Sviatoslav Richter Schubert

A collection of 66 tracks and approximately 4 hours and 6 minutes of masterpieces by the famous pianist Richter. Schumann: Piano Sonata No. 2-3rd Movement, "Butterfly" from "The Clown at the Vienna Carnival", Handel: Keyboard Suite No. 2, Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 31-2nd Movement (Oleg Kagan), Mozart/Grieg: Piano Sonata No. 16 (2 Pianos) (Leonskaya), Beethoven: Violin Sonata "Spring"-2nd and 3rd Movements, and more.

As far as discs of the piano sonatas of Prokofiev go, this one with Sviatoslav Richter playing the Second and Sixth in Prague in 1965 and the Ninth in 1956 is about as close to definitive as anything can ever get in this world. Richter's strength and control, his passionate intensity, and his complete command of every aspect of technique and interpretation is brought to bear on Prokofiev's music, music closely identified with Richter and in one case composed by Prokofiev for Richter. Although Richter grew up playing Prokofiev's Second and Sixth sonatas, Prokofiev dedicated his Ninth and final sonata to Richter and Richter's interpretation is the aural incarnation of the music.

For the 100th anniversary of Sviatoslav Richter, Firma Melodiya presents its arguably biggest project in its semicentennial history. The name of Sviatoslav Richter is inscribed in gold in the history of music. He was not just “more than a pianist,” he was even more than a musician. An owner of composing, conducting, artistic, directing and acting gifts, a connoisseur of literature, arts and philosophy, with a will of iron he made all his gifts serve the art of pianism.

For the 100th anniversary of Sviatoslav Richter, Firma Melodiya presents its arguably biggest project in its semicentennial history: a 50-CD set of Sviatoslav Richters concert recordings! This collection is far from the complete phonographic legacy of the great musician. Nevertheless, the set includes plenty of exclusive, previously unreleased recordings that will make the hearts of even most erudite connoisseurs and collectors rejoice.

In 1994-95, Philips released a 20+ disc box set titled Richter - The Authorized Recordings. Each volume was divided up by various composers, and recordings ranged from 1963 - 1992. This album is a 3 disc set that contains works by Franz Liszt and Frederic Chopin exclusively. The recordings range from 1966 to 1992, most of which are from recitals in the late 80s. At this point Richter’s career was certainly closer to its end and the reigning virtuoso he was the 50s and 60s was clearly on decline as is common with most aging pianists.

From the notes: "From his public appearances, he made his mark as a passionately probing musician with a miraculous touch who communicated an unequaled intensity to his listeners. He often presented ignored or forgotten works; he undertook a "Scriabin revival," championed the more neglected works of Schumann, and disclosed unsuspected depths in Schubert, early Beethoven, and Haydn Sonatas. An especially dedicated of Prokofiev, he gave the first concert performance of the Piano Sonata No. 7, and Prokofiev dedicated his Sonata No. 9 to Richter. A Richter recital, whether of familiar or neglected works, always left the listener with a transformed and deepend view of the works heard" Notes by S.W. Bennett