Great Purchase
Gregory C. Dyer | Downingtown, PA USA | 08/04/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this volume for the three Prokofiev sonatas, considering the recital on the other disk to be a bonus. After many listenings, this turned out to be one of the best musical purchases I've ever made.Richter knew Prokofiev personally and was one of the best, if not THE best, interpreter of Prokofiev's music. In fact, Prokofiev entrusted Richter to publicly premiere his 7th sonata after listening Richter perform it for him personally. Add in the fact that sonatas 6, 7 and 8 were all conceived at the same time and fit together as a trilogy very nicely, and here's an ideal coupling. There may be another recording with these three sonatas and Richter floating around, but it's hard to beat getting the sonatas and the Sofia recital at the equivalent of mid-price.The sound on the sonatas is good. The 6th sonata comes across very clearly. The 7th, especially in the 2nd movement, suffers a bit from a lack of dynamic range. The 8th sounds clear enough for one to hear an out of tune key on the piano. Any qualms that one may have concerning sound should be erased by Richter's pianism.The highlights of the Sofia recital are a fiery performance of Pictures at an Exhibition and several pieces by Liszt. Unfortunately, there is background noise from the audience. Nonetheless, the sound of the piano remains wholly intact and vibrant, which is of far greater importance. The coughing in the background, realistically, doesn't disrupt the music unless one is listening with earphones. This is quite simply a great selection of music performed by a great pianist.If you don't already own this cd, buy it. It's definitely worth it."
Greatest recital of the century?
j t walker | 04/28/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Richter's 1958 Sofia recital -- on the first of 2 CDs offered here -- has a good claim to be the greatest recorded recital of the century. His performance of the Mussorgsky Pictures rehabilitated the original piano version after years of neglect. The Liszt "Feux Follets" is legendary and still unequalled. The Chopin and Rachmaninov are excellent. But it is the two Schubert Impromptus that I listen to again and again. Richter comes as close as any human ever could to perfection in these little works."
Excellent...if you can find it
dm | rochester, ny | 08/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Obviously this is a classic...and it's out of print??!!
I found it at a used record store for $12.00, and I think it hadn't even been opened. And now some people want $129 for it? Look around folks.
As far as the CD goes, the real stars are the Prokofiev pieces. Very commanding and stunning. The Mussorgsky is a mixed-bag. Richter starts off a little shaky, and there is some disturbing audience noise. But by the time he finishes he is in full command and the shaky start is totally forgotten.
Try to find this, but don't pay too much!"
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1