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Sviatoslav Richter - Pianist Of The Century


Release Date: 06/09/2009 
Label:  Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog #: 4778122   Spars Code: n/a 
Composer:  Robert Schumann,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Sergei Prokofiev,  Sergei Rachmaninov,   ... 
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter
Conductor:  Stanislaw Wislocki,  Witold Rowicki,  Kurt Sanderling
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra,  Wiener Symphoniker
Number of Discs: 9 
Back Order: Usually ships in 2 to 3 weeks.  

Notes and Editorial Reviews

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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Works on This Recording

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
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1722; Cöthen, Germany 
33.
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude and Fugue no 4 in C sharp minor, BWV 849 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1722; Cöthen, Germany 
34.
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude and Fugue no 5 in D major, BWV 850 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1722; Cöthen, Germany 
35.
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude and Fugue no 6 in D minor, BWV 851 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1722; Cöthen, Germany 
36.
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude and Fugue no 8 in E flat minor, BWV 853 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1722; Cöthen, Germany 
37.
Allegretto for Piano in C minor, D 915 by Franz Schubert
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1827; Vienna, Austria 
38.
Ländler (17) for Piano, D 366: no 1 in A major by Franz Schubert
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1816-1824; Vienna, Austria 
39.
Theme and Variations for Piano on the name ABEGG, Op. 1 by Robert Schumann
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1829-1830; Germany 
40.
Preludes (13) for Piano, Op. 32: no 12 in G sharp minor, Allegro by Sergei Rachmaninov
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1910; Russia 
41.
Visions fugitives (20) for Piano, Op. 22: no 3, Allegretto by Sergei Prokofiev
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1915-1917; Russia 
42.
Visions fugitives (20) for Piano, Op. 22: no 6, Con eleganza by Sergei Prokofiev
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1915-1917; Russia 
43.
Visions fugitives (20) for Piano, Op. 22: no 9, Allegretto tranquillo by Sergei Prokofiev
Performer:  Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1915-1917; Russia 

Featured Sound Samples

Piano Concerto no 2 (Rachmaninov): III. Allegro scherzando
Abegg Variations (Schumann)
Ballade no 3 (Chopin)
Estampes (Debussy): No 3: Jardins sous la pluie

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