Sviatoslav Richter plays Beethoven Sonata Op. 90 (1/2)

[Raggedy9]

Ah, Richter---always fascinating and usually (as in this case) utterly convincing in his Beethoven playing. Why is Kempff off? because he ignores all the contrasts in dynamics Beethoven asks for. Richter has absolute command of all these contrasts, and is deeply expressive (which Beethoven asks for ) in this strange and elusive sonata.

[definitivunkreativ]

I fell in love twice. Once for the piece, once for the interpretation.

[lovesGenet]

I was given this sonata by a student of Cortot when I was about 20 .20 years later I still say it's so intense ,maybe morbid ,a mystery to me .Richter &Gilels best.Arrau,Barenboim . Kempf seems way off. Where is Kovacevich ?

[pianocommy]

@lovesGenet Kempff seems way off? He's my favourite Beethoven player, always so much warmth and good humour, yet so deep! However, I wouldn't be surprised if it's very far removed from Cortot's approach!

[lovesGenet]

Beethoven is a mad man .Nothing strict about him.Red some bios and the letters .Your conservatory will surprise you.Ask somebody who knows!

[violin614]

I think Richter is quite a good one.

[princessgerll]

Im learning this now, and I find that this is really a good example. I love how he does the tenths.

[MaestroTJS]

Another commanding performance by Richter.

Imagine what this would sound like with better sound quality....

[mradipatti]

yeh most of us who download S.R do go a bit gaga. " mathemathically" it isn´t possible for a performer to outperform the composer. he can at least as we all like to think convey better interpretation than Beethoven ever could have heard.

[quintos34]

I like to think of it as the rare occasion where two musical wonders meet

[GetMeThere1]

very occasionally I'm moved to think of a piece: "The performer is better than the piece of music itself."

[I don't particularly care to debate whether such a thing can even be true; or for that matter, exactly what I mean by the statement]

I only wish to say: Richter is stupendous.

[scottbos68]

or perhaps there are performers who play a composition better than the composer would or could have played it

[tchebinai71]

do you know why it's accelerated on 1.02. beethoven's texts are meant to be played with strict tempo. (that's what i would be told in my conservatory .).

Why can this acceleration be accepted, when another one would be rejected if bad placed ????

[truecrypt]

Dear tchebinai71;

There is a good Latin saying: Quod licet Jovi, поп licet bovi

As students we all are required to perform within certain standards. This is the "due" one pays for the right to go beyond "traditions/limitations".

[sagalat]

Quite right.  Unless the composer is completely mediocre (for some reason I think of Adolphe Adán), a great artist can REDEEM something otherwise inconsequential

[dxpdxpdxp]

The fact that you refer the comment "The performer is better than the piece of music itself." to this wonderful and innovative sonata, shows that unfortunately you did not get the importance of this piece.

To my opinion, it is one of the breakthrougs in music history.

[chad410]

what musicianship

[paulostroff99]

Superb! Bravo! TY.