Incredibly intense live by the master
Scriabinmahler | UK | 06/01/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Chopin Etudes (No.1-4,10-12 Op.10 / No.5-8,11,12 Op.25) and Polonaise-Fantasie, recorded live in 1960. Shostakovich Preludes & Fugues (No.3,6,7,2,18,4), recorded in 1956. Both are monoral recording, but very good quality without distortion and distracting noise.
Richter's rendition of Chopin Etudes are not note-perfect as he takes more risks pushing boudary of human ability, extremely intense and deeply expressive at the same time.
As for Shostakovich's piano works, few pianists can match Richter's highly inspired and structaully solid performances. What a shame he did not recored complete set of the P&Fugues!"
Buyer Beware! Richter Performs 6 of Shostakovich's 24 Prelud
Second Hearing | Massachusetts | 06/24/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Just a short note here. When Supraphon reissued these Prague performances from 1956 and 1960, they got carried away with the Shostakovich description in the title of the album.
Sviatoslav Richter never recorded all of Shostakovich's Preludes and Fugues. In fact he only recorded, at different times, a total of 16 Preludes and Fugues of opus 87. The title of opus 87 is 24 Preludes and Fugues. Got that?!
So Richter performed a selection of 6 preludes and fugues in 1956. These were / are numbers 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 18 and fine performances they are, though the sound could be better, but these are reference recordings. Any Richter performance of Shostakovich's opus 87 is of high value as he approximates Shostakovich's own performances, which are remarkable.
Richter enthusiasts and those interested in Shostakovich will want this recording, if they don't already have it on earlier editions, such as the excact same selection on Ultraphon.
If you are purchasing this for Shostakovich's complete 24 Preludes and Fugues you will be sadly disappointed. Richter's Chopin interpretations are widely available. His Shostakovich interpretations are not widely available; hence the importance of this collection.
Recommendation: Sound ok; Buy it for the Shostakovich.
"Second Hearing - because once is just not enough!""