Sviatoslav Richter plays Brahms Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83 (1/5)

[kathydayphd]

Of all the recordings of this wonderful piece, this one is my favorite. Richter brings everything he has to his music, and he has an amazing range of feeling and a mastery of technique that has not been surpassed, in my opinion.

[kassianik1]

My favorite concerto of all existing concertos in the world. Wow!

@jewish1972 I think Richter's version is better.

[peoney100]

thank you for uploading this wonderful vintage sounds! is like listening to a record, not digital..and it is so close and intimate. wonderful!

[chrish12345]

I've never heard the pianist being able to recreate such a genuine 'tavern' piano style before

[rosshickok]

This performance does not touch the Fleisher/Szell recording. Strong playing but bad pacing and the opening horns sound like kazoos. Richter was much better in solo repertoire. Still a good performance, and Richter's strength shows through.

[wolfblister]

truecrypt, thank you so much for posting this. richter's phrasing is really marvellous. like many great recordings from the era of 78s, it suffers from the limits of current recording technology in tonal balance, so i need to listen closely to 'hear' what richter was doing. by the early '60s great strides had been made in recording, but they cant replace the spirit richter brings alive here.

[wolfblister]

@wolfblister

i imagine this has been digitally remastered. version?

would you comment on richter's later recordings, in comparison to this?

[wolfblister]

@wolfblister

questions in the latter posting were intended for truecrypt, but i would be glad to hear from others

[wolfblister]

by the time serkin recorded with szell, the technological advance is clear, as also the contribution of the recording engineer. what i like about that recording is that i can hear the piano and the orchestra conversing, which i imagine was brahms' intention. in rubinstein/coates the sound is esquisite, but the recording is 'all about artur'

[OrangeSodaKing]

6 people don't like Raisin Brahms.

[parabat7]

This is the Richter explosion version. He sees clearly the 'competition' on this concerto and just goes for it - wild in places - but there is every bit of possible soul in this version.

[mc0558]

Did you know that the young Richter played the piano at Stalin's funeral? I knew a German lady who lived next door to him when they were both children in Odessa. She escaped when the German Army retreated (as did Richter's family--but he was in Moscow) and wound up in a weird town called Lodi, California. She told me that poor Svaty could never come out to play. It was practice, practice, practice. But my God what a pianist he was. One of the greatest ever.

[godelike]

@mc0558 I absolutely don't believe you.

[mc0558]

@godelike You have contrary info, do you?

[godelike]

@mc0558 Richter himself seemed to say that in his youth, the idea of becoming a professionnal pianist didn't even come to his mind... So the "practice, practice, practice" doesn't fit. Except if it was referring to his late teens.

[mc0558]

@godelike Richter was born in 1915 and entered the Moscow Conservatory in 1934. He lived in the Odessa German community from 1921 till 1934. From 1930 to 34, he worked for the Odessa opera company as a rehearsal pianist. His father was an Odessa conservatory pianist. I don't see what the improbability here is. Anyway, I only relate what this Odessa German lady with a facinating background, whose son was my best friend, told me many years ago. I have no commitment to convincing you of it.

[sussexpenguin]

prob my fave concerto.

[Bambiezbotron]

This makes the heaviest of metal sound like hydrogen

[thinkermanmusic]

Very energetic performance, wonderful. It doesn't even matter much that richter's right hand is a bit lost in the high 'trills' section 7'22'' to 7'28". It's live, and he's going for it, he's not holding back and taking some risks with the tempi... Much prefer this above a "perfect" but sterile version!

[rjcasey]

This is one of the greatest piano concertos interpreted by one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.

[loboris1995]

A great thanks to truecrypt who gives us a chance to know more about Richter,one of the best pianiste in the 20th century ,but the best pianiste in my heart.

[lovesGenet]

you people are obviously not trained.Rubinstein had one of the poorer techniques of his dayArrau,Backhaus certainlyHofmann,Lhev,Rach,God Rosenth,Sauer etc. Richter 's technique passed most and his imagination,titanic power is unsurpassed to this day. Who are you people ? Who have you ever studied with.So silly these comparisons.I've heard complete unknowns in comps give inspired readings better than any recs . People learn to listen!

[paganviodio]

@lovesGenet well i might actually agree with you...but to be respectfull to the other pianists, one says, "richter was one of the greatest"...but if im honest, if there was no the best, as ones Rub. said, we could surelly say, that Sviatoslav was very very close to the mark of "being the Best"...Listen the Pokofiev Sonatas by Richter, they´re to me just beyond of all, tehcinically as well musically...

[frogmanpiano]

Perhaps I should add that Rubinstein and Richter's performances were the two most highly sought after during the first release of their records.Rubinstein made his most famous (2nd recording) record in 1958; there is a rare early recording 1929 with LSO, A Coates conductor the speeds are really fast but it is a fascinating performance well worth the effort to find -C page 437 of Harvey Sachs biography of Rub where he discusses this early recorded performance & compares it with others....

[frogmanpiano]

Richter and Rubinstein were friends, Richter's teacher & mentor was H Neuhous a friend of Rub., Rub was mentored by Joachim -collaborator and friend of Brahms So Rub was immersed in the true tradition of Brahms -taught by those who had heard interpretations from the early days of B.. Rub, (Brn 1887) learnt with those who knew B personally! Richter and R were giants & both had enormous repertoire. Each different, each special, learn 2 embrace difference "there is no one best" Rub has said

[ulyssesjj]

poor Horn, he sounds like the  KGB are at his door

[Quasaur]

Richter's Oct 1960 recording is THE DEFINITIVE Brahms Concerto No 2

[classicvinylbiz]

Richter is phenomenal! Might I recommend Geza Anda (with von Karajan) from 1968 on DG:

watch?v=ol2PQCROqL0

[karakallatore]

Richters Bra-2 is the best. Version with Leinsdorf, this one... and I can formulate why:

He has the large phrase unity, the energy that can play it as a symphonic whole, rather then playing bits and pieces like many romantics tend to interpret Brahms. Sir Johannes wrote the piano as a full part of the orchestra. Richter has intelligence and power this piece needs.

[bagdad4]

i have the famous 1960s recording...I think his performance in this is a lot better, although the orchestra in the later one is better

[MrArchimarky]

I don't know about anyone else, but when I first hear a piece by Brahms which I've never heard before, it takes me a good few listens until I warm to it. However, once I have, I absolutely love it. Especially this concerto!

[HolyMotherofGrid]

Um........ WOW!!!! Richter RULEZ when it comes to Brahms (or Chopin or Listz or Schubert - he is the Romantic of all romantic pianists - energy, passion, skill, interpretive abilities, and above all an immense musical sensibility - he is not just "playing", he is MAKING MUSIC!!!

[mrjlowitz]

I was at the debut performance in Chicago. I never saw or heard a pianist of such overwleming passion. It was staggering. The conductor that night was Fritz Reiner although Leinsdorf made the recording.

There was no greater orchestra than the CSO in those days in my humble opinion

I became a Richter addict after that and heard him many times. For me his Beethoven, Schubert, Rach. some Chopin, Schuman r incomparable.

Was he the best? None of us are arrogant enough to know? He's my best.

[paulostroff99]

Superb! Best Brahms recording of this great work.

[jcilwcw]

I listened to Brahms's music when I was a kid and this concerto is simply the best creation of all mankind.Artists like Richter and Rubinstein come once in a life time,very few and far in between.

[jewish1972]

Rubinstein´s version is better

[truecrypt]

Just saying "better" is not good enough! ;)

How about trying to continue?

"Rubinstein's version is better because... etc."

I don't think the matter is as simple as "better/worse", but if you could formulate the reasoning behind your opinion, it would be great.

[pianopera]

«On ne fait pas de la musique contre quelquun» (The motto of the Schola Cantorum...)

[paganviodio]

the Richter Version is just clearer than anybody...he had a far better finger technic than any Rubinstein or Serkin or whatsoever. We may compare Richter to Horowitz, and even there he surpass Horowitz (his Tchaikovsky is because of the passion he brings better than Horowitz- the Horowitz Version of thaikovsky was "one of the ultimate Piano Hours" for me

[karakallatore]

@paganviodio he may did not have the technique of Rubinstein but he definitely had bigger energetic for this concerto. Rubi is a Chopin player. He does it like noone else.

[paganviodio]

@karakallatore richter HAD the technic of Rubinstein. there was nothing Richter couldnt play. Rubinstein played Chopin,but this Concerto is some harder than any Chopin Work. Listen the Thirds at the Last Mov. Someybody has first of all to play those those thirds as Richter does. This man played from Scarlatti till Hindemith ,inc.all the Prokofiev Sonatas,allmost everything.

[Sepharite]

@jewish1972 Christianity is better.

[paulostroff99]

@Sepharite -Christ was a Jew!

[SugarTomAppleRoger]

@jewish1972 I disagree. Rubinstein may be better in some areas than Richter. Not with this baby though. No one can beat Richter here. This is his piece. If you said Rubinstein playing Beethoven's fourth piano concerto... I would agree. I don't think anyone can top Rubinstein on that.

[ethositachi]

@SugarTomAppleRoger

How about Gilels and Jochum on the '72 DG recording?

[mehandas]

@jewish1972 Sometimes it's difficult to describe why one version is better than another. This version is different from the Gilels version, massively- they have interpreted the music differently. This is the first time I'm listening to Richter's interpretation, so I'm not going to compare. But Gilels was the version that I fell in love in with. Gilels is so colourful as a pianist and his interpretations are very clever. In Gilels version, I believe, there is struggle in this piece which is

[mehandas]

@jewish1972 (an emotional struggle) which is first attempted in 6.22 and but actually successful at 5.08 of part 2. There is lot of colourful nostalgia in it. In Richter's version, there is rage and storm and power from the very beginning. It's more cool (with a bit emotion as well). Richter's version is strength defeating troubles, while Gilels is loyalty and passion overcoming the troubles eventually. Music can't be easily verbalised, but that doesn't mean one shouldn't try.

[parabat7]

@mehandas I saw him perform in Chicago in the mid-sixties. The orchestra had been rehearsed by Leinsdorf as Fritz Reiner was sick - in fact Leinsdorf did the concert. At the end of the 1st movement in this gigantic monumental work Richter was applauded and a second piano wheeled on and fine tuned as he had done for the first one. One of the greatest concert experiences of my life. Never heard anybody else play like Richter. EVER.

[ivareriksson90]

@jewish1972 Stop comparing and enjoy the music instead! :)

[eliasbb]

olympian playing in its truest sense...curious sonority from the horn in the opening, i'll have to live with it a little longer to decide how i feel about it...thoughts anyone?

[MrNobleSavagery]

Far beyond Gilels and Jochum IMO. You simply cannot get any better than Richter in his prime.

[cabbycab]

OMG, at long last! the way this concerto's meant to be! praised be the gods! It's all here, everything! I'm going to jump out my window!

[BKalright]

try richter's recording from 61'

[kempff95]

superb touch!

[paulostroff99]

Superb piano playing.One of the very best ever of the Brahms concerto #2 performers. Bravo!

[jcilwcw]

Is there any one who has a live performance video with Celi conducting and Richter playing this concerto?

[coesterr]

this is not the recording with Leinsdorf and the Chicago Symphoniy orchestra!

[Dennischek]

That is tremendously amazing version ..

[coesterr]

@Dennischek the one with Leinsdorf is way better

[Dennischek]

@coesterr I know , I have the recording . Its perfect .

[freeqwerqwer]

This conductor isn't right for RIchter. Seems the conductor is more hurried than RIchter. The orchestra isn't in synch with RIchter's rich style. This orchestra isn't 1st rate.

[Shaghayegh11]

WOW! amazing and very captivating

[samsonno]

Obviously this is not the Leinsdorf recording but a much earlier one. Personally I find the Leinsdorf rec almost perfect and above all others I have been listening to.

[zamba00mamba]

anyone who thinks they can give a rating like 100% to a recording is a fool

[HolyMotherofGrid]

Heck of a lot of quibbling over minor details here...... i am SO happy i have a fairly wide tolerance for technical imperfections: within certain limits, unless one is at a competition i think that one should do one's best to simply enjoy and appreciate musical performances instead of trying to endlessly analyze and pick them apart. NO rendition of any work is ever perfect, and i submit that in any decent performance there is much to enjoy, without being distracted by little details.

[jcilwcw]

True artists like Richter and Celi come once in a life time,very few and far in between.They put the composer first ahead of their own existence.

[christophleipzig]

Very adequate to name Richter and Celi in one breath, in my opinion.

[gerryrains]

In 1960 Richter recorded this concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Erich Leinsdorf. All parties concerned were at 100% of capability. That recording is superior to this one and any other recording of this concerto by any other pianist.

Do you have that recording truecrypt?

[RabidCh]

Everybody should have that recording.

And I disagree very much about Richter being 100% there and of your opinion that it's superior to any other recording.

[Sinfoniette]

Richter isn't 100% there but I think the little problem is Leinsdorf's conducting.

I don't have that recording, though. :P

[RabidCh]

There is nothing wrong with Leinsdorf's conducting although the tempo is slightly slower (which I have no problem with). My main problems in 1st movement is staccato feel in some passages and some climaxes that I think were off. Also I don't like his last movement with Leinsdorf very much...

The recording is quite good but Richter 100%? I don't think so.

[Sinfoniette]

Its impossible to say where a pianist is 100%.

[nbharakey]

This is great, but still like Sokolov's interpretation more.

[chacoteris]

Weikko 79, my memory is old. Maybe it was 1958 and having the record was quite an exceptional luck. However, I am sure that it was before 1960 but I may be wrong, as anyone. How important is this? I got married in 1954, and that was quite an impression. Not even Brahms....

[nycanonymous]

The date of the recording is actually December 27, 1961.

[truecrypt]

No, it's May 24, 1951

[chacoteris]

I remember the impression I had when I first listened to this astounding recording probably during 1954... Richter was amazing, probably the most complete pianist of the 20th century. Arrau's was perfect but good art sometimes has to have some imperfections, some real human touch.

Thank you truecrypt, again.

[weikko79]

WHAT? How could you have had access to this recording in 1954??? This recording was never issued in the USSR as far as I know!

[Sinfoniette]

Isn't there an issue of this in the "Mravinsky Live" series"?

[Sinfoniette]

I suppose you-know-who is BS-spam-rating on your videos again?

[truecrypt]

Sure, we all know...

There are "pygmies" among "morons".

[RDSerebrianny]

Maybe, it's an old topic... but I read Richter and Mravinsky play Brahms 2nd, and that was a complete information! I only looked at stars when I read these comments. Do people look at the stars? (Sorry, if it's an old topic.)

[aliceart74]

One of my family's pianists. Thank you for sharing.

[paulostroff99]

Stunning! Bravo! TY.

[artvirtue]

So energetic!

[RabidCh]

I think much better than Leinsdorf in execution.

[weikko79]

Wow, thank you so much! This definitely makes interesting comparison with the Leinsdorf and Maazel versions!

[snaaptaker]

There's a recording with Maazel??

[weikko79]

Of course!

[mingweicello]

no, with Mravinsky and Leningraders.

[perdipe]

Fantastic!! Thanks

[darkone131]

Richter and Mravinsky play Brahms! It's great!

[Sinfoniette]

Agreed with Billyguns' comment, and still much better than the Leinsdorf classic. I think Richter is just as good here, but supported with an orchestra much better than Leinsdorf.

[billyguns2]

Don't like the Russian horn, otherwise this is a rare find! What a great performance!

[chad410]

Russian horn? ;p  thanks TC.