Sergey Rachmaninov Sviatoslav Richter - Rachmaninov Preludes Etudestableaux (22 tracks) +Album Reviews

Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Sviatoslav Richter :: Rachmaninov: Preludes; Etudes-tableaux

Sergey Rachmaninov, Sviatoslav Richter
Rachmaninov: Preludes; Etudes-tableaux
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (22) - Disc #1
1. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 33: No. 9 in C sharp minor. Grave
2. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 33: No. 5 in D minor. Moderato
3. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 33: No. 6 in E flat minor. Non allegro
4. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No. 1 in C Minor. Allegro agitato
5. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No. 2 in A minor. Lento assai
6. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No. 3 in F sharp minor. Allegro molto
7. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No. 4 in B minor. Allegro assai
8. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No. 9 in D major. Allegro moderato, tempo di marcia
9. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No. 7 in C minor. Lento
10. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: No. 1 in F sharp minor. Largo
11. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: No. 2 in B flat major. Maestoso
12. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: No. 4 in D major. Andante cantabile
13. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: No. 5 in G minor. Alla marcia
14. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: No. 7 in C minor. Allegro
15. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: No. 8 in A flat major. Allegro vivace
16. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: No. 1 in C major. Allegro vivace
17. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: No. 2 in B flat minor. Allegretto
18. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: No. 6 in F minor. Allegro appassionato
19. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: No. 7 in F major. Moderato
20. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: No. 9 in A major. Allegro moderato
21. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: No. 10 in B minor. Lento
22. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: No. 12 in G sharp minor. Allegro

CD Details

All Artists: Sergey Rachmaninov, Sviatoslav Richter
Title: Rachmaninov: Preludes; Etudes-tableaux
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Regis
Original Release Date: 1/1/2007
Re-Release Date: 4/10/2007
Album Type: Import
Genre: Classical
Styles: Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 675754933128

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CD Reviews

Overwhelming Performances

Doug - Haydn Fan | California | 04/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While I would not urge you listen to all of these pieces in a single sitting, that in no way is meant to diminish Richter's achievement here. This quite simply is one of the most jaw-dropping Rachmaninoff albums I've encountered. However, much of this music can be almost inexorable in its drive and power and, often gloom - taken as a large unit it suffers - or rather, the listener can be rather Rachmaninoffed out.

These performances can be broken down into two groups, with the Etudes recorded very late in Richter's life, in 1988, while the Preludes were from 1971. The CD has the later composed Etudes first, which makes no sense to me, as they are certainly, at least in the case of the Etudes-Tableaux opus 39, utterly devasting in their intensity and general gloom. One wonders where one can possibly go after such an obliterating nihilism? That said, Richter runs riot in all of this Russian soulfulness, with huge tone and merciless virtousity. The phrase 'Titan of the Keyboard', which applied to Rachmaninoff during his lifetime, is certainly the mot juste for what Richter dishes up as heard on this CD.

In Opus 23, music well known and well represented, Richter certainly gives no more quarter than in any of the other selections. He's forever searching out new, deeper vistas, and this exploring continues throughout the set. Just how tremendous a performance is this? You need only turn to everyone's gold standard in the famous 5th Prelude in G minor, a version considered superior even to Rachmaninoff's own version: Josef Hofmann's exhilarating performance. The opening minute of a live version of Hofmann playing this can be found on the samples for his late concert on - The Complete Josef Hofmann, Vol. 2 Good as Hofmann is Richter goes him one better, with an even greater display of technical mastery and a more tumultous explosion of energy.

The last group, the Opus 32 Preludes, finds yet more magic in the way Richter subtly shifts into ever more complex readings than is usually heard in this music.

The piano is recorded slightly better in the latter Etudes, but for this caliber of music-making it's more than fine.

Worth the most dedicated search!

"

Absolutely thrilling

Peter | Chicago, IL | 03/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Buy this record and listen to track 6, the Étude-Tableau Op. 39 No. 3, really loud. You will flip out, no questions asked."