Sviatoslav Richter 2: MusicNear.com

Music CD 1

Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Flat, Op.26: Andante con variazioni: Theme
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Flat, Op.26: Variation 1
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Flat, Op.26: Variation 2
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Flat, Op.26: Variation 3
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Flat, Op.26: Variation 4
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Flat, Op.26: Variation 5
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Flat, Op.26: Scherzo. Allegro molto
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Flat, Op.26: Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un Eroe
Piano Sonata No. 12 In A Flat, Op.26: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op.31: Largo - Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op.31: Adagio
Piano Sonata No. 17 In D Minor, Op.31: Allegretto
Piano Sonata No.23 In F Minor, Op.57: Allegro assai
Piano Sonata No.23 In F Minor, Op.57: Andante con moto
Piano Sonata No.23 In F Minor, Op.57: Allegro ma non troppo
Andanta favori In F, WoO 57

Music CD 2

Rondo In B For Piano And Orchestra, WoO 6
Piano Sonata No.30 In E, Op.109: 1 Vivace, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo - Tempo I
Piano Sonata No.30 In E, Op.109: 2 Prestissimo
Piano Sonata No.30 In E, Op.109: 3 Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung
Piano Sonata No.31 In A Flat, Op.110: 1 Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
Piano Sonata No.31 In A Flat, Op.110: 2 Allegro molto
Piano Sonata No.31 In A Flat, Op.110: 3 Adagio ma non troppo
Piano Sonata No.31 In A Flat, Op.110: Fuge, Allegro ma non troppo - L'istesso tempo di Arioso - L'inversione della Fuga
Piano Sonata No. 32 In C Minor, Op.111: Maestoso -
Piano Sonata No. 32 In C Minor, Op.111: Allegro con brio ed appassionato
Piano Sonata No. 32 In C Minor, Op.111: Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

Free Music Notes for Sviatoslav Richter 2

Free Music Review: Richter plays Beethoven
Hit: 5 Stars

This compliation is part of an outstanding series devoted to the great pianists of the 20th century. It consists of Richter's recordings of six Beethoven piano sonatas, out of the composer's 32 works in this form, together with the "andante favori" and an early concert rondo for piano and orchestra. The recordings date from 1961-1963 and 1993.

The six Beethoven sonatas in the collection include three early to middle period works on the first disc together with Beethoven's final three sonatas on the second disc. The final three sonatas were recorded live in 1993. The sonatas themselves date from 1800 to 1822.

The collection opens with the sonata in a-flat major, opus 26 which dates from about 1800. This is one of my favorite Beethoven sonatas even though it is less well-known than the works with popular names. It is a four-movement work of an improvisatory character (none of the movements are in sonata form) in which Beethoven expanded the scope of writing for the piano. The work opens with a set of variations on a meditative them, but it is best known for the third movement, a funeral march, which is a predecessor of the funeral march in Beethoven's third symphony and in Chopin's second piano sonata. Richter plays this great sonata with a light, clean touch. He takes the final movement at an unusually fast pace.

The disk continues with the "Tempest" sonata, opus 31 no. 2, written in 1802. This work is in three movements and features an opening movement which integrates sections of widely varying tempos and emotional characters. The middle portion of this movement features two piano recitifs played pianissimo in a distant voice of unearthly sorrow. Richter plays them beautifully. The final movement of this work is a rondo on a rolling theme in the minor full of smoldering passion.

The first disk concludes with the "Appassionata" sonata, opus 57, written in 1803, a major work of Beethoven's "heroic" period. It is the best known of the Beethoven sonatas in this compliation and has been recorded many times. This is a work for piano virtuosity and Richter plays it to the hilt. It is also a work of deep sorrow combined with an angry determination. Richter captures the force and fury of this great music.

The second CD consists of Beethoven's final three piano sonatas, opus 109, 110, and 111. These sonatas were written as a trilogy and date from 1820-1822. Beethoven was totally deaf at the time of the composition of these works, all of which reflect a deep inward character. These are notoriously difficult and complex works, but I am aware of no music which has the spiritual force of these late compositions.

The opus 109 sonata is my own favorite of these works and of Beethoven's piano sonatas. It is in three movements and features a concentrated lyricism in its opening movement and a meditative set of variations for the conclusion. Beethoven gave expressive markings to the movements of these last works and directed that the theme of the last movement be played "songlike, with the greatest inwardness of feeling."
This is spiritual, introspective, meditative music like none other.

The four-movement opus 110 sonata in a-flat major includes a shattering slow movement marked "song of lament" which is juxtaposed with a final, triumphant fugue.

The last of Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas, opus 111 in c-sharp major is in only two movements, the first of which consists of a slow, majestic introduction reminiscent of the sonata pathetique followed by an allegro. The final movement is another song-like theme with variations, similar in some ways to the variation movement of opus 109.

The compiliation here comes with program notes which focus on Richter's playing rather than on Beethoven's music. I found the works beautifully and thoughtfully performed. They will allow the listener to appreciate Richter's pianism and, more importantly, to get to know the Beethoven piano sonatas. The emphasis in this collection is on the final three sonatas which still have a somewhat forbidding reputation and remain unfamiliar to many listeners. This disk will help the listener know and love this music.