Sviatoslav Richter - Pianist Of The Century

Although numerous CD incarnations of Sviatoslav Richter's Deutsche Grammophon recordings have graced the catalog, collectors surely will welcome this complete "original jacket" edition, programmed in accordance with the original LPs and newly remastered. These 1956-62 recordings capture Richter in his prime, and include performances that not only retain reference status (the Rachmaninov Second and Profokiev Fifth concertos with Rowicki, selected Rachmaninov Preludes, Prokofiev's Eighth sonata, plus Schumann's Waldszenen and Toccata) but also belie Richter's often expressed aversion to studio recordings.

Granted, the Tchaikovsky First with Karajan and Beethoven Third with Sanderling are relatively staid in relation Read more to alternative Richter studio versions on other labels. No complaints, however, regarding material stemming from the pianist's 1962 tour of Italy that contains long-held favorites among Richter fans such as the Chopin Fourth Ballade, the Scriabin Fifth sonata, Debussy's Estampes, and, for my money, the best recording ever made of Schumann's Op. 1 Abegg Variations--well, one of the two or three best, anyway! Consider this release a one-stop shop for those seeking a well-rounded survey of Richter's multifaceted, individual, and occasionally idiosyncratic artistry.

--Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com
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1. Marches (4) for Piano, Op. 76: no 2 in G minor by Robert Schumann

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1849; Germany

2. Waldszenen, Op. 82 by Robert Schumann

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1848-1849; Germany

3. Phantasiestücke (8) for Piano, Op. 12 by Robert Schumann

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1837; Germany

4. Concerto for Piano no 20 in D minor, K 466 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Conductor: Stanislaw Wislocki
Orchestra/Ensemble: Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1785; Vienna, Austria

5. Concerto for Piano no 5 in G major, Op. 55 by Sergei Prokofiev

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Conductor: Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble: Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1931-1932; Paris, France

6. Concerto for Piano no 2 in C minor, Op. 18 by Sergei Rachmaninov

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Conductor: Stanislaw Wislocki
Orchestra/Ensemble: Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Russia

7. Preludes (13) for Piano, Op. 32: no 1 in C major, Allegro vivace by Sergei Rachmaninov

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1910; Russia

8. Preludes (13) for Piano, Op. 32: no 2 in B flat minor, Allegretto by Sergei Rachmaninov

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1910; Russia

9. Preludes (10) for Piano, Op. 23: no 2 in B flat major, Maestoso by Sergei Rachmaninov

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1901-1903; Russia

10. Preludes (10) for Piano, Op. 23: no 4 in D major, Andante cantabile by Sergei Rachmaninov

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1903; Russia

11. Preludes (10) for Piano, Op. 23: no 5 in G minor, Alla marcia by Sergei Rachmaninov

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1901; Russia

12. Preludes (10) for Piano, Op. 23: no 7 in C minor, Allegro by Sergei Rachmaninov

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1901-1903; Russia

13. Concerto for Piano in A minor, Op. 54 by Robert Schumann

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Conductor: Witold Rowicki
Orchestra/Ensemble: Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1841-1845; Germany

14. Introduction and Allegro appassionato for Piano and Orchestra in G major, Op. 92 by Robert Schumann

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Conductor: Stanislaw Wislocki
Orchestra/Ensemble: Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1849; Germany

15. Novelletten (8) for Piano, Op. 21: no 1 in F major by Robert Schumann

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1838; Germany

16. Toccata for Piano in C major, Op. 7 by Robert Schumann

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1829-1832; Germany

17. Sonata for Keyboard no 32 in G minor, H 16 no 44 by Franz Joseph Haydn

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Written: 1778

18. Ballade for Piano no 3 in A flat major, B 136/Op. 47 by Frédéric Chopin

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1840-1841; Paris, France

19. Préludes, Book 1: no 2, Voiles by Claude Debussy

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1909-1910; France

20. Préludes, Book 1: no 3, Le vent dans la plaine by Claude Debussy

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1909; France

21. Préludes, Book 1: no 5, Les collines d'Anacapri by Claude Debussy

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1909; France

22. Sonata for Piano no 8 in B flat major, Op. 84 by Sergei Prokofiev

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1939-1944; USSR

23. Concerto for Piano no 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: Russia

24. Rondo for Piano and Orchestra in B flat major, WoO 6 by Ludwig van Beethoven

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: by 1794; Vienna, Austria

25. Concerto for Piano no 3 in C minor, Op. 37 by Ludwig van Beethoven

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Conductor: Kurt Sanderling
Orchestra/Ensemble: Wiener Symphoniker
Period: Classical
Written: 1800; Vienna, Austria

26. Polonaise-fantaisie for Piano in A flat major, B 159/Op. 61 by Frédéric Chopin

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1845-1846; Poland

27. Etudes (12) for Piano, Op. 10: no 1 in C major by Frédéric Chopin

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1830; Poland

28. Etudes (12) for Piano, Op. 10: no 12 in C minor, B 67 "Revolutionary" by Frédéric Chopin

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1830; Poland

29. Ballade for Piano no 4 in F minor, B 146/Op. 52 by Frédéric Chopin

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1842; Paris, France

30. Estampes (3) for Piano by Claude Debussy

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1903; France

31. Sonata for Piano no 5 in F sharp major, Op. 53 by Alexander Scriabin

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1907; Russia

32. Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude and Fugue no 1 in C major, BWV 846 by Johann Sebastian Bach