COMPOSERS: Brahms/Beethoven
LABELS: RCA Gold Seal
WORKS: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat; Piano Sonata No. 23 (Appassionata)
PERFORMER: Sviatoslav Richter (piano); Chicago SO/Erich Leinsdorf
CATALOGUE NO: 07863 56518 2 ADD (1960)
Richter made this recording of the Brahms B flat Concerto two days after playing it at his American debut just over 32 years ago. It is a very impressive account; Classical rather than Romantic, less poetic than Gilels’s famous version, notable for the clarity and forcefulness of the solo part but with a beautiful account of the slow movement. The Appassionata, recorded a few weeks later, receives an equally powerful performance but is more affected by the slightly shallow sound than the concerto.David Michaels
Brahms/Beethoven
Richter made this recording of the Brahms B flat Concerto two days after playing it at his American debut just over 32 years ago. It is a very impressive account; Classical rather than Romantic, less poetic than Gilels’s famous version, notable for the clarity and forcefulness of the solo part but with a beautiful account of the slow movement. The Appassionata, recorded a few weeks later, receives an equally powerful performance but is more affected by the slightly shallow sound than the concerto.David Michaels
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:35 pm