Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 8 & 23; 8 Bagatelles; Choral Fantasy, Op.80 (2003)
Sviatoslav Richter, piano; All-Union Radio Large Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kurt Sanderling
USSR State Russian Chorus, Artistic Director Alexander Sveshnikov
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue&Log) ~ 305 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 193 Mb | Scans included
Genre: Classical | Label: Melodiya | # MEL CD 10 00732 | Time: 01:19:37
Sviatoslav Richter, piano; All-Union Radio Large Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kurt Sanderling
USSR State Russian Chorus, Artistic Director Alexander Sveshnikov
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue&Log) ~ 305 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 193 Mb | Scans included
Genre: Classical | Label: Melodiya | # MEL CD 10 00732 | Time: 01:19:37
This live Appassionata, from a Moscow recital of 1959, is one of the most thrilling piano performances ever recorded. Sviatoslav Richter fills every moment of the first movement with intense drama, creates the illusion of total repose in the central variations, and then takes off in the finale with an exhibition of musical virtuosity and ever-increasing tension that becomes almost unbearably intense (and unbelievably fast and accurate). The studio Pathétique is quite fine, and the Fantasy (sung in Russian!) well performed by all but still rather quaint in its effect. But don't miss that Appassionata!