Sviatoslav Richter - Beethoven: Sonatas Nos. 18, 27, 28 & 31 - THE LOST TAPES

For sixty years, Sviatoslav Richter’s discography, which were made by Deutsche Grammophon at the Tours and Lucerne Festivals in 1965, have slumbered in the Yellow Label’s archives. Carefully restored by Emil Berliner Studios, they are being released now for the very first time. These tremendous recordings reveal the pianist at the pinnacle of his powers as a pianist. Indeed, they evoke Van Cliburn's comment: ‘That is the most powerful piano playing I have ever heard’. The performances of the Sonatas Nos. 18, 27, 28 and 31 show a strikingly modern approach that never shies away from taking risks to express the music in its furthest extreme. The album is available digitally, as a CD and double LP and includes a recent interview with Elisabeth Leonskaja, an essay by Jed Distler and editorial notes by Markus Kettner. Numerous photographs, some previously unpublished, complete the edition.

Excluded from sitewide sales/discounts. Limited to 4 per customer.

Tracklist:

LP1 – side 1
Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3 ""The Hunt""
I. Allegro
II. Scherzo. Allegretto vivace
III. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso
IV. Presto con fuoco
 
LP1 – side 2
Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90
I. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
II. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen
 
LP2 – side 1
Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101
I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung. Allegretto ma non troppo
II. Lebhaft, marschmäßig. Vivace alla marcia
III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll. Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto
IV. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit. Allegro
 
LP2 – side 2
Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110
I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
II. Allegro molto
III. Adagio ma non troppo
Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo