classical music:

	Schumann: Piano Concerto / Sviatoslav Richter Robert Schumann, Stanislaw Wislocki, ... Deutsche Grammophon, 1996 average customer review:based on 12 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

If you listen to this recording repeatedly, and then compare it with other good or very good recordings (Lipatti, Serkin, Moravec, Staier), you'll notice the differences: you will be aware how these latter pianists search for the correct interpretation of certain passages, and often they succeed. You'll be also aware, however, that Richter does not interpret. He simply plays it the way Schumann must have intended the work, i.e. the way it has to be played. It's not a matter of technique - in this respect, many(but not too many) pianists are as good as Richter. It's just like Schumann's spirit has penetrated Richter's nervous system and guides his fingers.

When you're not listening to the concerto for a long time, and then try to "play" it in your head, you will reckognize that it "sounds" like the Richter-Rowicki recording. And you will notice flaws in all other recordings.

Summarized: Best recording of Richter, best recording of Schumann's piano concerto, and my all-time favorite recording.

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& I thought Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1 was my favorite!

That is...until I heard the first few notes of this Schumann concerto. I was literally in tears the first 50 times I listened to the 1st movement of this concerto. Personally I'm not a big fan of Schumann's work, but this is the absolute best piano concerto, and it is a "must buy" for any piano lover. This recording also substantiated my love for Richter's playing.


schumann's chamber concerto

as the other reviews have said, this is a remarkable performance. the ensemble playing is crisp without being rigid, and the players are recorded with the clarity of a chamber orchestra: all the instrumental soloists are distinguished and the balance with the soloist is perfect. richter creates a subtle range of moods within the overall perspective of each movement -- hard to do in a concerto role, as the orchestra must contribute to the effect -- though his dynamic contrasts are not as extreme as typical. the cumulative effect is apollonian, magisterial, and timeless. the solo pieces are marvelous technical and interpretive displays as well.

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Richter plays Schumann

All of us who admire the supreme interpretative status of Sviatoslav Richter know about his variable temperament. That personal feature permeated every piece he played in his fruitful career. The Piano Concerto has been played for so many pianists in the most different approach. It is a piece of irresistible romantic ethos, who can deny it? .

This version remained indeed, as one the most prominent in the market for years; but there were many more: Lipatti, Michelangeli, Rubinstein, Cortot ,Van Cliburn, Yves Nat among many others, we should wait until the most elegant, expressive, eloquent and committed performance ever recorded : Ivan Moravec with the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Vaclav Neumann (a very hard to find CD).

That fact established more than just a line; a true frontier, a reference pattern, very hard to surpass until this date. Richter 's performance is something inexpressive, he could make a major and best performance. But despite of it, remains among the ten best available and trustable versions.

The rest of the CD is absolutely perfect .I don't know about any other version of Introduction and Allegro capable to match with it. His Novelette is very expressive and sensitive with the only exception of the monumental version of Wilhelm Kempff and one register of Emil Gilels.

The Toccata is simply memorable; there are , however two very remarkable version: Martha Argerich and Vladimir Horowitz. The Waldzsenen Op. 82 is a a very genuine jewel.

Go for this, keeping in mind there are better options respect the piano Concerto.

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Robert Schumann piano Sviatoslav Richter

Dexterity of Richter is world class . As a classical pianist I was disappointed with the frequency response of the recording. Although probably digitized still a lot of the frequencies were missing. If I had to choose again I would select a relatively recent performance .


reviews: 1, page 2, 3

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