@TripleRhu Richter was famous for his beautiful sound. Of course, expression comes at the cost of speed, but this boils down to the personal taste. I personally prefer first to achieve a high speed and overcome the technical issues, then I begin to slow it down by adding more elements that are impossible in high speed to come out. I of course believe to innovation, I do not like a soloist working as a tape recorder ;-)
I don't know how people can begin to judge this performance. The sound quality is too low. I mean, the sound quality is low on all Youtube videos, but especially this one. A different Richter performance is more listenable: /watch?v=PyqH5Qs6FvI
His performances of this work are just one of the most incredible things in musical history. The combination between forcefulness and exquisite shaping of the themes is just a wonder. Complete genius, and a masterpiece of a reading!
@PathosDistanz You've missed the point of the comment entirely and ended up sounding like a disgruntled richter fan.
Janice clearly wasn't comparing herself to Richter. The comment compared Richter to Horowitz's playing. Calling her an "ass" for voicing her opinion of a public figure is impolite and makes you seem uncivilized.
@th3wing3dpaint3r I didn't miss the point entirely, but the comment was unnecessary, indeed, impolite, yes, but uncivilized, that's overstating. It was more Chaucerean. It's not a question of being disgruntled; the matter is more one of being astounded before absurd overstatements continually enountered in these forums, with all musicians of exception. There's no idolization. "FAR" overrated is preposterous.
@th3wing3dpaint3r As I said, sir, "with all musicians of exception," so the point isn't Richter alone. Here's the thought from another perspective, and perhaps this will make it cleer: The Billy Budd manuscript was a grammar and punctuation bedlam; but it is easy to find a page-proof reader to mend some of Melville's syntax, but where is there another man to write Moby-Dick?
@PathosDistanz "musicians of exception" differ for every person. A LOT of people don't like Horowitz because he sometimes bangs his left hand while playing romantic music. A lot hate Argerich for playing everything faster than they're used to.
Those people would not consider either to be "musicians of exception". But i get your point. You're against Janice denying Richter any acknowledgement at all (which doesn't seem fair by most standards). It's still her opinion though.
@iguarni Eeeeh! From the beginning of my studies at the Conservatory they all say me: "Never authentic virtuosism for you. Too small hands". Anyway I could get my diploma of 10 years. However I am a "schiappa" (italian word meaning a "0"). ;-)
@iguarni ma quale schiappa!!!!!!!!Chi ha conseguito il diploma del decimo anno non solo non è una schiappa ma è bravissimo e riceve da me la massima ammirazione. Richter, Michelangeli, Horowitz etc.. sono alieni....Chi non vorrebbe suonare come loro? Saluti
@geertdehoux is toccata genre like classical music? I don't like scholars dumps all musics that is written in the past into one genre called classical music. I think classical music actually has many genres but I don't what those are. you seem like a knowledgeable person. can you teach me the genres of classical music?
Old jazz performances can be called 'classical jazz', but not 'classical music'.
Even in so called 'classical music', we have all kind of genres amongst vocal and instrumental music, like opera, choir, operette, symphonies, chamber music, music for a solo instrument, duo, trio and so on.
Then we also have a history of 'classical music', from Medieval, via Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 12tones, Serial music and others to 'modern' styles.
Pogo does many wonderful things the music sounds so differnet. Horowitz is famous for this likeLhevinne but i find surprises here ! The tempo is great not to brittle fast the control and melodic rythnicline come out as never before. but the imagination too here makes this music about music not just a toccata. He shapes and toys with figures other pianists dont seemto notice.
Thanks for the tip re Pogorelich, I hadn't heard it before. You're right, I was smiling all the way through. More than anyone, he makes it sound like a TOCCATA, and he brings out all the voices and rhythms so clearly. I do agree with those who said he could have put more lyricism into the second theme, but overall it is a magnificent rendition.
All that means is that if music were an athletic contest, Barrere would beat Richter in the "Schumann Toccata event." Except music isn't an athletic contest, and Richter gets a lot more beauty and meaning out of this difficult piece than Barrere does, and possibly more than anyone.
Are you kidding me? Richter was an incredible musician with an even more astounding musical mind. The sheer breadth and volume of the piano literature he recorded during his time would intimidate even today's most celebrated artists.
@Liebromeistal hey, little retard , simon barrere would dream to be richter, techniqually and musically , i know i must not answer to little ignorant trolls like you , but i had some time to spare...
=S mmm... you can listen another version of Richter, recorded in 1959 and is more fast (how you want. He played in 6 min aprox). Maybe, this video is after this year... Richter looks a little bit more old.
But a think, ok, the velocity is one of the most important thing in this piece, but... make CLEAR, any mistakes, and understandable way is MORE important that it, no?
Anyway, S. Richter´s version is one of the best interpretation of this Toccata!! and, Horowitz too.
the most tremendous interpretation of schumann´s great toccata.richter´s expression is so amazing.probably we shall never find anyone playing this awful difficult piece like him.
As to Nicholas thinking the concerto "unplayable" he was refering not to technicality but rather to what he deemed was poor compositional form. More likely he was resentful that Tchaikovsky's concerto so closely resembled his brother's D minor concerto composed a short time previously. Its ironic that after the concerto was such a success Nicholas recanted his harsh criticism. But make no mistake Anton was not the antagonist in the famous Tchaikovsky/Rubinstein concerto critique incident.
Based on solely how you played the piece and not how hard it is... I rate your video on an establshed 1 to 5 scale a : 5 visit my youtube page for GREAT VIDEOS
the first version of the toccata is from 1829/30 and the final one is from 1833. in the meantime schumann damaged his right ring finger forever. he had to give up pianist dreams and concentrate on composing.
you can play this toccata without using your right hand 4th! but it´s still difficult nonetheless...
WOW. Would you look at Richter's technique. Surely keeping the wrists at about a 35 degree angle helped take all the tension off his wrist and allowed his fingers to flow effortlessly across the keyboard. Great technique!
Yes it is very, very difficult. Other pieces of Schumann like the humoreske i play easily the first time but not the toccata. My hands are too small.
And it would sound very strange playing the toccata cantabile. I love this performance, it´s really the best i ever heard because it´s so clear. You can hear the fugato in the mittle part.
This Composition is one of the craziest i knew and Schumann is a god. I love his contrapuntal art of notation.
The toccata is not unplayable for those few pianists who have the talent and fingers. Anyone lacking either (or both) of those will not get through the first five measures. Anton (not Arturo) Rubenstein discounted the Tchaikovsky piano concerto #1 as unplayable upon being asked to critique it. So much for "unplayable." 72sycamore
You are a bit mistaken about Anton Rubinstein discounting the playability of Tchaikovsky's piano concerto. It was in fact Anton's brother Nicholas of whom Tchaikovsky formerly dedicated the concerto. It was Nicholas whom went into a tyrad over its unplayability upon listening to Tchaikovsky play it with a second piano reduction and asked his critique. And, it was thus that Tchaikovsky scratched Nicholas' name off the score and replaced it with Hans Von Bulow. (continued)
This piece is difficult, of course, but it's not "unplayable" like some say. Your hand must be big enough, and that's it. I find this interpretation a bit sad. I admire Richter but not in Schumann. The sound is gorgeous, like always.
Extremely difficult. I doubt if Clara Schumann herself could play it. (Just kidding) Of all the performances I could find on Youtube, none is better than this one. William Daniel
Schumann actually considered this piece unplayable. During his time it may very well have been. At some point after he was gone, (Liszt maybe ?) the caliber of pianists had improved to the point where this piece was attainable. But its still a killer !
What do you emotion people - smith, artie, marshmellowkiegelbomon, and the new guy - want from the poor Richter? How is he supposed to play a *toccata* to make you happy? Post an example; you do not have to play piano - just wistle. We shall get the idea.
I think the piece of music best suited to Richter's temperament and ethos would be "The Factory" from Prokofiev's Le Pas d'acier. Did he make a piano transcription of this?
Richter Trivia: While drunk, he would often light his chest hair on fire and weep that he never got a chance to meet Diaghilev and sit on his lap.
This is a difficult piece - to play or to listen to. I've a Horowitz's recording for a long time, but took it off my iPod because it was just too much. I find Richter's play impressive, and I think he's playing it the way it was meant to be played.
well I haven't really heard many recordings of this to compare, honestly I despise Schumann, if you feel the interpretation was mechanical, perhaps it was intended that way for that particular piece, his performance here wasn't one dimensional though, I sensed variation as the theme was repeated, I'm not trying to force you to like Richter, I wouldn't have much respect for you if you didn't remain consistent, but I did enjoy the playing, not the music, Prokofiev's toccata is more to my liking
smithsherman; you are the one who constantly demonstrates "lack of musciality,intelligence,and expression". You are not a Messiah, but a troll. Stick to harp.
it isn't Tristesse (which he has played and recorded marvellously), i don't see why he shouldn't pound the piano, to me the piece should hit you like a blunt object in the face
So "iwantnusicplease/marcelmombeek" usnderstands that "Richter doesn't understand what he's playing". But you're saying that "there is no need to "understand "Richter" anymore than one needs to "understand" a mass murderer". Did you take your pills today?
It's too bad Richter didn't record a piano version of "The Typewriter" by Leroy Anderson, but at the same time, the humor would have been lost on him. The same with "The Syncopated Clock".
Ladies and Gentlemen, this was actually pronounced by a person obsessed with the imagined body odours of certain pianists. From armpits and genitalia, if I recall correctly.
Who is talking of any relation between those things? I simply
a) quoted at statement of yours
b) stressed that it was indeed yours
c) presented you to a larger audience, by mentioning one of your most prominent skills - namely that of being able to imagine the body odours of pianists, which must be a rare gift I imagine.
No, you quoted me as saying that "the humor would have been lost on him", and then presented the fact that I have knowledge that Argerich is foul-smelling. Why the apposition of the one phrase with the other if not to make some further point?
As a Swede, you would have little knowledge of colloquial American English usage. You went to Wikipedia and looked up apposition and thought that it was strictly a grammatical term. It is not.
You are still not answering a simple question, Sven. What was the purpose of quoting that phrase when there were others available, then announcing that I smelled Argerich? I have yet to see any humor in what you are trying to say. That isn't because I am too young and stupid to know it.
You are probably thinking something like "Jeg vil kommer du ick ag eg" and it's coming out wrong in English. Please, please explain what you mean and stop trying to be funny, if that's your intent.
I just realized you were the guy that made the BUTYRIC ACID comment. Never mind, I have no time trying to get you to explain yourself. Penny in the can with popcornS" Riiiiiight.
you are the talking version of a perpetuum mobile; it would be interesting to know how you function, but it's rather boring to observe you in action.
Last take: there is NO relation between the two "skills". In fact, I have claimed the opposite (obvious to most literate bystanders). It's all there. Hire a professional translator if you like. No obligation.
Dmcll is correct...This is "Killer" NOBODY HAS EVER QUITE BEEN ABLE TO KILL A PIECE LIKE RICHTER...and this scorched sarcophogas performance is a paradigm for that.
agree, there are not much scores where richter shows his capability to make music... I think he was not capable to play with emotion... his "emotion" is only playing little bit slower and softer...I realy do not understand wy people like him so much...
Dear Marcel, People like Richter because they are alienated from themselves & have accepted
the institutionalized conservatory dogma as reality..in lieu of their internal one.They only listen abstractly to confirm their religious dogma.Music is a dogmatic idolatry for them.
I read somewhere that Schumann considered this piece "unplayable". That may have been true in his day. But Richter & Horowitz make it look easy (for them anyway). Of course the rest of us can only listen in admiration.
Nietsche suggests that I ..."should get a life"...because I SEE THAT Richter's INTERPRETATION IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY SCHUMANN...but just industrial waste...best subtitled...Richterman.Those who worship this
eat chaste mechanized meatballs as a substitute for prayer and lovemaking.
I don't think he's out of line in his criticism of this performance. Even Rubinstein hated Richter's Schumann. If you look at Schumann's score, Richter isn't paying any attention at all to the phrasing. It's monotonous industrial Schumann. He's playing it the same way he played the Prok Toccata. It doesn't work.
And as for Yamahas, I think that they may be the best of the modern pianos. As for Steinways, Bechsteins etc., I would argue that it really depends on the rep. that you're playing. And it's worth noting that there's a BIG difference between NY and Hamburg Steinways - particularly with the newer models.
OBVIOUSLY, his technique was not like it was when he did the 1950's recording. It's called GETTING OLD. Schumann was a monstrous genius. The Toccata is one of the great works of the Romantic era.
Richter was, hands down, 1 of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.
To those of you who wrote that this is a crap piece -- you're a bunch of deaf philistines. Do us a favour and quit music. And to those who made fun of this performance, I challenge YOU to play this work at that age.
..sacrificed to a mechanically relentless & inhuman forward motion...which is as inventive as ...farting.Clearly U prefer Schumann as he wasn't played or intended.
When I listen to his 1959 recorded version, my favorite version by far, is like a fireball exploding, a tsunami out of control, then comes the climax part, just before the end where little by little everything seems to come back to calm and clarity, and then comes the peace, the emptiness... At the end, one can reaches the totality, the redemption.
Pianists leave critical, bitter, hysterically negative comments (see Smithsherman below) whereas guitarists leave supportive, encouraging, cheerfuly forgiving comments. Check it out, it's true. But why the difference? Is it that certain personality types choose certain instruments? (btw I'm a pianist.)
It's a general trend - there are of course exceptions.
But I think classical guitarists are probably a different breed from other kinds of guitarists. More like pianists, in fact. Anyway, it's just a take-it-or-leave-it observation.
Today this sounds like a film of a fairground sped up 4xs.
...people manically rushing about.All ferris-wheels going without stop...flinging queazy
passengers off at random intervals into the parking lot...where the mechanical grader is leveling out freshly poured concrete. Here they don't sell cotton candy...but rather "digitally-sampled-candy" with site maps to the barbed-wire porto-potties.."4 when the candy runs through you."
sure the aged Richeter may not be physically able to do what the young Cziffra did but he plays it so ripe and powerful. i like Richter's performance as well as the fast ones. who really knows how Schumann played it anyways, or if he did ever really perform his "unplayable piece."
Smithsherman - Oy Vey!! What a waste of a brilliant mind - imagine what you could have achieved if you had just fallen into the fold like the rest of us. Baaaahhhhhh.....
There is a version on YouTube of Richter playing this demonically fast coming in at 6'40"
jonjon1957jonjon 1 month ago
3:29 "Boy! Rid me of these decrepit glasses!"
I do not care for the timbre of this Yamaha piano but maybe it adheres more to the late 19th century sound ideal.
DanielsFJD 2 months ago
Comment removed
DanielsFJD 2 months ago
Comment removed
DanielsFJD 2 months ago
Did Robert perhaps write this for his beloved wife, I wonder? Was he angry with her?
It's pretty fab, in any case. Lots and lots of notes, but very musical. He himself surely could not have played it, with his splayed hand, eh?
harryslide 2 months ago
Interestingly, Richter thinks even playing at that speed is too fast.
TripleRhu 3 months ago
Comment removed
antoniskyriazis 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@TripleRhu Richter was famous for his beautiful sound. Of course, expression comes at the cost of speed, but this boils down to the personal taste. I personally prefer first to achieve a high speed and overcome the technical issues, then I begin to slow it down by adding more elements that are impossible in high speed to come out. I of course believe to innovation, I do not like a soloist working as a tape recorder ;-)
antoniskyriazis 1 month ago
I don't know how people can begin to judge this performance. The sound quality is too low. I mean, the sound quality is low on all Youtube videos, but especially this one. A different Richter performance is more listenable: /watch?v=PyqH5Qs6FvI
alienalienss 8 months ago
His performances of this work are just one of the most incredible things in musical history. The combination between forcefulness and exquisite shaping of the themes is just a wonder. Complete genius, and a masterpiece of a reading!
ppfuchs 11 months ago
Magistral perfomance. Richter are big words
astronomo16 1 year ago
Comment removed
satiricdancer 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
And all the malenky hairs on the back of my neck stood on end to hear the gorgeous gorgeosity of Sviat channeling the runaway brilliance of Robert.
satiricdancer 1 year ago
Comment removed
satiricdancer 1 year ago
Too stolid, straight. Too much pedal.
To hear it as it is written and with utmost clarity, voicings, and virtuosity, listen to Horowitz.
Richter is far overrated.
janicezany 1 year ago
Comment removed
PathosDistanz 1 year ago
@PathosDistanz You've missed the point of the comment entirely and ended up sounding like a disgruntled richter fan.
Janice clearly wasn't comparing herself to Richter. The comment compared Richter to Horowitz's playing. Calling her an "ass" for voicing her opinion of a public figure is impolite and makes you seem uncivilized.
th3wing3dpaint3r 1 year ago
@th3wing3dpaint3r I didn't miss the point entirely, but the comment was unnecessary, indeed, impolite, yes, but uncivilized, that's overstating. It was more Chaucerean. It's not a question of being disgruntled; the matter is more one of being astounded before absurd overstatements continually enountered in these forums, with all musicians of exception. There's no idolization. "FAR" overrated is preposterous.
PathosDistanz 1 year ago
@PathosDistanz "the matter is more one of being astounded before absurd overstatements"
Is it illogical for someone to hate Richter's playing? It might SEEM absurd to you. But it actually comes down to preference.
It's none of my business anyway. If Janice didn't care enough to reply, then why should i? :D
th3wing3dpaint3r 1 year ago
@th3wing3dpaint3r As I said, sir, "with all musicians of exception," so the point isn't Richter alone. Here's the thought from another perspective, and perhaps this will make it cleer: The Billy Budd manuscript was a grammar and punctuation bedlam; but it is easy to find a page-proof reader to mend some of Melville's syntax, but where is there another man to write Moby-Dick?
PathosDistanz 1 year ago
@PathosDistanz "musicians of exception" differ for every person. A LOT of people don't like Horowitz because he sometimes bangs his left hand while playing romantic music. A lot hate Argerich for playing everything faster than they're used to.
Those people would not consider either to be "musicians of exception". But i get your point. You're against Janice denying Richter any acknowledgement at all (which doesn't seem fair by most standards). It's still her opinion though.
th3wing3dpaint3r 1 year ago
Too stolid and "straight."
Richter is FAR overrated.
Listen to Horowitz and you'll hear a different composition in clarity, voicing and virtuosity.
janicezany 1 year ago
that is some legato!
paradajz13 1 year ago
Simply PERFECT!!!
I wish I were able to play like him...
gelatolilla 1 year ago 2
@gelatolilla Do you know how many pianists would like to?
iguarni 1 year ago
@iguarni Eeeeh! From the beginning of my studies at the Conservatory they all say me: "Never authentic virtuosism for you. Too small hands". Anyway I could get my diploma of 10 years. However I am a "schiappa" (italian word meaning a "0"). ;-)
gelatolilla 1 year ago
@iguarni ma quale schiappa!!!!!!!!Chi ha conseguito il diploma del decimo anno non solo non è una schiappa ma è bravissimo e riceve da me la massima ammirazione. Richter, Michelangeli, Horowitz etc.. sono alieni....Chi non vorrebbe suonare come loro? Saluti
iguarni 1 year ago
Wonderful Richter!
SPEEDYCARMINE60 1 year ago
Intorno a 1:18 mi sembra di riconoscere una frase chi rimanda molto alla Krakoviak di Chopin dell'opera 14...
ingjr 1 year ago
Crazy perfomance, Richter is the best
astronomo16 2 years ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
@astronomo16
"Crazy" ??
And why do you say Richter is "the best" ??
The best in what ?
geertdehoux 1 year ago
Toccata' originally comes from 'toccare', which means 'to touch'.
ToccatA is the female passive form of something which is touched, nothing more.
Later it became a 'pièce de bravoure', using lots of notes and a strict rhytm.
However, we recognize the poet Schumann in the short melody , he repeats 5 times.
In my opinion, no one understood this better than the older Gilels.
Therefore, shouldn't the tempo be based on that melody, rather than on empty 'notes' ?
Cordially,
G. Dehoux.
geertdehoux 2 years ago 10
@geertdehoux is toccata genre like classical music? I don't like scholars dumps all musics that is written in the past into one genre called classical music. I think classical music actually has many genres but I don't what those are. you seem like a knowledgeable person. can you teach me the genres of classical music?
footballcoreano 1 year ago
@footballcoreano
Good morning.
Of course, not all music written in the past is called 'classical'.
For example: folk music; 'traditional' music; ancient Chinese, Indian, Arab, Gregorian and other religious music don't carry the name 'classical'.
Can we call Hildegard von Bingen's creations 'classical music' ?
Although I personally don't think so, some people do use this term for 'serious' music.
In this case, is much of for example Rossini 'classical music' ? :-)
geertdehoux 1 year ago
@footballcoreano
Old jazz performances can be called 'classical jazz', but not 'classical music'.
Even in so called 'classical music', we have all kind of genres amongst vocal and instrumental music, like opera, choir, operette, symphonies, chamber music, music for a solo instrument, duo, trio and so on.
Then we also have a history of 'classical music', from Medieval, via Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 12tones, Serial music and others to 'modern' styles.
geertdehoux 1 year ago
@footballcoreano
I hope this short explanation will serve you a bit.
Thanks for your interest!
Kindest regards from cold Belgium,
Geert Dehoux.
geertdehoux 1 year ago
Pogo does many wonderful things the music sounds so differnet. Horowitz is famous for this likeLhevinne but i find surprises here ! The tempo is great not to brittle fast the control and melodic rythnicline come out as never before. but the imagination too here makes this music about music not just a toccata. He shapes and toys with figures other pianists dont seemto notice.
lovesGenet 2 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
Richter is a blacksmith who is not
harmonious.
StephenChin1 2 years ago
3:25 .....lol
carismere 2 years ago 2
Listen also to Ivo Pogorelich's stunning performance of this Toccata. It is on youtube. It is played senza pedale. Simply dazzling.
salviati 2 years ago
Thanks for the tip re Pogorelich, I hadn't heard it before. You're right, I was smiling all the way through. More than anyone, he makes it sound like a TOCCATA, and he brings out all the voices and rhythms so clearly. I do agree with those who said he could have put more lyricism into the second theme, but overall it is a magnificent rendition.
priscianusjr 2 years ago
Listen to simon barer. The speed is incredible. That guy had a technique that Richter could only dream of.
Liebromeistal 2 years ago
All that means is that if music were an athletic contest, Barrere would beat Richter in the "Schumann Toccata event." Except music isn't an athletic contest, and Richter gets a lot more beauty and meaning out of this difficult piece than Barrere does, and possibly more than anyone.
priscianusjr 2 years ago 5
Are you kidding me? Richter was an incredible musician with an even more astounding musical mind. The sheer breadth and volume of the piano literature he recorded during his time would intimidate even today's most celebrated artists.
jcastano 2 years ago 3
@Liebromeistal hey, little retard , simon barrere would dream to be richter, techniqually and musically , i know i must not answer to little ignorant trolls like you , but i had some time to spare...
stefthe80 1 year ago
Heehee, I love this tempo! This piece is so funny, but it's very very good. I MUST learn this someday! Richter's good, too!
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
His pinky is like my thumb!! Not fair!!
VTABBBFE 2 years ago 2
I don't agree, toccata is not only about the tempo, it's more about the character and texture and color more, as long as you make it interesting.
2ndbsn 2 years ago
^^ every composition is to be composed and played interesting ;)
kage1369 2 years ago
I love this piece. I really like how Schumann composed.
LUISGAL006 2 years ago 2
Please don't call anybody "wrong." Each of us music lovers is entitled to enjoy the Schumann at his very peak. We should all play so well as Richter.
72Sycamore
72sycamore 2 years ago 2
Comment removed
erickalk 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
So slow! This toccata is all about tempo (thus endurance), noone beats young Bunin with this one.
N495QS 2 years ago
=S mmm... you can listen another version of Richter, recorded in 1959 and is more fast (how you want. He played in 6 min aprox). Maybe, this video is after this year... Richter looks a little bit more old.
But a think, ok, the velocity is one of the most important thing in this piece, but... make CLEAR, any mistakes, and understandable way is MORE important that it, no?
Anyway, S. Richter´s version is one of the best interpretation of this Toccata!! and, Horowitz too.
erickalk 2 years ago
Vladimir Horowitz said Schumann composed like a madman.
Very enjoyable. A great emotional performance of romantic music not for robots.
joedoves 2 years ago
That's because he was a madman. Attempted suicide, disfigured his fourth finger trying to improve his technique. Obviously bipolar, but brilliant.
petie32 2 years ago
ein Gott.
miaduff 2 years ago 2
che dire? strepitoso..... uno dei miei pianisti preferiti..... grande richter
vincik80 2 years ago
the most tremendous interpretation of schumann´s great toccata.richter´s expression is so amazing.probably we shall never find anyone playing this awful difficult piece like him.
kajohada 3 years ago 2
Comment removed
tannerl2008 2 years ago
totally agree with you kajohada
tannerl2008 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Boring piece...
WojciechPiotrowicz 3 years ago
Oh no its not.
Kalen1457 3 years ago
No, you´re wrong!
That piece is an endurance test!!!
PD: The fact that you do not like it, does not mean that it´s boring.
erickalk 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
schumann could be incredible boring though
chrish12345 2 years ago
Yes, some of his works are. But this one is one of his more interesting pieces! I'd like to learn it one day or another.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
Oh no I did terrible miss touch!
nikinikinikita 3 years ago
Kinderszenen op15-10
【Fast zu ernst】
AA (＾＾） つ つ
nikinikinikita 3 years ago
Is it mirage or titans phantom?
I see first time Richter get fatigue
one of most hard work
May be shuman planed struct up too difficult job for his great friends annd partner
Listz Dear frederic and Clara
I think toccata is grown upped childs playing elf
nikinikinikita 3 years ago
Mi correggo, G R A N D I O S O
napoleoneterzo 3 years ago
G R A D I O S O
napoleoneterzo 3 years ago
I believe Schumann considered it unplayable in the original key that he composed it in, thus changing the key
ReclaimTheGlory 3 years ago
I gave the guy playing a sponge bath back in '73!
phatato 3 years ago
.... wth do you do?
VestriDeusEstMortuus 3 years ago
so u clean old ppl in life..u must have some prospects..
darkmaides 3 years ago
...probably we shall never listen to anyone who playes this piece so exemplary like mr.richter,it´s really a disaster!!
kajohada 3 years ago
As to Nicholas thinking the concerto "unplayable" he was refering not to technicality but rather to what he deemed was poor compositional form. More likely he was resentful that Tchaikovsky's concerto so closely resembled his brother's D minor concerto composed a short time previously. Its ironic that after the concerto was such a success Nicholas recanted his harsh criticism. But make no mistake Anton was not the antagonist in the famous Tchaikovsky/Rubinstein concerto critique incident.
RazeCane 3 years ago
Replied to the wrong person?
RabidCh 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Based on solely how you played the piece and not how hard it is... I rate your video on an establshed 1 to 5 scale a : 5 visit my youtube page for GREAT VIDEOS
phil2611 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
7 WAYS TO KISS!
but, would've you reposted it if it said "I will love god no matter what?"
Repost in the next 7 minutes
If you truly love god
Repost as "7 ways to kiss"
and remember, god is always watching
emodemon11 3 years ago
Heroic Performance. mixed reception here. Be interesting to know if this was composed before or after Schumann damaged his left hand fingers!!??
shela2 3 years ago 2
both coincidentally!!
the first version of the toccata is from 1829/30 and the final one is from 1833. in the meantime schumann damaged his right ring finger forever. he had to give up pianist dreams and concentrate on composing.
you can play this toccata without using your right hand 4th! but it´s still difficult nonetheless...
l8nur 3 years ago
WOW. Would you look at Richter's technique. Surely keeping the wrists at about a 35 degree angle helped take all the tension off his wrist and allowed his fingers to flow effortlessly across the keyboard. Great technique!
1dcsedtaxi 3 years ago
楽しそうな曲ですね。
ayasunchan 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
確かに楽しそうで、いい曲ですよね。自分も大好きです。しかし、とんでもない超絶技巧曲で弾く方は息もつけない程ですよ。
yshrmtzk 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
でもこんなに弾けたら
面白いでしょうね＾＾
ayasunchan 3 years ago
)(&%$""Z=)??`**Ä'''G%%%/$§²²³{[\}}
regards
kajohada 3 years ago
Yes it is very, very difficult. Other pieces of Schumann like the humoreske i play easily the first time but not the toccata. My hands are too small.
And it would sound very strange playing the toccata cantabile. I love this performance, it´s really the best i ever heard because it´s so clear. You can hear the fugato in the mittle part.
This Composition is one of the craziest i knew and Schumann is a god. I love his contrapuntal art of notation.
GiovaDorani 3 years ago 3
The toccata is not unplayable for those few pianists who have the talent and fingers. Anyone lacking either (or both) of those will not get through the first five measures. Anton (not Arturo) Rubenstein discounted the Tchaikovsky piano concerto #1 as unplayable upon being asked to critique it. So much for "unplayable." 72sycamore
72sycamore 3 years ago
You are a bit mistaken about Anton Rubinstein discounting the playability of Tchaikovsky's piano concerto. It was in fact Anton's brother Nicholas of whom Tchaikovsky formerly dedicated the concerto. It was Nicholas whom went into a tyrad over its unplayability upon listening to Tchaikovsky play it with a second piano reduction and asked his critique. And, it was thus that Tchaikovsky scratched Nicholas' name off the score and replaced it with Hans Von Bulow. (continued)
RazeCane 3 years ago
This piece is difficult, of course, but it's not "unplayable" like some say. Your hand must be big enough, and that's it. I find this interpretation a bit sad. I admire Richter but not in Schumann. The sound is gorgeous, like always.
oinetakoa 3 years ago
Is it difficult to play?
Jw22DeeJay 3 years ago
Very difficult .
ChpinisGod 3 years ago 2
Extremely difficult. I doubt if Clara Schumann herself could play it. (Just kidding) Of all the performances I could find on Youtube, none is better than this one. William Daniel
72sycamore 3 years ago
are you kidding?
slickric25 3 years ago
I would have loved more cantabile playing, but it's a toccata. What do people expect? And I think he's not at his best.
aldebussy 3 years ago
Schumann actually considered this piece unplayable. During his time it may very well have been. At some point after he was gone, (Liszt maybe ?) the caliber of pianists had improved to the point where this piece was attainable. But its still a killer !
dmcII 3 years ago
Looking at the sheets this is terribly difficult stuff.
Anders039 3 years ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
very slow....richter is a trash
FrozenAlucard 3 years ago
This piece is very repetitive, but I like it.
Kalen1457 3 years ago 2
it's only repetitive because it's in sonata form
mathpianist93 3 years ago
I love Richter but I think there are zombie-like YouTubers with manic hatred for him as a person, that hatred is obviously rooted in some pathology
francorussie 3 years ago
I love his interpretation but I think the earlier recording of the same piece is better.
franbardi 3 years ago
Very well played!
jaythedee 3 years ago 3
Welcome to Schumann rethought as a 20th century Jackhammer.
smithsherman 3 years ago
I don't think this piece is meant to be warm or sweet.
mathpianist93 3 years ago
but Richter's tone here is better than everyone else combined, so it's not exactly an electric trolley.
mathpianist93 3 years ago
What do you emotion people - smith, artie, marshmellowkiegelbomon, and the new guy - want from the poor Richter? How is he supposed to play a *toccata* to make you happy? Post an example; you do not have to play piano - just wistle. We shall get the idea.
mltube 3 years ago 4
This has been flagged as spam show
Sounds like an Electric Trolley running off the tracks...but continuing on self-absorbedly
smithsherman 4 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
It´s only cold and without emotion if you play it like that. You probably know Cziffra´s interpretation of this piece. What do you think about it?
pedrobutelli 4 years ago
I believe that I read somewhere that Schumann himself described it as "unplayable."
mathpianist93 3 years ago
Did Schumann compose this sonata AFTER he permanently injured one or both of his hands???
mathpianist93 3 years ago
Its not a Sonata, read the Title.
Kalen1457 3 years ago
no...
I said it's in sonata FORM, and look it up if you don't know what sonata form is. Pieces don't have to be sonatas or concerti to be in sonata form...
mathpianist93 3 years ago
No, you quite clearly said "Did Schumann compose this SONATA [my emphasis] AFTER he permanently injured one or both of his hands?"
You are quite correct, a piece does not need to be a sonata to be in sonata form, and that is why this is not a sonata, just in sonata form.
For the record, I imagine he did.
Haeronthegreat 3 years ago
damn; I saw my mistake...
mathpianist93 3 years ago
it doesn't mean you call anything in that form as sonata! this is a toccata,end of story!
EilisErina 3 years ago
it's music. it's beautiful. end of story.
coolitnowjim 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I think the piece of music best suited to Richter's temperament and ethos would be "The Factory" from Prokofiev's Le Pas d'acier. Did he make a piano transcription of this?
Richter Trivia: While drunk, he would often light his chest hair on fire and weep that he never got a chance to meet Diaghilev and sit on his lap.
artie6666 4 years ago
On a YAMAHA yet.
petie32 4 years ago
This is a difficult piece - to play or to listen to. I've a Horowitz's recording for a long time, but took it off my iPod because it was just too much. I find Richter's play impressive, and I think he's playing it the way it was meant to be played.
madtmall 4 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
You are possible right: cold, without emotion and only technical, realy something for richter!!!
marcelmombeekeigen 4 years ago
what's with this constant complaining, this is Richter's version, search for one you fancy
znanto 4 years ago
This playing is utterly DESCHUMANNIZING.
artie6666 4 years ago
well I haven't really heard many recordings of this to compare, honestly I despise Schumann, if you feel the interpretation was mechanical, perhaps it was intended that way for that particular piece, his performance here wasn't one dimensional though, I sensed variation as the theme was repeated, I'm not trying to force you to like Richter, I wouldn't have much respect for you if you didn't remain consistent, but I did enjoy the playing, not the music, Prokofiev's toccata is more to my liking
znanto 4 years ago
No Objections to his pounding here...just the entire lack of musciality,intelligence,and expression associated with the way he "pounds"
smithsherman 4 years ago
smithsherman; you are the one who constantly demonstrates "lack of musciality,intelligence,and expression". You are not a Messiah, but a troll. Stick to harp.
truecrypt 4 years ago
it isn't Tristesse (which he has played and recorded marvellously), i don't see why he shouldn't pound the piano, to me the piece should hit you like a blunt object in the face
znanto 4 years ago
iwantmusicplease understands this perfectly well...it is the sound of a typewriter sans
musique.
There is no need to "understand "Richter"anymore than one needs to "understand" a mass murderer. Just execute the sentence....historical
oblivion... for typewriting where there should have been music..
smithsherman 4 years ago
So "iwantnusicplease/marcelmombeek" usnderstands that "Richter doesn't understand what he's playing". But you're saying that "there is no need to "understand "Richter" anymore than one needs to "understand" a mass murderer". Did you take your pills today?
truecrypt 4 years ago
It's too bad Richter didn't record a piano version of "The Typewriter" by Leroy Anderson, but at the same time, the humor would have been lost on him. The same with "The Syncopated Clock".
artie6666 4 years ago
"The humor would have been lost on him."
Ladies and Gentlemen, this was actually pronounced by a person obsessed with the imagined body odours of certain pianists. From armpits and genitalia, if I recall correctly.
jamtnas 4 years ago
I don't get your point. What is the relation between imagining pianists' body odors and understanding musical humor?
artie6666 4 years ago
Who is talking of any relation between those things? I simply
a) quoted at statement of yours
b) stressed that it was indeed yours
c) presented you to a larger audience, by mentioning one of your most prominent skills - namely that of being able to imagine the body odours of pianists, which must be a rare gift I imagine.
This service was free of charge by the way.
jamtnas 4 years ago 2
No, you quoted me as saying that "the humor would have been lost on him", and then presented the fact that I have knowledge that Argerich is foul-smelling. Why the apposition of the one phrase with the other if not to make some further point?
artie6666 4 years ago
Checkmate.
I suggest the following little exercise. Stand in front of a mirror and address the confused image, using the following phrases:
a) "The humor was lost on you."
b) "You are the youngest person I know."
c) "You don't quite get the meaning of 'apposition', but I'm sure you will some day."
jamtnas 4 years ago
As a Swede, you would have little knowledge of colloquial American English usage. You went to Wikipedia and looked up apposition and thought that it was strictly a grammatical term. It is not.
You are still not answering a simple question, Sven. What was the purpose of quoting that phrase when there were others available, then announcing that I smelled Argerich? I have yet to see any humor in what you are trying to say. That isn't because I am too young and stupid to know it.
artie6666 4 years ago
You are probably thinking something like "Jeg vil kommer du ick ag eg" and it's coming out wrong in English. Please, please explain what you mean and stop trying to be funny, if that's your intent.
King me.
artie6666 4 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I just realized you were the guy that made the BUTYRIC ACID comment. Never mind, I have no time trying to get you to explain yourself. Penny in the can with popcornS" Riiiiiight.
artie6666 4 years ago
This is an actual quote from artie6666:
"Argerich's playing - whatever...
BUT, doesn't she look like she would stink? Like her armpits and her pussy are real dirty and stinky and horrible."
Does this look like a comment from someone with a deep sense of musical humor? Anyone?
jamtnas 4 years ago 6
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Well, we're right back to the beginning, Sven.
I don't get your point. What is the relation between imagining pianists' body odors and understanding musical humor?
Explain it in Swedish if you like.
By the way, I received your gibberish private mail. Keep it out in public, please.
artie6666 4 years ago
Dear artie,
you are the talking version of a perpetuum mobile; it would be interesting to know how you function, but it's rather boring to observe you in action.
Last take: there is NO relation between the two "skills". In fact, I have claimed the opposite (obvious to most literate bystanders). It's all there. Hire a professional translator if you like. No obligation.
ta-ta /Sven
jamtnas 4 years ago 6
again... richter does not understand what he is playing, for him it's only note's...
iwantmusicplease 4 years ago
piece of s**t has more understanding about music than you about Richter
truecrypt 4 years ago
Folks. I love Richter but he is pounding the crap of this piece. No subtlety. Go to Lhevine or Horowitz to get the correct tone and touch.
63Attila 4 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
Dmcll is correct...This is "Killer" NOBODY HAS EVER QUITE BEEN ABLE TO KILL A PIECE LIKE RICHTER...and this scorched sarcophogas performance is a paradigm for that.
smithsherman 4 years ago
please give a note by note critique of this piece, that would be great
yarzacc 4 years ago
agree, there are not much scores where richter shows his capability to make music... I think he was not capable to play with emotion... his "emotion" is only playing little bit slower and softer...I realy do not understand wy people like him so much...
marcelmombeekeigen 4 years ago
Dear Marcel, People like Richter because they are alienated from themselves & have accepted
the institutionalized conservatory dogma as reality..in lieu of their internal one.They only listen abstractly to confirm their religious dogma.Music is a dogmatic idolatry for them.
smithsherman 4 years ago
Killer !
I read somewhere that Schumann considered this piece "unplayable". That may have been true in his day. But Richter & Horowitz make it look easy (for them anyway). Of course the rest of us can only listen in admiration.
dmcII 4 years ago
Nietsche suggests that I ..."should get a life"...because I SEE THAT Richter's INTERPRETATION IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY SCHUMANN...but just industrial waste...best subtitled...Richterman.Those who worship this
eat chaste mechanized meatballs as a substitute for prayer and lovemaking.
smithsherman 4 years ago
Smithsherman: Go an get a life, please.
On behalf of Richter's fans, please find elsewhere all the "romantiscism an bull sheet" oviously you don't find with our beloved greatest Richter.
You are deaf, with all my respect.
nietzschemasterclass 4 years ago
I don't think he's out of line in his criticism of this performance. Even Rubinstein hated Richter's Schumann. If you look at Schumann's score, Richter isn't paying any attention at all to the phrasing. It's monotonous industrial Schumann. He's playing it the same way he played the Prok Toccata. It doesn't work.
friendlyfinch 4 years ago
And as for Yamahas, I think that they may be the best of the modern pianos. As for Steinways, Bechsteins etc., I would argue that it really depends on the rep. that you're playing. And it's worth noting that there's a BIG difference between NY and Hamburg Steinways - particularly with the newer models.
silleeg00se 4 years ago
OBVIOUSLY, his technique was not like it was when he did the 1950's recording. It's called GETTING OLD. Schumann was a monstrous genius. The Toccata is one of the great works of the Romantic era.
Richter was, hands down, 1 of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.
*hops of soapbox*
silleeg00se 4 years ago
To those of you who wrote that this is a crap piece -- you're a bunch of deaf philistines. Do us a favour and quit music. And to those who made fun of this performance, I challenge YOU to play this work at that age.
Asshats.
silleeg00se 4 years ago
The 1959 Richter version of this is like...
a fireball of atomic destruction of Schumann.
Destroying all vestiges of the the phrase
..sacrificed to a mechanically relentless & inhuman forward motion...which is as inventive as ...farting.Clearly U prefer Schumann as he wasn't played or intended.
smithsherman 4 years ago
When I listen to his 1959 recorded version, my favorite version by far, is like a fireball exploding, a tsunami out of control, then comes the climax part, just before the end where little by little everything seems to come back to calm and clarity, and then comes the peace, the emptiness... At the end, one can reaches the totality, the redemption.
Thank you great master Richter.
nietzschemasterclass 4 years ago
I hate Yamaha. Or thought I did, but that piano sounds really nice.
OfTheLordChristJesus 4 years ago
Pianists leave critical, bitter, hysterically negative comments (see Smithsherman below) whereas guitarists leave supportive, encouraging, cheerfuly forgiving comments. Check it out, it's true. But why the difference? Is it that certain personality types choose certain instruments? (btw I'm a pianist.)
pdavies65 4 years ago
Dear PDA, There is only 1 problem with your statement...SmithSherman...is a classical guitarist by profession.
In the end this difference of instrument is...illusory.The Rhetoric...is the rhetoric.
smithsherman 4 years ago
It's a general trend - there are of course exceptions.
But I think classical guitarists are probably a different breed from other kinds of guitarists. More like pianists, in fact. Anyway, it's just a take-it-or-leave-it observation.
pdavies65 4 years ago
Today this sounds like a film of a fairground sped up 4xs.
...people manically rushing about.All ferris-wheels going without stop...flinging queazy
passengers off at random intervals into the parking lot...where the mechanical grader is leveling out freshly poured concrete. Here they don't sell cotton candy...but rather "digitally-sampled-candy" with site maps to the barbed-wire porto-potties.."4 when the candy runs through you."
smithsherman 4 years ago
the part where the guy removed Sviatoslav's glasses so he could see what he's doing brings tears to my eyes.
ibclappin 4 years ago
sure the aged Richeter may not be physically able to do what the young Cziffra did but he plays it so ripe and powerful. i like Richter's performance as well as the fast ones. who really knows how Schumann played it anyways, or if he did ever really perform his "unplayable piece."
ibclappin 4 years ago
smithsherman; you're like a very bitter old man with nothing to be proud of after a life-time and just hating on people. you're pathetic.
ibclappin 4 years ago
Oh I see...when something has the title "Toccata" over it,that is licence to incessantly empty chamber pots on it.
Thanks for letting me know.
smithsherman 4 years ago
Smithsherman - Oy Vey!! What a waste of a brilliant mind - imagine what you could have achieved if you had just fallen into the fold like the rest of us. Baaaahhhhhh.....
lourak 4 years ago
lourak, you're an asshole.
hotchica257 4 years ago
It's a toccata...
darthdidious 4 years ago
This has the sensitivity of an ice-pick lobotomy.
smithsherman 4 years ago
What a wonderful image. Is this copyrighted, or do I have your permission to use it?
Lourak
lourak 4 years ago
what's wrong with playing yamaha grand, you idiots??
korglove 4 years ago
Patricio Molina playing Schumann Carnaval is one of the best versions I heard. You should try to hear it. Amazing
chilean100 4 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Excellent piece, I found free sheet music for it on SheetMusicFox DOT com and absolutely love it!
thelmaandlouse 4 years ago