The Sofia Recital 1958 | Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, ... | The best interpretation of "Pictures...

The Sofia Recital 1958 | Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, ... | The Most Memorialand Quoted Piano Recital from the 1950's

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The Sofia Recital ...

	The Sofia Recital 1958 Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, ... Philips, 2001 average customer review:based on 17 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The best interpretation of "Pictures at an Exhibition" I have heard

Wow.

If the vivid imagery Richter creates in this live performance isn't enough to bring tears to your eyes, the technical prowess will certainly send you searching for the "repeat" button on your cd player.

Richter, as always, delivers an emotional and monumental performance.

The Most Memorialand Quoted Piano Recital from the 1950's

Svaitoslav Richter is the quintiessential pianist of the 20th century. This epic live recording of the Mussorsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" stands as the supreme recording of the piano version ever recorded. Although some will argue that Horowitz recorded of his this piece with is its numerous interpretative changes is also notable but is mearly a flashey more superficial rendition than Richter's. Richter here captures this pieces mistical and heavenly appeal so perfectly it seems its nuances are forever engrained in your mind. The Promenade is so stately and energetically expressed it seemingly gives us permission to enter a heavenly 30 minute musical forum. The variation number 5, 8, 10 and the next to last are my favorites. Being a pianist (and I use that term loosely) this recording has taught me so much with regards to vivid imagery. For example the next to last variation leaves me with the impression that it is someone taking the road to heaven and finally arrives at its gates. Then is looking at the Gates of Heaven as they Open. A grand moment in any life. Richters imagery is so perfectly unbalanced that he leaves us on edge to anticipate each colorful moment. This is truely my favorite recording in classical piano because it is so awe inspiring.

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terrible coughs.

there are two recordings that would've perhaps been much more appreciated had there not been several people who coughed their way through the entire concert. the furtwangler 1942 recording of Beethoven's sixth symphony and this one.
jesus. i'm not one to complain about coughing, but we have issues here. was it communism?? really, were russians this worse off???????

things set aside, the performance itself.. is magical.

i can't add much more to previous reviewers except this: expect one of the worst recordings from the 1950's... if you brainwash yourself into believing this is one of those naxos or pearl remastered 1920s recordings, you'll find yourself much more pleased.

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The definitive "Pictures at an Exhibition"

Not much more I can add to this. If you have any interest in the original piano version of "Pictures" at all then this is the one to get. Try Muti's for an excellent version of the piece as orchestrated by Ravel(Along with a great "Rite of Spring"; dirt cheap too)- Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibiton; Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring.

Nobody else understands "Pictures" as well as Richter and in his hands time melts and you are taken on a journey you will not soon forget. Richter pushes and pulls this piece wherever he wants and we the listeners are happy to follow him where he chooses to take us.

The piano sound is quite good for its time. Fairly full and with a good dynamic range. Unfortunately the audience seems to have a case of infectious coughing. Similar to the live Wartime recordings of Furtwangler in that respect. You get used to it though, and either way it doesn't matter in the hands of a performance of this stature.

There's a reason that you can still buy this nearly 50(?!) years after it was recorded. Not only are people still talking about this recital, but we are still waiting for a recording to match it in modern sound without audience interruptions. I suspect we may have to wait a long, long time.

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The Measuring Stick for all Other "Pictures"

There really isn't another recording of pictures that comes close to this one, the annoying cougher notwithstanding. If I had to make a second choice, it would most likely be Byron Janis' on Mercury Living Presence in superb sound, coupled with the orchestral (Ravel) version conducted by Antal Dorati. The small works by Liszt, Chopin & Rachmaninov are the icing on this very sweet cake.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

Tracks
Promenade | Movement I, Gnomus | Movement I, Promenade | Movement II, Il Vecchio Castello - Promenade/The Old Castle | Movement III, Tuileries | Movement IV, Bydlo | Movement IV, Promenade | Movement V, Ballet Of The Chickens In Their Shells | Movement VI, Samuel Goldnberg Und Schmuyle | Movement VI, Promenade | Movement VII, Limoges: Le Marché - The Market Place At Limoges | Movement VIII, Catacombae: Sepulchrum Romanum | Movement IX, La Cabane Sur Des Pattes De Poule - The Hut On Fowl's Legs | Movement X, La Grande Porte De Kiev - The Great Gate Of Kiev

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