Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Sviatoslav Richter :: Un Homme de concert 3

Part of the world's most complete piano discography

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 07/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No pianist in the 20th century had a repertoire as large as Sviatoslav Richter, who loved Bach, Haydn and Prokofiev as much as Beethoven and far more than Mozart. This collection of Bach rarities -- aside from the Four Duets and Italian Concerto -- mimics a concert performance he gave in Germany about the same time that was released on a Live Classics CD. This recording has more music and more little-played Bach than the Live Classics CD, which had the advantage of being taped live with greater spontaneity. Things are a little more plotted in this disc, with Richter playing more like Rosalyn Turek than Mikhail Pletnev. Never mind that, for this is more Richter gold, mined toward the end of his glorious life.The main course on this CD -- Sonatas for keyboard BWV 963, 964 and 966, one a transcription from another composer, one early Bach, the other a Bach transcription -- are played in an intensely cerebral manner by Richter. He recorded this disc in Milan the same time he recorded four of the English Suites. I don't think the latter disks were as successful as this one. At the end of his career Richter had lost the fire and command exhibited in his 1962 RCA recording of Brahms Second Piano Concerto. He was no longer the enterprising figure that could spin out the world's most famous version of "Pictures At An Exhibition" and he didn't always demonstrate the same fierce technical command. Yet he could still bewitch, as he did during the dotted argeggios and staccato rhythm of the closing Allegro in BWV 964.In listening to this sonata, it is almost as if Richter was consumed by the score -- he always played from the score at the end of his career, whether in the recording studio or in darkened concert halls where the only light was the lamp illuminating his music -- then awoke from that slumber to unleash an enegetic allegro. This was always the benchmark of Richter, that he could play anything any way. He could pound the keyboard relentlessly, be the ultimate virtuoso, wax poetic -- as he did in his famous Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 while Munch pounded away with the Boston Symphony -- or be the most cerebral keyboard player on the planet. In this sonata he demonstrates at least two of those traits.This is one of the most fascinating Bach CDs in my collection. The Capriccio BWV 993 that follows the Sonatas is another mental exercise for Sviatoslav that engulfs the listener. Until he gets to the Four Duets and Italian Concerto, Richter performs throughout without virtuosity and white heat. He is never boring, however. On the contrary, through him Bach's message is always intact and intelligent. Unlike performers such as Glenn Gould, who blinds the listener with wizardry and technique, or Murray Perhaia, whose tonal beauty is so arresting you foget the music, Richter is never more or less than Bach's portal in this music.If you love Richter and want to better understand Bach, you'll want to own this CD. For a more illuminating view of Richter, rent or buy a copy of Bruno Monsaingeon's brilliant film, "Richter: The Enigma"."