Sviatoslav Richter – The Lost Tapes – Beethoven: Sonatas Nos. 18, 27, 28 & 31 – Vinyl LP

Anyone who thinks everything has already been said about the discography of the legendary pianist Sviatoslav Richter is mistaken. For 60 years, the recordings made by Deutsche Grammophon at the 1965 Tours and Lucerne festivals lay dormant in the archives. They are now being released for the first time, carefully restored by the renowned Emil Berliner Studios. Like many artists, Richter felt he played better and more freely in concert than in the studio. These tremendous recordings show the pianist at the peak of his pianistic powers. And indeed, they recall Van Cliburn’s statement: “This is the most powerful piano playing I have ever heard.” Richter’s Beethoven interpretations are phenomenal. His interpretations of Sonatas Nos. 18, 27, 28, and 31 demonstrate a striking, modern approach that shies away from no risks and pushes musical expression to the extreme in every respect. Pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja, a confidante of Richter, expressed her enthusiasm for the artistic freedom, technical brilliance, and love of music conveyed in these recordings. The album is available digitally, as a CD, and on a double LP and includes a recent interview with Elisabeth Leonskaja, an essay by Jed Distler, and editorial notes by Markus Kettner. Numerous, partly unpublished, photographs complement the edition.

Disc 1
1 I. Allegro (Original Version)
2 II. Scherzo. Allegretto vivace (Original Version)
3 III. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso (Original Version)
4 IV. Presto con fuoco (Original Version)
5 1. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck (Original Version)
6 2. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen (Original Version)

Disc 2
1 I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung. Allegretto ma non troppo (Original Version)
2 II. Lebhaft, marschmäßig. Vivace alla marcia (Original Version)
3 III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll. Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto (Original Version)
4 IV. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit. Allegro (Original Version)
5 I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo (Original Version)
6 II. Allegro molto (Original Version)
7 III. Adagio ma non troppo – Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo (Original Version)
8 4. Fuga Allegro ma non troppo (Original Version)