Sviatoslav Richter plays Schumann Symphonic Etudes, Op.13

[hsinhrcoci]

svetik

[asefthukomokuhtfesa]

3:55

Someone coughs.

[asefthukomokuhtfesa]

2:32

Someone coughs too. It's really bad.

[dtolbiac]

Thanks very much for the whole publication of this concert of 1968, in Moscow or USSR I suppose.

Great and superb music !

But as I am not pianist or scientist but curious, can you explain me the number of the studies in this opus 13 in your 4 parts ?

In the 3 other parts we have twelve studies : 1 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 to 12. Where is the the thema of the variations ?

In this part we have 4 variations. Are they posthumous variations ?

Thanks again.

[dgaranin]

Great! I think Richter had his peak around these years. I remember Soviet troops occupied Tchechoslovakia in 1968 but unfortunately I missed Richter's concerts. Much later he has not made a big impression on me as I attended his recitals.

[tanuuke]

Richter´s Symphonic Etudes is without doubt the best, period. It takes us into the world of Schumann´s "Klang". However the recording of Kleßheim in 1971 is superior to his any other recordings of this piece, especially from the pianistic point of view. Some critics then pointed at the lack of Schumann´s literary world. But Schumann challenged the possibilities of technique and timbre for the piano with this piece, after all.

[tanuuke]

A big surprise by the comparison of Richter and a minor pianist!! Had the young guy compared this with Cortot´s interpretation, it is understandable. It is not just a matter of taste.

[oblifan132]

Pierre-Laurent Aimard is much better..unfortunately his video has been deleted.

[truecrypt]

Pierre-Laurent Aimard is quite good especially in contemporary music. As for classical and romantic reperoire he is not even close to Richter.

[oblifan132]

Can you please respond directly? I said that this piece is played much better by Aimard. As this clearly is romantic music, I assume that you think this interpretation to be better. I have thought highly of Richter-and still do. However, he sometimes oversees deeper meanings and rushes through sections very quickly.

No doubt this masterpiece has been played very well by Richter, although some of the variations are too motoric.

[truecrypt]

Well... how much more direct could I be?

You said: "Pierre-Laurent Aimard is much better..." and I replied: "he (Aimard) is not even close..." which obviously means - he is worse. Let's leave aside a question of "depth" and concentrate on *tangibles*. The *SYMPHONIC* nature of this piece is clearly under served by Armand. Just from purely pianistic point of view, Richter is far above. Pierre-Laurent is a friend of mine - but he is not on Richter's level whatsoever.

[truecrypt]

P.S. Aimard's performance is available on YT:

search for "Pierre-Laurent Aimard schumann"

or add this to YT URL watch?v=FnFATImcQIA

[oblifan132]

Thanks for the link!

I disagree. In terms of complexity, Aimard is able to use the piano to his avantage. I don't understand what you mean with "under a pianistic point of view". Do you judge a pianist by his technical ability? Some of the variations are played at disgusting speed.

-Right-so now I'm dumb; but I believe in what my ear is hearing.

[truecrypt]

"Pianistic point of view" - is simply professional-technical-down-to­-earth ability to press correct keys at the correct time. Yes, I judge pianists by technical abilities too. It's important not only to know what to say, but how to do it. You are not familiar with Schumann's tempos well enough - he loved what you call "disgusting speed" ;)

You are not dumb - I never said so!

Just don't believe your ears until you train them well! Ears need even more training than fingers! ;)

[oblifan132]

Schumann is not known for his harmonical complexity, but rather in his storytelling, and with Aimard's way of playing this story is given some kind of sense. Richter, hovever, increases in speed when I see absolutely no reason to.

[truecrypt]

Sorry, I don't buy your arguments. Yes, Aimard's playing is pretty good and obviously worth to listen to.

Richter however creates absolutely stunning *orchestral* performance and his tempos are very much what Schumann intended. If you don't see something, it doesn't mean it's not there...

[oblifan132]

I know exactly what you mean. You might argue that Aimard stretches is out too much and does not create an orchestral feeling(it does not sound like scriabin if you know what I mean). I partly agree with you.

[truecrypt]

It's not even that... they (Aimard and Richter) are simply in different categories of artistry.

Aimard is a wonderful pianist, great musician, very nice person... still Richter is overwhelmingly superior in all aspects. Again, you can like Aimard's version more, but it's a matter of taste.

[johnhart30]

very nice. I wish I had an ounce of this talent.

[MusiCureSanity]

Richter/Schumann

oh, nice combination.

thank you from japan.

[chall6666]

BEAUTIFUL