Search - Schubert, Bartok, Szymanowski :: Richter, Sviatoslav: Schubert, Bartok,

White hot Richter pianism, acceptable live mono recording

Ivor E. Zetler | Sydney Australia | 04/01/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I acquired this live recital recording (Royal Festival Hall 7 December 1970)on the basis of a rave Gramophone review. I can only echo that critic's enthusiasm for the performances. The disc begins with the Schubert Sonata D958 and ends with Prokofiev Sonata No 7, works of composers frequently performed by Richter. Sandwiched inbetween are shortish compositions by Bartok and Szymanowski-rarities in this pianist's repertoire. The Szymanowski "Two Pieces from Masques" sound somewhat like Scriabin's piano music-tough but listenable.



Suffice it to say that the playing heard on this disc represent Richter in top form. His Schubert playing (with reasonably uneccentric tempi) is vigorous; this adjective would actually apply to the general playing in the whole of this recital. The performance of the Prokofiev 7th Sonata (Richter was the dedicatee)is white hot and in the class of Pollini. I am not aware of any other commonly available Richter recording of this work on disc and its appearance here is reason enough to acquire this CD. It is no wonder that the audience responded with wild applause at the end of this piece.



The sound is mono and acceptable although it has a certain hardness and the dynamics are somewhat restricted. The audience is reasonably quiet although there is some discrete coughing to be heard. This CD of an interesting and uncompromising recital would be of great interest to enthusiasts of this great pianist."