Search - Beethoven, Richter, Kondrashin :: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, Op. 15 and No.3 in C minor, Op. 37 - Richter, Kondrashin (conductor)

Atrocious recording quality

David Nicholls | Brisbane, Australia | 07/03/1999

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I found any appreciation of Richter's phenomenal ability virtually impossible because of the terrible quality of the recording of this CD (and I enjoy his performance of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition", even though the recording quality is quite poor there also). But something has gone seriously wrong with this CD -- there is the usual bronchial Russian audience, but I can overlook that. It is the sound itself, which is badly distorted, with digital clicks -- this leads me to believe that the problem arises from a very poor re-mastering. Richter also recorded Beethoven's 3rd Concerto for Deutche Gramophon with the Vienna SO conducted by Sanderling, in the 60's. Surely they will reissue this recording soon -- it is the one to wait for, unless a new re-mastering can salvage the Kondrashin one."

The russian masters

Jesse | Huntsville, AL | 08/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lest the listening audience forget, not all recording techniques are created equal. These recordings, made in Russia, are of the quality that they are only because of the inferior recording techniques that Russia had during this time. It does not, however, counter the fact that some of this centuries most brilliant musicians (two of which are in this CD) came out of Russia despite communism and musical suppression. It may be noted that this is the same Kondrashin who made the memorable recording of Tchaikovsky's first with Van Cliburn, and that Svia. Richter is a self taught genious inspired when he saw Rubinstein at a live performance at the age of eighteen. So, despite technological knit-picking, very much can be said about the music."