of admission alone: simply put, it's a classic that has all too often fallen out of print. The performance makes this double-CD volume in Philips's Great Pianists of the 20th Century series one of the most enthralling in the catalogue. The Russian's power throughout the Pictures is truly infectious. "The Market-Place at Limoges" tickles the listener with bustling energy, while "The Great Gate of Kiev" is at its most riveting in the thunderous hands of Richter. The third movement of Prokofiev's Seventh Sonata chugs like a locomotive at full speed and with the types of deft touches that a jazz musician would provide. Aside from an incorrect track listing (the third Promenade in Pictures isn't listed in the notes as its own track), there's not a gaffe found on this excellent sampler. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

impressive!.......2006-05-11

Magnificent pianism and music of substance and emotional depth here. This is some of the most intimate, personal musicianship on record, at the same time that it is some of the most extrovert and aggressive (an unusual and fascinating combination).

Four stars and not five, however, because the interest of the first of these two discs will be somewhat diminished for those who do not have an insider's apppreciation of or enthusiasm for pianism qua pianism (as I do not). The repertoire here is chosen to showcase Richter's formidable virtuosity; but if you do not find that especially interesting, then a good bit of the significance of the the first disc here might be lost on you. I tend to enjoy this sort of virtuoso display for its own sake in orchestral music---I'll listen to and enjoy only passable interpretations of the orchestral repertoire if the color and ensemble playing are of the highest order---but pianism for the sake of pianism doesn't do much for me.

None of that applies to the second disc, however, which contains the 6th, 7th, and 8th of the Prokofiev piano sonatas. In these readings Richter's virtuosity functions as an integral component of the music: technical concerns serve musical and expressive ends, and not the other way around. I especially loved the 7th, which is bright and jazzy, and the 8th, epic and haunting.

In all, gorgeous, muscular performances of fascinating repertoire. A classic!

Sviatoslav Richter I - Philips.......2006-04-07

This issue presents the world-known Soviet pianist Sviatoslav Richter. It consists, naturally, of 2 discs.
Disc 1
On this disc is recorded his well-known Sofia recital.
Well, despite his performance of Moussorgsky's Pictures is considered to be one of the greatest ones, I would be more careful in evaluation. If you want to hear a really valuable and musically rich performance of the work, take Janis' or Pogorelich's one. This one made by Richter is not bad, but the style is too "Russian", something like "I'm the great hero from Moscow and I'm going to take your breath...". It means its not refined in an "European" way and many things are unnecessarily and ridiculously exaggerated. This can fascinate those people who don't look for ideas and don't try to think about the music but just want to be impressed in a very direct and simple way. Such exaggerations for the sake of exaggerations can be accepted in several works by Rachmaninoff, Prokofieff or Scriabin, but here I can really imagine more musical ideas and thoughts and less technical and emotional exhibition. And apart from that, despite it is a live performance, the number of mistakes is quite high, one has a feeling that this piece is really very demanding (it is, but I would expect a little bit more from such a recording made by such an artist). As I have already mentioned, it is not bad, but if I compare it to Janis or Pogorelich, its simply not the number one. Richter made a plenty of better recordings (e.g. Schumann Concerto is great).
The another part of the recital contains the music of Schubert, Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninoff. It is considerably different, the level of quality is much higher and the intellectual value of Richter's playing is very pleasant. Also from the technical point of view its very fine.
Disc 2
Thats a different world, Sonatas by Prokofieff are the home ground for Richter and he is really excellent here. The drammatical and angry Sonatas Nos. 6 and 7 are absolute. The mood is as "Prokofieff-like" as possible and contrasts between lyrical and "sharp" passages are breathtaking. In the Sonata No.8 Richter creates something extraordinary and transcendental, he takes you to a different world. These sonatas are MUST for every fun of Prokofieff's music. Disc 2 is the highpoint of this issue.

Excellent...if you can find it.......2005-08-05

Obviously this is a classic...and it's out of print??!!

I found it at a used record store for $12.00, and I think it hadn't even been opened. And now some people want $129 for it? Look around folks.

As far as the CD goes, the real stars are the Prokofiev pieces. Very commanding and stunning. The Mussorgsky is a mixed-bag. Richter starts off a little shaky, and there is some disturbing audience noise. But by the time he finishes he is in full command and the shaky start is totally forgotten.

Try to find this, but don't pay too much!

Available elsewhere .......2005-08-01

Ten Stars for Richter, none for this ridiculous price. Don't buy this from these vultures for $129(LOL). The Sofia Recital which comprises disc 1 Is Available in much improved sound from Phillips for $10 and the Prokofiev sonatas 6-8 (disc 2) are out there reasonably priced as well. Interesting this is out of print when you can get the Gilels sets for $9.

Richter -- Prokofiev's Greatest Interpreter.......2005-05-05

Beyond the stunning "Pictures" and Liszt here, the three Prokofiev sonatas are landmarks. Prokofiev entrusted the public debut of the 7th sonata to Richter, which he learned in four days in 1943. Here's what Richter later said about the work. "We are plunged into the anxiously threatening atmosphere of a world that has lost its balance. Chaos and uncertainty reign. We see murderous forces unleased. . . . Now the full range of human emotions bursts forth. . . . In the tremendous struggle that this involes, we find the strength to affirm the irrepressible life-force." Richter, of course, had all the technique and power required to play this extremely difficult music. But what ultimately distinguishes these performances is his passionate evocation of the composer's world: Moscow in the dark, violent war years, when the end of civilization seemed entirely possible. Chilling and unforgettable.

Average customer rating:

Magic
Rare brahms, but no libretto!

Brahms: Die Schöne Magelone, Op. 33

Manufacturer: Orfeo D'or
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Hugo Wolf: Goethe-Lieder

ASIN: B00000DD43
Release Date: 1998-11-01

Customer Reviews:

Magic .......2006-02-06

This recording is one of the finest lieder recordings I've ever heard. Those who believe that many studio recordings miss out on the magic of live music making have in this disk proof of what they speak.

These two giants of music actually appeared in concert relatively rarely but the result here is breathtaking. The Mageleone cycle is still rarely done, or excerpted for that matter, but after listening to this recording, we can only wonder why.

I discovered this recording in a public library years ago, and even though I have moved away to another neighborhood, I still go back just to check it out from time to time.

In response to the previous listener, I would say: who needs liner notes? Just close your eyes and bathe in the music.

Rare brahms, but no libretto!.......2004-06-02

This is a rare romantic song-cycle by Brahms.

It is performed by two of the greatest artists of the century.

It has no libretto at all, or even the names of the track listings in english!

It is a live magnetic recital from the Salzburg Felstival 1971.

I would recommend it but with nothing to go on besides a bit of info in the notes, it is really for the dedicated Brahmsian or for that matter the dedicated Richter/Dieskau-ians!

Track Listings:

Track Listings

Bareback [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Music: 50th Anniversary/Country Music's Greatest Hits

An Eclectic Sampler: Music to Feed Your Head

Badaboom [CD-single] [Import]

Beethoven Lives Upstairs

Bach: Organ Works, Vol. 1

As Good as It Gets: Rockabilly [Import]

30 Inolvidables

Ark

Amorica [Explicit Lyrics]

Are The Women Dancing?

Dowland: A Dream

Jehro