Sviatoslav Richter plays Pictures at an Exhibition (3/4)

[shusarik]

The 1958(?) Sofia Bulgaria performance is his best version. I heard him play this live in Constitution Hall (Washington D.C.) and he actually looked out at the audience while playing the fast alternating chords at the end of "Market Place" at a ferocious clip. He doesn't do it here, but I believe he has a trick (a long-held note) to make that sound extremely wild--as he did it in both the Bulgaria and Washington performances. Thanks for this "closeup" recording.

[superbemaison]

@shusarik Exactly-the best performance of all time .Listen to the PORTE DE KIEV where all bells are sounding through Richter's piano-amazing.

no other version equals it.

[Nimenicamine01]

is from Sofia recital?

[truecrypt]

No, it's one several older (Moscow) recordings.

[BrookHornblower]

@Nimenicamine01 the sofia recital is the best - you can hear his seat creaking

[enzovane]

Richter n. 1