Sviatoslav Richter plays Liszt Sonata in B Minor

[bobbphysics]

I still think Argerich's recording she made when she was 19 (!!!) is much better. 

[superbemaison]

This live version from Carnegie Hall 18/05/65 is THE version of all.

The atmosphere is so intense,all other versions from other pianists have altered tempos:fast,slow,fast,slow...

Truecrypt, did you take it from an Lp since my version(CD-Philipps) does not sound as good.

[sessionmessiah]

wow ... what can we even say ??????!!!!.. two all-time geniuses met... richter & liszt... in this interpretation of a piano sonata ... no words....

breathtaking

[marcopolette]

Hair-raising performance, as always when to comes to Richter.

Thanks for posting.

[Jmjager1]

A bit childish to frame someone with contradiction. There are no rules.

Also, this was a good play, I think.

[awesomekapownoises23]

unbelievable...



[darkblueangel1956]

@MrALCOTTS

Con queste sparate, NON TI CREDEA' PIU NESSUNO !!!

[kurtgrohlify]

@tigertolyy Yuja Wang's Liszt sonata doesn't come anywhere close to this.

[darkblueangel1956]

Strabiliante e delirante interpretazione, intensità espressiva incontenibile, come il magma di un vulcano che traboccando, illumina il buio e brucia voracemente !!! Un poema sinfonico dove esistono tutti i sentimenti e le passioni della vita umana, dove esistono colori, riflessi, poesia, tormento, incanto, estasi, sublimazione, rapimento estatico.... NESSUNO ha mai più scritto niente di simile !!! Sua Santità Assoluta SVIATOSLAV RICHTER ha rivelato il sogno, l'inferno e la redenzione con Liszt !

[massimiliano123123]

@darkblueangel1956 A me non piace molto questa esecuzione D:

[BlackIsOut]

at 0.50 he was like stop coughing damit

[NecroSexy]

this is ferocious. i love it.

[tigertolyy]

@ehttsinaip oh okay wise one. get lost. oh wait.. nevermind. you already are.

[tigertolyy]

@ehttsinaip you make no sense at all man. learn English.

[tigertolyy]

@ehttsinaip . you have something against the bible? and you call me an idiot child.. what does that make you? a mentally retarded adolescent? or a senile old man?.. also learn better English before you try to comment in it.

[steamednotfried]

He plays like a tired, spent man.

[truecrypt]

@steamednotfried

This is from your recent comment on another video: "In fact, just for purposes of comedy, I'm going to find some extremely brilliant and energetic performance by Richter and say that he plays like a tired, spent man. "

So, you said it... Satisfied?

[hellboyreloaded]

@steamednotfried Lol, poor idiot, I'm sure you copied the comment from freewerqwer opinion on Rubinstein video of Chopin op.48 no.1, Oh you are criticizing Richter!! That makes you smart? No, You are only one more idiot.

[PrawDuhJee]

7:17 WTF are you kidding me Richter!?

[loboris1995]

LOL in 0:53^^

[alienalienss]

How stunning for a live performance!

[TheHanslick]

With all respect to Richter, I still consider Horowitz second (RCA) recording better.

More ballanced, technically better (of course it is studio), better pedaling. The atmosphere is better calculated, yet still spontaneous and absolutely diabolic.

Horowitz has each detail carefuly calculated. It may sound "overblown"(Dubal),

but I think that is exactly the romantic spirit. Richter sometimes sounds just

uncontrolled bang, bang.

[loboris1995]

@TheHanslick That's why I preffer Richter ^^

[LisztBusoni]

This is the best composition for piano...

[gwatts12]

is this Richter's Carnegie Hall concert? been trying to locate a recording of that version

[tigertolyy]

This is pathetic.

[truecrypt]

@tigertolyy

Really? Why?

[hoiszhdfoifh22]

@truecrypt Maybe he means pathetic as in "inducing pathos".

Or maybe he's an idiot with no taste in music.

Or maybe "he" is a WOMAN.

Christ.

[tigertolyy]

@truecrypt maybe i shouldnt have said pathetic cause thats def not true. but.... its not as good as listening to Yundi Li, martha Argerich, yuja wang, or evgeny kissin play it.

[truecrypt]

@tigertolyy

I see a progress in your musical development...

Your initial comment was rude and wrong.

The new one is not rude but still wrong...

May be third time you'll get it right? ;)

[tigertolyy]

@truecrypt lol okay third times the charm hahahaha he may play it equally as well as martha argerich and evgeny kissin. possibly better than kissin. Yundi Li still and always will beat him hands down however, and im not alone on that position. ;) yuja wang.. im basically in love with her haha so i cant say that my opinion on her sonata in b minor isnt biased. ;)

[truecrypt]

@tigertolyy

Dear Anatoly,

Three Strikes and You're Out! ;)

[tigertolyy]

@truecrypt lol and what exactely makes you think that hes better than Argerich, Li, Kissin, and Wang? because hes dead? lol maybe i would like him more if i saw him play live. personally i like the above pianists much better. and im not even a fan of kissin. haha

[truecrypt]

@tigertolyy

May be if you'd "LOL" little bit less and learn the subject more we could speak... until then it's useless...

Take my advice - stop commenting for couple years, study hard, read more, listen to great musicians and educate yourself.

[tigertolyy]

@truecrypt oh by the way nothing against Richter.. i think hes awesome. i just prefer the pianists that i can actually see playing. haha

[LisztBusoni]

@tigertolyy

you are pathetic.

[douskara]

@tigertolyy maybe pathetique ?

[flarbton]

@tigertolyy lol you'd faint just looking at the score.

[gerryrains]

This is, IMHO, the very best of all of the recordings that I have ever heard of the B minor sonata and I have heard at least 10, probably far more. Only Richter could convey Liszt's thoughts so well.

[uhartchristian]

I worked on that sonata when I was 18. You need to open your heart and let the soul come out. Its the most wonderful romantic work that exist.

[iguarni]

That's why S.Richter must be considered one of the best ever and for ever!!!!

[PipePOp22]

that is why he is one of the best,he is worried about making truly music, and its not worried about showing us how good he was playing,that is musical mature... sorry for my english,i just speak spanish

[PipePOp22]

Sviatoslav is one of the greatest pianists,Franz liszt one of the gratest composers... this sonata one of the best ever written,the result was obvious, the perfect balace between a particular musical score and it´s interaction with the performer and the audience... richter creates a virtual link between the music and the audience that doesnt requires musical knowledge from part of audience

[Pogouldiwitz]

Truecrypt, greetings. This is certainly a very good performance. Can you briefly discuss what makes it a great one? Maybe highlight certain elements that Richter brought out in the piece? Or anything else that impresses you?

[truecrypt]

my 2 cents...

1. The SYMPHONIC (orchestral) approach: all elements are not only in place, but internally connected. In other words - when Richter plays the first note, he keeps in mind the last one!

2. Richter makes me forget about *pianism* here!

3. Richter himself didn't like his own recordings but considered this particular performance to be "quite decent"!

BTW, there are many great interpretations - Grinberg, Argerich, Cliburn, Sofronitsky, Horowitz, Gilels, Pletnev - just to name a few...

[Pogouldiwitz]

First, thank you.

Second, what would you say is wrong with pianism for pianism's sake?

Third, is this recording from the Carnegie Hall concert?

Fourth, Best wishes!

[truecrypt]

1. You're very welcome! ;)

2. Pianism (though could be considered as an art by itself) still is only a TOOL (or set of tools)!

The most brilliant pianism can be very irritating if used for "pianism's sake" only. When pianism takes over the music, we get "international piano competition"... On other hand, music without pianism would be just another extreme - dilettantism...

BALANCE is the key!

3. Yes, it is!

4. The same to you! ;)

[alexggable]

In my opinion, pianism in the whole context of the word is what defines a pianist, his/her true and pure esence.

If Richter had something exceptional, was precisely his pianism to perform all his repertoire with pure soul, passion, sensibility and love for music. His superb technique was only a tool to help him get to unexpected musical levels.

That's pianism.

[Maralegar2009]

and zimerman ! :)

[uhartchristian]

it is a dramatic interpretation as it should be....

as ever Richter stands over the difficulties and can concentrate freely to find his expression of the composition.

Of course the beginning could be different. But should it be? I don t think so.... Its a great live recording.

[henseltetude]

I always thought that Richter played the piano focusing only in the notes... I still think so.

[truecrypt]

Dear henseltetude,

You're wrong in your past and present assumptions.

[henseltetude]

Yeah, but you know I don´t like him at all. His performance of this sonata it is not bad, but I always feel he is thinking of the notes.

[truecrypt]

You may well dislike Richter and Rachmaninoff, but your public comments demonstrate a significant lack of intellectual acuity . What you consider as "not bad" is one of the best (if not THE best) live performances of Liszt's h-moll sonata.

Richter's "thinking of the notes" has nothing in common with your conception.

Chess masters and chess dolts sometimes make the same moves - but the underlining meaning and the result are completely different.

[henseltetude]

I dislike Rachmaninoff? I haven´t noticed about it...I really don´t care if this is the best performance of this Sonata, I prefer Horowitz or Brendel, for example. it is a question of taste. What is my problem with Richter? none , I must say... I think there are more interesting pianists , that´s all. But, speaking about my intellectual acuity , its something personal, Truecrypt, and I must say I have read some of your comments and I found that you are quite intolerant.

[henseltetude]

Anyway, I would like to listen to you playing this Sonata, because I consider you are better than Richter, as I said.

[truecrypt]

Seems like you criticized Rachmaninoff quite recently for not understanding Henselt etude...

Saying that Richter is "focusing only in the notes" defines the lack of intellectual acuity for me. Again, you may dislike Richter but at least offer some arguments.

Let's not blame everything on differences in taste, - common "refuge" for many "commentators" here. I'm tolerant, but don't like disrespectful and rude comments.

[henseltetude]

Did I say something rude? Did I say something like : "truecrypt , you are an idiot, Richter is bullshit"? No, of course not. I said he is focused in the notes, that is rude for you? besides, I never said I dislike Rachmaninoff, i said he made a mistake with that Etude. I will accept your apologies if you ask me, because I have respect for you, and I don´t want to be treated like a stupid (or a person with a lack of intellectual acuity) when I give my opinion about something.

[truecrypt]

Your "opinion" was rude, impolite and, forgive me, stupid! Yes, you can say whatever you wish, but what was the point? Just "expressing yourself" for a sake of self-expression?

Rachmaninoff didn't make mistake - you did!

Richter thinks about notes, but not as you see it.

Before asking me to apologize, shouldn't you take a good look at yourself? Learn to recognize your own shortcomings. Read about Japanese Keigo - Give Respect, Get Respect - great concept!

[henseltetude]

Ok, Truecrypt,You don´t want to understand. I would love to tell you a lot of things about this subject, but I cannot tell you in english, I cannot explain my point of view as good as in spanish.

Alright, forgive my stupid comments, I did not know I was talking to such a smart person as you, your answers are very kind... I will take a look at myself, if you don´t mind.

A pity: your ego doesn´t allows you to apologize... it is ok... I will not bother you anymore. bye.

[truecrypt]

@mesheimer,

It takes a "pretentious snob" like me to confront moronic comments... Your righteous anger is very amusing though...

[truecrypt]

@mesheimer

Since you don't know the pre-history of henseltetude's comments please be more careful with your accusations. Just re-read an advise BrianDiehr left on your YT profile and watch your language. Enjoy trolling somewhere else...

[kKpeaceKk]

I'm not happy with this recording. He plays Liszt like a Rachmaninov Prelude.

The lack of deepness is decreasing with the advancing minutes.

I would advice you to listen to Mauricio Pollino's interpretation of this Sonata.

To play Liszt you need an understanding of the everlasting questions of humanity. Not the answer indeed. But you need to have an idea of "religion" :)

This is just my humble opinion, There are no objective "criteria" to rate a piece of art (today).

[FranzLisztian]

You make music seem so difficult.

"To play Liszt you need an understanding of the everlasting questions of humanity" ??? What??

That's like saying in order to make a great cup of coffee you are required to make a time-machine out of a pen and watch in less than 10 seconds and while traveling in time you must solve a riddle that has no answer.

[kKpeaceKk]

So you'd say a kid could play this? A savant who has the technical ability? Or do you need some kind of knowledge.. experience or something else?

I tried to describe what you need to be a good interpreter. Not only the ability. And you don't have to be able to understand quantum physics. But what else? Philosophical thinking.

[FranzLisztian]

You made it sound like in order to play this piece of music you must beat the boss of real life and solve questions about humanity

[Gargantupimp]

You don't need no Philosophy, or emotional veteranship, just the balls to go out there and play music that sounds as good as you can make it, and you need to understand what good music sounds like. It's not like the older and more experienced you are the better your music, people like young Horowitz more than old Horowitz.

[Gargantupimp]

All you need is the understanding to make badass music, you know what that shit is made of. Rhythm, Long and Short Phrasing, Dynamics, Variation, Tempo, and all that other crap, and you have to understand it while your playing it, thats the hard part. Oh yeah you need tecnique to display it to.

[bassann22]

sorry to say but Krystian Zimerman is not even half close to this version and i am affraid with his weak voice and boring exagerated ineterpretations and gestures to richter, michalengely, gavrilovm pletnev etc.... he sometimes can nicely surprise but can not be put on the same level with mentoned masters....

[paulostroff99]

Best version ever recorded! Bravo! TY.

[NotSoDivineMsM]

You should hear Krystian Zimerman's recording then....IT is the best out there....

[TheHanslick]

@NotSoDivineMsM

Horowitz RCA recording is still better!!!

[coffemuse]

Someone should lead that person with pneumonia out of the concert hall. All that snorting and coughing is very distracting. >:-(

[RobertSchilman]

I thought that composers used to write obligato lines for the audience - so that the listeners can participate in the execution by for example coughing, checking their purses or swinging that good three kilograms of pearls on their neck. It is much like in elementary school when we were too young to go to the toilet AFTER the class. Well, I peed in my pants.

[reminiscenze]

@coffemuse i always wondered why they dont do that actually...

[wnxg4nd4lf]

Thx alot for the upload! One of the best versions of this sonata i've ever heard! Richter is such a great pianist!

p.s. Those who say this piece or this performance is boring they have absolutely no idea of music...

[paulostroff99]

wnxg4nd4lf-This is not one of the best-it is THE best version ever recoirded!!

[AnnMarry19]

Thanks for this :)

[clraschmn]

why do I hear gb at the beggining instead of g? is the recording out of tune?

[StevenBillinger]

I don't know why people put thumbs down on this - you are right, the recording is slightly out of pitch, but it is not Gb either, it's somewhere between G and Gb. Anyway, it's not important to the performance.

[ajlee1216]

Awesome!

Btw, is this the Carnegie Hall performance?

[truecrypt]

Exactly! ;)

[hdfhjasdofibafa]

Thank you so much for posting this piece. SUPER 5 STARS THUMBS UP TO YOU! you made my youtube day

[soami2u]

Richter is magnificent!! The drama, the tension, the poetry....Liszt would be very pleased! Could the composer have done any better himself?

[Nimenicamine01]

fue en el minuto 4:35

[Nimenicamine01]

vaya pedo que se acaba de tirar uno del publico!

[darkwitch442]

joe, es verdad xDxDxD madre mia... xD k sinverguenzas... pero bueno xD. Dios, como Richter, ninguno! para mi, el mejor pianista :D

[morvensky]

when Liszt played this for Brahms; Brahms fell asleep, and i do not blame him.

just kidding but Brahms really did fall asleep

[truecrypt]

Actually Brahms had so called "sleep apnea". It has nothing to do with Liszt's performance or quality of this piece.

Probably the nature of your sleepiness is different.

[VikingBerserker]

I read that after the performance, the violinist that Brahms had been traveling with admonished Brahms for falling asleep, but Brahms said that he could not help it as he was greatly fatigued from travel.

[mombeekmarcel]

wake me up when he is done

[truecrypt]

Dear Marcel;

Falling asleep doesn't make you equal to Brahms... unless you suffer the same sleeping disorder.

[mombeekmarcel]

I did not knew about his problem... but I can imagine that he not realy liked the art of liszt, Brahms piano music is so intenses (liszt's some works also, but brahms is I think few steps higher...

[paulostroff99]

A gem! Bravo! TY.

[weikko79]

OK, I will! Thanks for telling me to do so!

[weikko79]

Did you get this one from the Melodiya LP released sometime in the '80s? If so, could you also upload "Funérailles" from the same LP (if you haven't already)? And "Rhapsodie éspagnole" as well, pleez.

[truecrypt]

I'm not sure I've ever heard Rhapsodie éspagnole... and I'll see if I have Funérailles.

[weikko79]

That LP is a real rarity. But Richter himself considered Rhapsodie as one of his few unquestionable successes, so it has to be good.

[truecrypt]

I just uploaded Funérailles but can't find Rhapsodie éspagnole even in Richter discography... If you'll have any more info on this LP let me know, - I'll try to get it.

[weikko79]

Thanks for uploading Funérailles! And sorry for the false info...I was thinking of The Hungarian Fantasy, not La Rhapsodie Espagnole! (Did Liszt even write a piece by this name?) The LP includes his version with Ferencsik.

[truecrypt]

And I was thinking about Spanish Rapsody ;)

I just uploaded Hungarian Fantasy with Ferencsik. Enjoy!

[weikko79]

Thank you so much! You're a treasure of YouTube!

[Sinfoniette]

Isn't the Rapsodie Espagnole the piece by M. Ravel?

[nycanonymous]

Hard to imagine a more perfect union between the demonic and the lyrical, between the heroic and the introspective, between overwhelming, volcanic power and hushed stillness. The Carnegie Hall audience surely must have been in awe.

[callanmchugh]

woah what kind of manic argument has erupted here between cziffra1980 and nietschema... im not even going to write that all XD... im not in your legue of argument boys but like :p i think the quality of the recording shouldnt dampen ones opinion of the skill with which its played... plus u cant really down richter considering how well he did... besides! music isnt about "oh dear u played that note half a mili second too short" its about putting a smile on people faces and emotion etc etc......

[paulostroff99]

Phenomenal! Bravo! TY.

[nietzschemasterclass]

It's really amazing and therefore the result is sublime on how Richter decreases like that the sound of staccato octaves in the entrance. Most of pianists make staccato on a stricted sense of the word, and the sound that comes out is poor and lack of deep.

This is the best rendition I've ever heard on one of the greatest Lizst's introspective and mystic compositions.

[cziffra1980]

I see what you mean, but the marking is not even staccato. It's marked as 'pizzicato' and this is certain NOT a pizzicato- in any sense of the word. When this is taken to contrast against the legato line the follows, it's perfectly possible to make it sound profound without resorting to the 'deep' sound that Liszt did not ask for.

[nietzschemasterclass]

Altough the score is marked as you said properly I meant "deep" by playing the entry octaves at bottom and inmediatly vanishing the sound like Richter plays masterly, not just touching them quikly as supposed to. Remember it was composed at the end of Lizst life and its spirit has to do with the most profund musical conception of his melancholic and almost concluded life at the time. I think Richter plays it in a beautiful and catarthic understanding of Liszt which makes this unique to me.

[cziffra1980]

It was not composed remotely near to the end of Liszt's life. I forget the exact year of composition, but he had at least 30 or 40 years left in him! Even if it had been, I never subscribe to such generalisations unless the music suggests them. This work has an enormous variety of characters. A shorter sound on the opening notes makes Liszt's remarkable opening sound even more surprising and take nothing away from the profundity the legato scale that follows.

[cziffra1980]

I respect Richter's execution but there is absolutely nothing wrong with playing these notes short and crisp, rather than giving them a similar character to the legato of the descending scale. I'm no pedant, but Liszt's instructions suggest that he was looking for greater contrast of articulation.

[nietzschemasterclass]

I agree with your point nevertheless the personal aproach Richter gives to the entrance and to the end of it match, at least to me, with the spirit of sonata as a whole. On the other hand my readings about its composition marked a period of Lizst when he was retired and dedicated only to composed and keep into his spiritual life, probably my mistake is what I meant about his end of life instead of his almost concluded and greatest period of composition.

[cziffra1980]

But what is the relevance of that? No era ended with the sonata and neither did Liszt feel anything was ending. Are you suggesting that Liszt was nostagically reflecting on his last few years of composition- perhaps thinking to himself 'those were a good few years but they're over now and I'm probably going to write a load of crap from now so I'll write an extremely profound piece to mark the end of my decent years'? Of course not! I really don't see where you're going with this.

[nietzschemasterclass]

Yes I think so, the more you know about the intention of certain composer and how his life was going on at the time, as long as with the score in your hand, the better you'll understand the piece and play it... Absolutely.

[cziffra1980]

Well, it's worth knowing these things of course. However (without wishing to sound rude) your mistaken interpretation of the background to this piece shows how dangerous it can be to focus too heavily on external factors rather than on what is suggested by the music. Liszt didn't need to be at the end of his life to create an epic.

As I said, if you prefer Richter's execution I shan't argue with that, but I do take issue with your belief that longer notes are more 'deep' spiritually.

[cziffra1980]

If you prefer the notes longer that's fine, but I think you're making rather a big simplification by equating longer notes with profundity (and presumably stacatto notes with a lack of seriousness). Seeing as you're the one theorising about how spiritual Liszt's intentions were, please remember that HE was the one who wrote pizzicatto. As I say, I'm no pedant but I don't like to see the idea that following Liszt's pizzicato instruction makes this music seem less serious.

[nietzschemasterclass]

I never said if you play as marked the piece wouldn't be less serious. I said "at least to me" I found it more profound and cathartic which the way Richter plays and I like better.

I'll look forward to the source of my comment about Lizst life, and let you know though...

[nietzschemasterclass]

Sorry, my mistake, I meant: I never said if you play as marked the piece would be less serious...

[cziffra1980]

You didn't say this then?

"Most of pianists make staccato on a stricted sense of the word, and the sound that comes out is poor and lack of deep."

[nietzschemasterclass]

Yes I did it and explained my point in the next comments about my meaning of poorness and lack deep however I never said it was less serious...

[cziffra1980]

I'm sorry, but I really don't follow where you're trying to go with this. You said

"Remember it was composed at the end of Lizst life and its spirit has to do with the most profund musical conception of his melancholic and almost concluded life at the time."

So why exactly were you making this point if you weren't trying to claim that a longer sound necessarily suggests more profundity? If you've changed your mind then great, but I don't see why you're now denying what you said.

[nietzschemasterclass]

I am not denying what I said, I sustein my point, I just said there is a difference between "poor and lack of deep" from "less serious", a term I never said.

[cziffra1980]

So by telling me to remember that it is a 'profound musical composition' in defence of a longer execution, you were in no way implying that longer notes are more profound than 'poor' short ones? So why were you referring to profundity? It was of no relevance unless that's what you were implying.

Anyway, this is getting beyond the point, but your belief that ignoring a staccato mark offers something more profound than the understated menace that comes with a short note is not one I agree with.

[nietzschemasterclass]

Yes it's correct, I think this Sonata let us see the most hidden part of Lizst mind. It's profound and full of mystiscism. And it's correct your point about my conception concern this work which means I found a better understanding if you play pizzicato octaves with little more extended time, following silence and then comming legato octaves. It sounds coherent to me but I agree as well that this is opposite from the score. However it doesn't mean not playing like Richter is less serious...

[cziffra1980]

Indeed, would never argue that Richter's execution is not serious. I think it certainly works and respect it. However, I do not believe that a short staccato (as marked) should be dismissed. It can capture a tremendous sense of menace and foreboding (while remaining highly subdued).

[4realrussiansonly]

Richter, the mighty! The rest only walk in his footsteps.

[znanto]

thank you.. no one comes close to him in the sonata.