Sviatoslav Richter – Alto CD

Richter plays Brahms Piano Concerto No.2 / Piano Sonata No.2 etc

amuletts — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:02:43 +0000

(Concerto) “Richter’s performance has all the intensity of a live occasion and finds him in splendid form. … the basic structure is always kept in sight: there is impressive weight and authority as well as a warm Brahmsian feeling and it is far more dashing and spontaneous than his later recording (with Maazel)” (Penguin Guide 3 stars) (Sonata) ‘This was an extremely successful concert and it really should come out on record’. (Sviatoslav Richter) (1st issue on single CD)

Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major, Op.83 [46:24]

[1] I. Allegro non troppo 16:39

[2] II. Allegro passionato 8:33

[3] III. Andante 12:34

[4] IV. Allegro gracioso 8:37

with Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Erich Leinsdorf (1960)

Piano Sonata No.2 in F sharp minor, Op.2 [24:56]

[5] I. Allegro non troppo, ma energico 5:34

[6] II. Andante con espressione 5:08

[7] III. Scherzo. Allegro 3:53

[8] IV. Finale. Introduzione: Sostenuto –

Allegro non troppo e rubato 10:20

[9] Intermezzo in C major, Op.119 No.3 2:09

[10] Rhapsody in E flat major, Op.119 No.4 3:56

Above all recorded live, Moscow, 1959

Tchaikovsky Piano Recital

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:26 +0000

“Richter given first-class modern digital sound, and on top technical form…playing of consistent poetry…charming nostalgia…first recommendation for Tchaikovsky’s piano music”( © Penguin Guide 3*) “breathtaking, inspiring artistry” (Gramophone)

1. Nocturne in F major, Op.10 No.1 4.29
2. Waltz-Scherzo in A minor, Op.7 4.14
3. Humoresque in G major, Op.10 No.2 2.39
4. Capriccioso in B flat major, Op.19 No.5 3.52
5. Chanson triste Op.40, No.2 2.57
6. Waltz in A flat major, Op.40 No.8 3.20
7. Romance in F minor, Op.5 6.34
8. Romance in F major, Op.51 No.5 8.39
9. Un poco di Chopin, Op.72 No.15 3.25
10. L’espiègle, Op.72 No.12 2.07
11. Réverie du soir, Op.19 No.1 4.20
12. Menuetto-Scherzoso, Op.51 No.3 4.07
13. Valse de salon, Op.51 No.1 5.04
14. Méditation, Op.72 No.5 5.19

From “The Seasons” Op.37 bis

15. No.5 May. White Nights (Andantino-allegro giocoso) 4.28
16. No.6 June. Barcarolle (Andante cantabile) 5.43
17. No.11 November. Troika (Allegro moderato) 2.55
18. No.1 January. By the fireplace
(Moderato semplice ma espressivo) 5.13

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 12, 17, 22, 23 (includes ‘Funeral March’ ‘Tempest’ ‘Appassionata’)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“(No.17) Richter makes the most of possibilities of contrast. He plays the opening extremely slowly and then when the allegro comes, he takes it unusually fast. Far from being odd, the effect is actually breathtaking … he observes the repeats in first and last movements. Excellent sound …not to be missed” (Penguin Guide)

Piano Sonata No.12 in A flat major, Op.26 ‘Funeral March’
[1] I. Andante con variazione 7:01
[2] II. Scherzo: Allegro molto 2:48
[3] III. Marcia funebre: Sulla Morte D’Un Eroe
Maestoso andante 6:07
[4] IV. Allegro 2:14
Piano Sonata No.17 in D minor, Op.31 No.2 ‘Tempest’
[5] I. Largo – Allegro 9:18
[6] II. Adagio 7:13
[7] III. Allegretto 6:48
Piano Sonata No.22 in F major, Op.54
[8] I. in tempo d’un menuetto 5:53
[9] II. Allegretto 4:49
Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 ‘Appassionata’
[10] I. Allegro assai 10:44
[11] II. Andante con moto 5:52
[12] III. Allegro ma non troppo – Presto 6:59

Richter Plays Liszt

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“Richter’s performances are very distinguished indeed … playing is unforgettable and so is his rapport with Kondrashin” (Penguin Guide 3 stars) “equally brilliant with two quite different sides of this composer, with the luxuriant virtuosity of the the Etudes in particular being thrown off with a zestful freedom that must always be rare in such complex pieces . All connoisseurs should have these performances”. (Gramophone)

Piano Concerto No.1 in Eb major, S124 [18:09]
1. Allegro maestoso 5:08
2. Quasi Adagio 4:58
3. Allegretto vivace – Allegro animato 3:57
4. Allegro marziale animato – Presto 4:04
Piano Concerto No.2 in A major, S125 [20:35]
5. Adagio sostenuto assai – Allegro agitato assai 7:17
6. Allegro moderato 4:56
7. Allegro deciso – Marziale un poco meno allegro 3:44
8. Allegro animato – Stretto (molto accelerando) 4:36
(both above, London –studio–1961)
9. Hungarian Fantasia for Piano and Orchestra, S123 14:26
(R.A.H London, 1961)
10. Funérailles (Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses, No.7) 11:07
11. Gnomenreigen (Konzertetuden, No.2) 2:29
12. Liebestraum No.3 4:25
(above all in concert Budapest, 1958)
13. Feux Follets (Etudes d’exécution transcendente, No.5) 3:27
(in concert Sofia, 1958)

Shostakovich Sonatas Violin & Viola Opp.134 & 147

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:19 +0000

“Three greats of Russian musicianship in modern recordings, including Shostakovich’s final work, published posthumously (viola sonata)”
“Make your choice based on sound, cost, and availability, and you can’t go wrong.” (MusicWeb International)
The recordings sound as though some digital restoration has been accomplished, and the album credit given for ‘remastering’ reinforces this impression of very quiet background, clean sound at peak levels, and reduced audience noise.(MusicWeb)

Sonata for Violin & Piano, Op. 134

[1] Andante 11:30
[2] Allegretto 6:59
[3] Largo 14:57

Sonata for Viola & Piano, Op. 147
Yuri Bashmet & Sviatoslav Richter

[4] Moderato 11:09
[5] Allegretto 6:18
[6] Adagio 17:02

Beethoven: 33 Variations on a Waltz Theme by Diabelli / Mozart Violin Sonata K 379

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:57 +0000

“Diabelli was overwhelmed by the work submitted by Beethoven which quite overshadowed anything else sent by others. He pronounced it ‘a work to set alongside J S Bach’s masterpiece’ (Goldberg Variations) and he must have been exceptionally gratified that his otherwise ordinary waltz tune would survive in perpetuity as a result of Beethoven’s efforts (indeed it has been considered by the greatest living interpreter of Beethoven’s piano works, Alfred Brendel, to be ‘the greatest of them’). It is certainly the longest of his piano works and predictably covers every emotion” © James Murray

[1] Thema 0:52
[2] Var. I Alla marcia maestoso 2:24
[3] Var.II Poco allegro 0:55
[4] Var. III L’istesso tempo 1:20
[5] Var.IV Un poco piu vivace 1:00
[6] Var. V Allegro vivace 0:53
[7] Var.VI Allegro, ma non troppo
[8] Var. VII Un poco piu allegro 1:09
[9] Var.VIII Poco vivace 1:02
[10] Var. IX Allegro pesante e risoluto 1:36
[11] Var.X Presto 0:41
[12] Var. XI Allegretto 1:09
[13] Var.XII Poco piu moto 0:48
[14] Var. XIII Vivace 1:12
[15] Var.XIV Grave e maestoso 3:46
[16] Var. XV Presto scherzando 0:39
[17] Var.XVI Allegro 0:57
[18] Var. XVII Allegro 1:01
[19] Var.XVIII Poco moderato 2:10
[20] Var. XIX Presto 0:55
[21] Var.XX Andante 2:43
[22] Var.XXI Allegro con brio. Meno allegro 1:38
[23] Var.XXII Molto allegro alla “Notte e giorno faticar” di Mozart 0:49
[24] Var.XXIII Assai allegro 0:58
[25] Var.XXIV Fughetta. Andante 3:07
[26] Var.XXV Allegro 0:46
[27] Var.XXVI no tempo markings 0:50
[28] Var.XXVII Vivace 0:59
[29] Var.XXVIII Allegro 0:54
[30] Var.XXIX Adagio, ma non troppo 1:02
[31] Var. XXX Andante, sempre cantabile 1:56
[32] Var.XXXI Largo molto espressivo 3:47
[33] Var.XXXII Fuga, Allegro. Poco Adagio 3:00
[34] Var.XXXIII Tempo di Menuetto, moderato 3:08

Mozart: Violin Sonata in G major K379 (22:27)

[35] Adagio 6:44
[36] Allegro 6:10
[37] Andantino cantabile 9:36

Richter plays Prokofiev / Sviatoslav Richter

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:40:42 +0000

“(the DG recording from London) is the Prokofiev 8th Sonata which encompasses breadth and depth in a way none of the others can match” (Penguin Guide 3*) (5th Concerto) “Richter’s account is a classic..it cannot be recommended too strongly…..this concerto could have sounded contrived BUT when put over with the rhythmic bite, the technical aplomb, and the pungency of characterisations that we see here….a very different story !” (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

Piano Concerto No.5 in G, Op.55*

[1] I. Allegro con brio 5:04
[2] II. Moderato ben accentuato 4:01
[3] III. Toccata: allegro con fuoco 1:54
[4] IV. Larghetto 6:42
[5] V. Vivo 5:04

with Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Witold Rowicki
Piano Sonata No.7 in B flat major, Op.83****

[6] 1. Allegro inquieto – poco meno – andantino 8:02
[7] II. Andante caloroso – poco piu animato – piu largamento –
un poco agitato 6:14
[8] III. Precipitato 3:32

Piano Sonata No.8 in B flat major, Op.84**

[9] 1. Andante dolce – allegro moderato – andante dolce – allegro 15:50
[10] II. Andante sognando 4:17
[11] III. Vivace – allegro ben marcato – andantino – vivace 9:39

Visions Fugitives***

[12] Visions Fugitives Nos. 3, 6 & 9 2:36

Schumann & Tchaikovsky Piano Concertos

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:39:58 +0000

(Schumann): “lacks no style” (Tchaikovsky): “The element of struggle for which this work is famous is all too clear: these two musical giants did not always agree” (Penguin Guide)

Robert Schumann
PIANO CONCERTO in A minor, Op. 54

1. I. Allegro affettuoso 14:15
2. II. Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso 5:08
3. III. Allegro vivace 10:10

Pyotr Tchaikovsky
PIANO CONCERTO No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23

4. I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Allegro con spirito 21:50
5. II. Andantino semplice – Prestissimo – Tempo I 6:44
6. III. Allegro con fuoco 7:01

Rachmaninov : PIANO CONCERTOS No.2 & No.4

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:39:57 +0000

(Richter) “a performance so commanding and so utterly marvellously played that it gives endless pleasure” (Gramophone) “..sense of mastery that he conveys in every note….does not however let himself be rushed in the great secondary melody, so this is a reading of vivid contrasts…The Rachmaninov really fits the description ( of ‘legendary recording’)” (Michelangeli) “this is one of the most brilliant piano records ever made” (both: Penguin Guide)

PIANO CONCERTO No.2 in C minor, Op.18

1. Moderato 11:05
2. Adagio sostenuto 11:48
3. Allegro scherzando 11:28

PIANO CONCERTO No. 4 in G minor, Op.40

4. Allegro vivace 9:30
5. Largo 5:59
6. Allegro vivace 8:58

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 3, 4, & 27

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:38:49 +0000

“Orchestral solidity of sound makes the first movements immediately impressive. But the true scaling of heights comes in the slow movement of the C major—a colossal psychodrama here—and, unexpectedly, in the shadowy third movement of the E flat. The Op. 90 Sonata is mellower, never to the point of actually smiling, but unobtrusively responsive to the direction of Beethoven’s thought. Only a select few pianists are so in touch with Beethoven the awe-inspirer; and of those is there any who can match Richter for sustained intensity and will-power?” (c) Gramophone

Piano Sonata No.3 in C major, Op.2 No.3 (26:34)

[1] I. Allegro con brio 10:24
[2] II. Adagio 7:37
[3] III. Scherzo. Allegro 3:28
[4] IV. Assai allegro 5:03

Piano Sonata No.4 in E flat major, Op.7 (27:58)

[5] I. Allegro molto e con brio 8:29
[6] II. Largo, con grand’ espressione 7:57
[7] III. Allegro – Minore 5:34
[8] IV. Rondo. Poco allegro e grazioso 5:56

Piano Sonata No.27 in E minor, Op.90 (11:51)

[9] I. Con vivicita e sempre con
sentimento ed espressione 5:20
[10] II. Non troppo presto e molto cantabile 6:30