Sviatoslav Richter - Rachmaninov & Tchaikovsky: Piano Concertos (1995/2015) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Although the late Sviatoslav Richter spent his later years concentrating on Bach, Beethoven, and Haydn, he never completely abandoned the music of his native country. His reading of Rachmaninov's most popular concerto, captured in fine late-'50s stereo, is one of the most glorious ever recorded. Richter's amazing technique is completely up to the demands of Rachmaninov's difficult writing, and he plays the heart-on-sleeve melodies with such refined intensity that they never sound sentimental. This performance is a truly amazing example of great pianism, very strongly supported by the fine orchestra and its little-known conductor.

Unfortunately, the accompanying Tchaikovsky is a dud. Karajan and Richter recorded this work together as a favor to a record-company executive, but they don't seem to be in sympathy. The conductor's excessive refinement holds the pianist back, and the result is much too restrained for the music. Never mind. The Rachmaninov alone is easily worth the price of this disc.

„. . I'd have to have this with me on a desert island. It's one of the best examples of a master getting to grips with a popular work and recreating it anew – it's sensational.“ (Huw Edwards, Helen Wallace, BBC Music Magazine)

TRACKLIST

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)

Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor, Op.18
01. I. Moderato (11:10)
02. II. Adagio sostenuto (11:55)
03. III. Allegro scherzando (11:42)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23
04. I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito (22:11)
05. II. Andantino semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I (6:55)
06. III. Allegro con fuoco (7:11)

PERSONNEL
Sviatoslav Richter, piano
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Stanislaw Wislocki, conductor
Wiener Symphoniker
Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Recorded (Rachmaninov) in Warsaw, Philharmonie on 26th to 28th April 1959; released 1959, won Grand Prix International du Disque in 1960)
Recorded (Tchaikovsky) in Vienna, Musikvereins-Saal on 24th to 26th September 1962; Released in 1963; won Edison prize in 1963)
Engineered by Günter Hermanns (Rachmaninov), Heinz Wildhagen (Tchaikovsky)
Produced by Hans Weber (tracks: 1 to 3), Otto Ernst Wohlert (tracks: 4 to 6)
Executive-Producer: Prof. Elsa Schiller

Digitally remastered