Newsgroups: rec.music.classical
Subject: Re: Recordings of S. Richter
From: Marco Simionato <simion@iveuncc.unive.it>
Date: 2 Sep 92 13:26:24 +0100
Distribution: world
Organization: University of Venezia (Italy)
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Sorry for you Americans, now that Sviatoslav doesn't give any more
concerts there, does he?
We are lucky in Italy, since he still performs here, and quite often too.
In the last 10 days I heard him twice, since he gave three recitals in
the region of Venice. Tonight, in Rimini, he's going to give a recital
dedicated to A. Rubinstein. During the last year I heard him five times,
and I'm quite happy that he likes Italy. If you don't like Italy too much
and
want to hear him in actual performance, pay a visit to France (the Tours
Festival, for example, where he's the Artistic Director) or to Germany.
 
Now, as to the suggestions Richard asked, I think I can give some
pointers.
First, consider that, although sound quality might be questionable, old
recordings published by DG and Philips have been authorized by Richter,
and as such must be taken as his final word on those pieces.
Also, Derick recommends Schubert D960 Sonata on ASdisc: keep in mind,
though, that Richter, in a letter to Musica, an Italian specialized
magazine
to which he is a subscriber himself, discouraged people from buying his
recording published by ASdisc, saying that, in general, CD's released by
that
label were made without his consent and without any artistical evaluation
of the performances. In a few words, he meant that those CD's often
contain 
performances which he did not consider up to his standards. I don't know
if
this is also the case of the Schubert's Sonata.
German BMG has released a Richter Collection  which contains his Melodya
studio recordings - I don't know if that's available in the States too.
I think that Richter, where releases come from labels different than DG
and
Philips - he has a strong preference for small labels, it appears -
encloses
a signed statement where he says that the publication was made according
to
his requirements (this is the case of Stradivarious and Memoria).
 
And now for the records list:
 
Bach. Beside the already mentioned Well-Tempered Clavier, I would suggest
         the Stradivarious STR33323 CD containing: Sonatas BWV 966, 963,
964;
         Caprice BWV 993; 4 Duets BWV 802-805; Italian Concerto BWV 971.
         Also, forthcoming, a Stradivarious CD containing the English
Suites
         n. 1 and 3.
         As some might know, Richter declared he wants to play - perhaps
         record ? - the whole of Bach's keyboard works. In past years his
recitals
         in Italy included many works by Bach. But be ready: his Bach now
is
         notably differently played than his Well-Tempered Clavier
recording.
         Actually, his whole way of playing has changed is the past few
years.
 
Beethoven. Beside his celebrated recording with M. Rostropovic of the
Cello
         Sonatas, of the 3rd Concerto and of the Hammerklavier Sonata,
perhaps
         his most notable Beethoven performance is the Diabelli
Variations on
         Philips. This is an absolute MUST.
 
Brahms 2nd Concerto, conductor Maazel, EMI 06502040
 
Debussy. Estampes (cpte.) on DG 4235732
              Also, on other major labels, L'Isle Joyeuse, Preludes and
Images
              (selections).
 
Dvorak, Concerto op.33, EMI 7479672. Of this music there exist other
recordings
            dating back to his debut in the West.
 
Chopin  Polonaise-Phantasy op.61 CD SUITE 60091. Famous and revelaing
recording.
 
Grieg, Concerto op.16  EMI 7671972
 
Liszt, 2 Piano Concertos on Philips
          Sonata in b minor, Funerailles, Phantasie Ungeroise, Valse
Oubliees n.1
          and 2, Etudes d'esecution trascendente n.5 "Feux follets" and 11
          "Harmonie du soir" also on Philips.
          Lately, Philips also published a CD containing some late works
by Liszt,
          along with Franck's Quintet with the Borodin Quartet.
          The sonata exists in quite a few not-authorized recordings.
Keep in mind,
          though, that Richter, in an interview to Musica a few years
back, said
          that his best recording ever was one of the Sonata made in New
York in
          1965, previously published only in a private edition. Now, it
appears that
          the recording on Philips is actually the New York one, and not
one made
          in Sofia in 1958 as specified in the brochure. I think this
insider
          information is quite trustable.
 
Musorgski. Pictures at an Exhibition, Philips. This is the REFERENCE
interpretation.
          There's another recording equally, if not more, famous by
Horowitz, but
          while Richter was the first great pianist to play this piece
based on the
          original score, Horowitz played his own piano rewriting of
Ravel's
          orchestral version !!
 
Prokoviev. Everything you can get, if you like this author. In
particular, go for:
          Concerto n.5 DG 4151192
          Sonatas n.6 and 9 MEMORIA 991001
          Sonata n.7 RCA GD69080
          Sonata n.8 DG4235732
          Sonatine Pastorale, Vision Fugitives, Suggestion Diabolique,
etc,
          MEMORIA 991002
 
Rachmaninov. Concertos n.1 and 2 CDM27895OLDC or Concerto n.2 on DG
          (coupled with Prokoviev 5th). The reference performance.
          Preludes (selection) JVC 1026VDC
          Preludes (selection) DG 4190682
          Etudes-Tableaux op.33 and 39 (selection) Melodya MDC112
 
Schubert. Wanderer-Phantasie op15 EMI 7479672
                Sonatas, JVC. Quite a few sonatas are also contained in a
double CD
                recorded live in Paris.
 
Schumann. Buente Blaetter op.99, JVC 1027. A neglected masterpiece. A
MUST.
                 Phantasie op.17  RCS (?)
                 Novelletten, wide selection, I don't remenber the label.
                 Symponische Etudes op.13 JVC 10251 or German BMG.
                 Phantasiestuecke op.12; Marsch G minor; Waldszenen op.82;
                 Novellette Fmajor op.21 n.1; Toccata in C major op.7;
                 Abeegg Variations op.1  DG 435751-2
 
Scriabin. Everything you can get, if you like him. I dont' think Richter
has
               published as much Scriabin as he plays live - I heard
quite a few
               things live which I have not seen on record. Beside the
already
               mentioned ARKADIA record, there is also a recording of the
5th
               sonata that I judge quite better on DG 4235732
 
Strauss. Burlesque, conductor Georgescu, ELCD106. There's also a recoding
with
              Kleiber (1976), I think on EMI. 
 
Tchaikovsky. 1st Concerto (Karajan) DG 49068-2
                      Albumblaetter  JVC VDC515
                      Grand Sonata op.37  JVC VCD1124
                      4 pieces from "The Seasons" EURODISC 610075231
 
 
And now, you need a few bucks.
Newsgroups: rec.music.classical