Is this unedited or is there a version with the entire scherzo? Absolutely love the staging, the colours, the attampt to showcase soviet TV productionte viewers at home etc. A film of SR at the height of his powers.
@marcelmombeekpiano I completely disagree. How on earth would you know whether or not he understood the music he played; were you in his mind? He plays this brilliantly - it's a scherzo, and he plays it as such. Perhaps your standard of judging interpretations has been institutionalised by some of the utterly banal and widespread pianists of our time, but this interpretation does not lack fantasy, and Richter did not lack imagination.
Indeed. Richter was known for his rock-solid sense of timing. Far too many gifted musicians today treat every note as if it had a series of fermata over it, and it frustrates me to no end. I want to hear the composition, not a musician struggling in vain to bring his or her audience to climax.
The composition takes care of that by itself, hence the notoriety of composers.
Funny how wrong you are curzmg. I only picked up a couple of things you said, but it's funny to me how loyal you are to a man you know nothing about. Realistically, it is DEFINITELY arguable whether or not Richter was one of the greats. Greatness is not defined by your ability to madly smash the keys into some semblance of a song. And by the way, to say that he makes mistakes 'on purpose' is a ridiculous assertion and if you stand by that comment than you are a blind fool.
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why does this have 5 stars and 50,000 views? maybe i should start posting videos of myself burning through pieces at the fastest speed possible with occasional moments of forced musicianship and i'll be famous too. in itself, i dont have a huge problem with people showing off their talents and ruining pieces for some fun, cuz i do the same occasionally, but it just kind of irks me that i believe this has the most views of any of the chopin scherzo in b flat performances, but its like.. not good
You are right. One of the greatest pianists of the 20th century screwed up the song!
I'm not gonna take any shots at you, because I looked at your videos and you look pretty good. But playing the piano is only one part of being a great pianist. Study different pianists and learn to incorporate their styles along with that of your own.
Richter was known for speeding up pieces, it was part of his style. You might not like it, but almost everyone one of his peers loved him and praised him.
I think this vid is edited. Richter would never play this fast on purpose. maybe it's played 1.5x. his arm gesture looks bit unnaturally rushed too. I don't question his ability. I just don't find this too convincing after hearing his audio recording of the same piece.
is this remastered with color? Also, seeing it with such detail, you realize how real it is, and you also realize how good you had to be in order to have fame.
its not out of tune, its just the sound of the piano. anyone syaing that it sounds like b minor dont have absolute pitch, that why they said b minor, cuase its close to b-flat minor! lol faking perfect pitch on u tube sad..............
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
dude, he's not faking it. i have absolute pitch as well, and i'm telling you that this recording is in b minor. but it's not that it's tuned incorrectly -- he's playing in b flat but the tape is sped up. that's why the tempo seems a bit quick. the increase in the tape speed not only modulated the tempo but also modulated the key.
don't even dare tell me i don't know what i'm talking about -- i'm a music major concentrating on piano performance. just thought you'd like to know the correct info.
no... this is not sped up... speeding it up would probably have infracturies in the video quality, nonetheless, and notwithstanding, piano concert grand pianos are oft tuned 'above' normal standards (c will be more like C sharp..) ... the tape is not sped up (if you mean that Richter is not 'having been there live' playing at this rate of speed.. he is).
dude. besides using giant words nobody uses to try to sound smart, what are you talking about? hahaha. Pianos are tuned correctly for performances man. and what is a infractury? what a smartypants dude. people don't like that.
Bel canto tone on a piano is to produce an effect similar to a really fine singer performing Italian opera such as Bellini or Verdi.A good projected tone with meaningful
As a French musician said, Richter ' s grand interpretations are also so valuable because it is true (in my opinion, more honest) to Chopin ' s vision of Romanticism, which far from our modern sobbing "romanticism" (appreciated by zombie-like or sissy/pansy YTers, Smithersher..., Marcelmom's... )
I don't hear much 'sobbing romantism' from pianists,past or present. Can you help me and quote some examples you think illustrate what you feel...(preferably something in can hear on youtube,but not essential)
Wonderful technique, and wonderful posture. This is the reason people, asking and liszt, turned the piano around. And to asnwer these endless incoming comments about why there is only one minute. You ever watch movies? You ever notice how they always cut it down or bring on short excerpts from books or music for dramatic effect or just to sum it up ... word? well You're right.
Wonderful technique, and wonderful posture. This is the reason people, asking and liszt, turned the piano around. And to asnwer these endless incoming comments about why there is only one minute. You ever watch movies? You ever notice how they always cut it down or bring on short excerpts from books or music for dramatic effect or just to sum it up ... word? well You're right.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Yes - he is a butcher. He demonstrates absolutely NO regard for the wishes of the composer. Anyone who endorses this kind of playing needs to rethink their standards.
By the way, it's playing almost a half-step sharper than A440. This 'contributes' even more to the already frenzied tempo.
Why not stfu and stop trying to be such a smart ass. Music exists for people to enjoy and express themselves, not to denounce. Wishes of the composer? It's up to the performer. I don't think Chopin would give an arse about how this piece is interpreted by anyone. You have no right to criticize pianists, it's all up to them.Noone wants to hear your unkind, unnecessary comments.I know people with an ego like yours won't take into account what Im saying.Just imagine someone bashing you like you are
organman 52 - Of course you have 'every right' to criticize or praise as you see appropriate. When things are placed in the public forum, they invite response. However, you have placed your comments in the very same public forum. So, to defend your right to criticize Richter is to defend johnalt16's right to criticize you.
I have no problem with criticism, simply because I usually reject it.
The man at the piano of this youtube is a mad freak - not a musician. It's all theatrics, and no Chopin. He does everything he can to make it look difficult - which it is - but he's overboard. Pathetic.
Sorry, it seems like you don't know who Richter is. I understand your criticism, many people hold that view, but to term it 'a mad freak - not a musician. It's all theatrics, and no Chopin' is just ridiculous. No one debates that Richter was one of the greatest pianists to have ever lived. Now you may not like his style, he may be low on your list of the greats, but you make him sound as though he was a mere amateur. His technique was flawless, it is all a debate of style.
Obviously, you don't hear how inaccurate his playing is in many places. As for your assertion 'no one debates that Richter was....' - wrong - I debate it.
There is no such thing as accurate at this level. Richter could play this piece any way you asked him to. Do you honestly think organman52 that Richter couldn't read music? Do you think you would list his inaccuracies and he would say 'oh organman52 what a genius you are! I never saw that before despite being taught by and with the greatest'. Richter knew what he was doing, if he did something 'wrong' he did it on purpose, this is why it is style or interpretation, not technique.
If he played it too quickly it wasn't because he didn't understand how a metronome works or he couldn't play in time, it was because he thought the piece was more pleasing at a greater pace. You can disagree, that is fine of course but you can't act as though he didn't understand. He knew far more of music than you do, of course that doesn't mean you can't criticise but it does make it rather ridiculous to act as though his interpretations were an accident.
In response, no I can not hear a single 'inaccuracy' in his playing though I can hear an interpretation. It is ridiculous and impossible to follow a score exactly. A composer can not mark the dynamics of every note, a nuanced performance requires personal input. You will never know exactly how Chopin wanted this to be played, it is therefore ridiculous to attempt a literal reading to the extent you seem to be asking for. Where all pianists sound identical.
Please don't get all sarcastic on me it is just irritating. This man was a brilliant pianist, perhaps you don't think his style is suited to Chopin, I can see quite plainly why you might say that - it is a fair criticism and you're not the only one to make it. Still, to treat him as if he was on grade 3 is just insanity. Tell me, I will find the score, where his unforgivable mistakes are, give me the time?
I see you like Kissin, he too has made mistakes in the past, give Richter a chance. Listen to this if you don't believe me watch?v=0sPxr539mts if memory serves me right Kissin hits wrong notes on three occasions, maybe two. I'm not saying I don't like that performace, it is actually my favourite interpretation of Liebestraume.
It is not my duty to educate others anymore. And for what it is worth, I really don't care about wrong notes - IF the person playing them doesn't act like an impetuous school child - acting out all over the place, making it look like it is impossible, AND distorting the rhythm for a variety of 'reasons.' I do not want to engage in yet another time-consuming waste of time on youtube. But I AM entitled to make my comments. Whether others agree with them is not at all my concern.
You cannot educate people in these things, it is a matter of taste. I don't care much for wrong notes myself I was simply pointing out that mistakes are made by all. Do you not think that it is childish to judge a pianist by his presence at the piano? You who seem so concerned by the music and yet are chastising because of image. Of course you're entitled to make any comment you would like but we all make our best conclusions by discussion.
why are there so many of you that like to define musician/non-musician? Can't you accept that different people have different interpretations? If everyone played every piece the same then classical music would fail to inspire future generations. It's not hard simply to say "I don't like this interpretation"...
ofcourse it is nearly identical to your record, richter was never able to play a piece with different interpreations.Why not? he was not a musician, just a wonder-pianist, but no musician. real musicians: horowitz, cortot, cziffra, pogorelich, ginzburg...
excuse me,is it some kind of a transcription of Chopin's Scherzo No2 by rachmaninov? (the video mentions sth in german i can' gifure out) or is it simply TOTALLY wrong? I mean....the whole piece is missing! it doesn't have the sostenuto part in a major, nothing...he just makes a mistake and goes straight to the end!!i don't know, am i wrong here? i find it hard to believe that noone noticed!!
also, i love his technique but i find i too harsh, it doesn't have "breathing" inside it..
Agree - great technique but hardly anything more. It seems that he actually didn't like the piece. Or perhaps he was just in a hurry for a meeting, which would explain the missing part... However, the audible key here is B instead of B-flat. If this is a film speed error, it even affects the musical tempo and of course the "breathing". I like Zimmerman's interpretation of this piece a lot.
Thanks, I believe you. She does a wonderful scherzo #3, two versions of which are available here on Youtube. I'll see if I can find her #2 somewhere then.
not a single bar of lyric piano playing, only butchering the piano... people please, start listening to real musicians and forget richter in this kind of music. He is excellent in prokovieff, but let him not touch chopin or schumann...
Yes. All the wonderful poetry of Chopin's music slips through his racing fingers...But he had his public, and they got what they wanted. We can listen briefly to his play and wonder...how much more other pianists make with this music.
Indeed some public is there just for the show of technical ability. But technique is the means and not a goal. I put the blame on Richter for this. I cannot imagine anybody who feels the music of Chopin enjoying this banged-out performance. Good that we can pick and choose from so many good interpretations of this music.
many great pianists had nothing but praise to say about Richter's playing (such as Glenn Gould, van Cliburn, and Vladimir Horowitz). I think most people would agree that they know what real music-making is...
fichan25052505- i would say that only for evgeny kissin. how dare u say something like that about richter. that i pure music and stretches out into the depths of the heart. that is what makes a pianist, u are right, but richter is a "pianist"
ihrtmusic12334- i have played on estonia pianos and truley they sound like harpsichords. and this was in Armenia's Conservatory. He may just have gotton lucky to get a good one. I don't know, but all the Estonia's i have played on i disliked.
I only wish that I could find the entire video. Very beautiful playing and tone. Frankly I hate how slowly pianists play this nowadays. My favourite version (young Rubinstein) goes like the wind.
After reading all the posts it is obvious that the world has been taken over by degenerates. RICHTER: the great oak, 75yrs devoted to music being evaluated by bloody snot-sucking zombies on U-tube. Time for the cleansing fire!
Okay, so, he played the first part, then skipped a bunch.... What's that second part he played? Where does it start at? Like at the end of this piece?
um, he's playing the last section of the piece. He didn't start at the beginning. The motive at measure 1 starts with B-flat, whereas in this vid, he starts at the last instance, which omits the b-flat from the motive. Look up the score at sheetmusicfox dot com
wow that was a powerful and energetic interpretation i can see the power he inflicted on those keys and the great control he kept you can see the focus i think we would have understood it more if it actually showed him playing the piece in its entirety.
this guy is god waering pianist skin, verybody here say opinion like a expert and went into a lot of perfiles and nobody has a fucking video playing piano ...
Right, since you need to own a restaurant to be a restaurant critic. Richter is undoubtedly a talented pianist, but this interpretation is way too harsh, rushed, and immature.
Is this unedited or is there a version with the entire scherzo? Absolutely love the staging, the colours, the attampt to showcase soviet TV productionte viewers at home etc. A film of SR at the height of his powers.
spookyben 2 months ago
who else thought that at 0:33 thomas the train was trotting out?
tagnshare1234 10 months ago
i dont like richter style... exaggerated Forte and often too fast !
develish16 1 year ago
@develish16 just tell me who doesnt do this when young
BlazeKenny 8 months ago
gee, what's up with the make up?
ibm4 1 year ago
Comment removed
fbager 1 year ago
well this is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off the Richter scale
VCube100 1 year ago 2
Oh man he was so WAY above every other pianist in this world.
RediForKing 1 year ago
@RediForKing Martha Argerich could cream his ass... Listen to her Tchaikovsky Concerto and compare it to his... no comparison
bobbphysics 1 year ago
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@bobbphysics I hope you die a painful death and go to hell afterwards.
RediForKing 1 year ago
@RediForKing
yes, he was....
belialah 1 year ago
That is a bloody fantastic performance.
steamednotfried 1 year ago
way too fast for me
v4liumfrance 1 year ago
@marcelmombeekpiano I completely disagree. How on earth would you know whether or not he understood the music he played; were you in his mind? He plays this brilliantly - it's a scherzo, and he plays it as such. Perhaps your standard of judging interpretations has been institutionalised by some of the utterly banal and widespread pianists of our time, but this interpretation does not lack fantasy, and Richter did not lack imagination.
johnalt16 1 year ago
@johnalt16
Indeed. Richter was known for his rock-solid sense of timing. Far too many gifted musicians today treat every note as if it had a series of fermata over it, and it frustrates me to no end. I want to hear the composition, not a musician struggling in vain to bring his or her audience to climax.
The composition takes care of that by itself, hence the notoriety of composers.
Daim0th 1 year ago
LOL all the people in front of the TV's are like: Whaaaa? :O
Richter rules!
dinodemic 1 year ago
scared by the camera...
v4liumfrance 1 year ago
Sviatoslav Richter in music legend!!!!!!!
iguarni 1 year ago
@iguarni
Perhaps the ugliest performance I've ever heard!
But who am I... ?
geertdehoux 1 year ago
I feel like this was too fast for the piece once you hear Yundi Li's version
kczapper 1 year ago
why is that guy aiming at him with a minigun?
Angel94angel94 2 years ago 6
LOL
Smeagollum86 2 years ago
He's just jealous of Richter!
Angel94angel94 2 years ago
It's from the documentary Sviatoslav Richter the Enigma, the first one.
jeffsteinway 2 years ago
btw, u can watch it in my channel...
stagesix6 2 years ago
What movie is this?
mahler151 2 years ago
Funny how wrong you are curzmg. I only picked up a couple of things you said, but it's funny to me how loyal you are to a man you know nothing about. Realistically, it is DEFINITELY arguable whether or not Richter was one of the greats. Greatness is not defined by your ability to madly smash the keys into some semblance of a song. And by the way, to say that he makes mistakes 'on purpose' is a ridiculous assertion and if you stand by that comment than you are a blind fool.
koukides666 2 years ago
His expression makes it look like he's got it in for that piano. "take that! And that! And that! -Had enough? No? Here's another!"
Oct2Poof 2 years ago 25
Haha, funny
xartmanx 2 years ago
I like it, this is a great video...good timing..the best of his era.....his technique is superb...
xiuje87 2 years ago
ESTONIA.
TheRachmaninoffFan 2 years ago
his sexual orientation had nothing to do with his artistry at the piano. bent or straight, he was a great pianist!
maze9716 2 years ago 2
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maze9716 2 years ago
is SIMPLY RICHTER, no chopin, it's RICHTER
mestreliszt 2 years ago
Stunning! Richter was up there with the greatest pianists of all time.
Bravo!
paulostroff99 2 years ago 4
oceanboy , you cant recognize genius when you hear it , never mind
stefthe80 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
why does this have 5 stars and 50,000 views? maybe i should start posting videos of myself burning through pieces at the fastest speed possible with occasional moments of forced musicianship and i'll be famous too. in itself, i dont have a huge problem with people showing off their talents and ruining pieces for some fun, cuz i do the same occasionally, but it just kind of irks me that i believe this has the most views of any of the chopin scherzo in b flat performances, but its like.. not good
oceanboy1993 2 years ago
You are right. One of the greatest pianists of the 20th century screwed up the song!
I'm not gonna take any shots at you, because I looked at your videos and you look pretty good. But playing the piano is only one part of being a great pianist. Study different pianists and learn to incorporate their styles along with that of your own.
Richter was known for speeding up pieces, it was part of his style. You might not like it, but almost everyone one of his peers loved him and praised him.
bbarina41 2 years ago 2
in 0.33 caming a monster
Pianosaphiens 3 years ago 2
even hofmann is better i enjoy listening to richer more because the imposing attitude suits me
callenishss 3 years ago
This is definitely the edited version of this piece...I'm sure done to fit it into the movie the way the filmmakers wanted...oh well...
Plazmatix 3 years ago
Impeccable!Superb!
ankhsnammon
Ankhsnammon 3 years ago 2
I think this vid is edited. Richter would never play this fast on purpose. maybe it's played 1.5x. his arm gesture looks bit unnaturally rushed too. I don't question his ability. I just don't find this too convincing after hearing his audio recording of the same piece.
cisdolce 3 years ago
Richter is the best pianist that ever recorded. Every other pianist simply SUCKS.
muscomap 3 years ago 7
Agree...and don't agree...
K189T 3 years ago 2
I wouldn't say that Grigory Sokolov sucks!
nbharakey 3 years ago
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hes just fat
callenishss 3 years ago
thats cause he can!!!Hes the greatest pianist!!!!!!!!
tonecolor 3 years ago 11
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Too fast. I like Richter, but he plays everything so darned fast..
Corleone1337 3 years ago
that's the right way.
bookguy12000 3 years ago 2
This is Chopin's music, not Liszt's. It should not be rushed, simply because he can.
Corleone1337 3 years ago
Richter is awesome
bookguy12000 3 years ago 2
is this remastered with color? Also, seeing it with such detail, you realize how real it is, and you also realize how good you had to be in order to have fame.
ink24571 3 years ago 4
richter is the beast
bookguy12000 3 years ago 3
was this a real performance of this work, or this was a kind of movie or something like that ????
nazhiitoxx 3 years ago
Awesome performance!
Melorama2000 3 years ago 6
I would have love to hear the whole piece though
TimandBen 3 years ago 2
its not out of tune, its just the sound of the piano. anyone syaing that it sounds like b minor dont have absolute pitch, that why they said b minor, cuase its close to b-flat minor! lol faking perfect pitch on u tube sad..............
kingstravinsky101 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
dude, he's not faking it. i have absolute pitch as well, and i'm telling you that this recording is in b minor. but it's not that it's tuned incorrectly -- he's playing in b flat but the tape is sped up. that's why the tempo seems a bit quick. the increase in the tape speed not only modulated the tempo but also modulated the key.
don't even dare tell me i don't know what i'm talking about -- i'm a music major concentrating on piano performance. just thought you'd like to know the correct info.
masterofmyfate31 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
that's in reference to kingstravinsky101's comment...
masterofmyfate31 3 years ago
no... this is not sped up... speeding it up would probably have infracturies in the video quality, nonetheless, and notwithstanding, piano concert grand pianos are oft tuned 'above' normal standards (c will be more like C sharp..) ... the tape is not sped up (if you mean that Richter is not 'having been there live' playing at this rate of speed.. he is).
AlexanderinChrist 3 years ago
dude. besides using giant words nobody uses to try to sound smart, what are you talking about? hahaha. Pianos are tuned correctly for performances man. and what is a infractury? what a smartypants dude. people don't like that.
bookguy12000 3 years ago
Fabuleux, ...Une fois de plus Richter nous fait don d'une magnifique interprétation de Chopin (un peu courte sur cette vidéo).
givemetime123 3 years ago 2
Richter is the man.
54spiritedwill54 3 years ago 2
crazy shit...damn thats good
qays1991 3 years ago 2
the piano seems out of tune, so this sounds like B Minor.
mathpianist93 3 years ago
the piano seems out of tune, so this sounds like B Minor.
mathpianist93 3 years ago
Normally Richter ' s are some of the best otherwise the best for Chopin. Lyrical and deeply Slavic at times and also powerful and heroic.
francorussie 3 years ago
I agree, truly a Chopin master, His Beethoven Bagatelle in G major, Op. 126 is truly the best performance I have seen of it.
Lustre1987 3 years ago
Richters' playing of Chopin was very variable,
listen to his playing of the Polonaise Fantasie on youtube.......it's really nice...
he is one of the few pianists who understood
bel canto tone and how to produce this.
flugelmaniac 3 years ago
what is bel canto tone?
thanks :)
bookguy12000 3 years ago
Bel canto tone on a piano is to produce an effect similar to a really fine singer performing Italian opera such as Bellini or Verdi.A good projected tone with meaningful
phrasing.
flugelmaniac 3 years ago 2
I listened to another one with better sound and still this interpretation is best of best. Honest and heart-felt.
francorussie 3 years ago
I listened to another one with better sound and still this interpretation is best of best. Honest and hear-felt.
francorussie 3 years ago
the entire piece was sped up 1 half step to b minor not b flat
penguinshin 3 years ago
mechanical
flugelmaniac 3 years ago
you mechanical
francorussie 3 years ago
As a French musician said, Richter ' s grand interpretations are also so valuable because it is true (in my opinion, more honest) to Chopin ' s vision of Romanticism, which far from our modern sobbing "romanticism" (appreciated by zombie-like or sissy/pansy YTers, Smithersher..., Marcelmom's... )
Richter is a damn GIANT TITAN of piano
francorussie 3 years ago
I don't hear much 'sobbing romantism' from pianists,past or present. Can you help me and quote some examples you think illustrate what you feel...(preferably something in can hear on youtube,but not essential)
flugelmaniac 3 years ago
chopin nocturne op 70 nr 1 is an incredibly emotive peice when played well,
zadgsd 3 years ago
which french musician?
Dude your post is really interesting, would you care to expound more? very interesting post.
bookguy12000 3 years ago
Wonderful technique, and wonderful posture. This is the reason people, asking and liszt, turned the piano around. And to asnwer these endless incoming comments about why there is only one minute. You ever watch movies? You ever notice how they always cut it down or bring on short excerpts from books or music for dramatic effect or just to sum it up ... word? well You're right.
ChrisWatch 3 years ago
Wonderful technique, and wonderful posture. This is the reason people, asking and liszt, turned the piano around. And to asnwer these endless incoming comments about why there is only one minute. You ever watch movies? You ever notice how they always cut it down or bring on short excerpts from books or music for dramatic effect or just to sum it up ... word? well You're right.
ChrisWatch 3 years ago
I think the camera man bears a resemblance to Hugh Laurie from house.
yezelsqueeze 3 years ago
why would you put a 1 minute scherzo video up.
TrevorKingKwong 3 years ago
Wha happen to rest of piece?
Why he remind me of John Cleese?
Why is Russian almost Greek?
*spark argument*
HumanLarva 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Yes - he is a butcher. He demonstrates absolutely NO regard for the wishes of the composer. Anyone who endorses this kind of playing needs to rethink their standards.
By the way, it's playing almost a half-step sharper than A440. This 'contributes' even more to the already frenzied tempo.
organman52 4 years ago
Why not stfu and stop trying to be such a smart ass. Music exists for people to enjoy and express themselves, not to denounce. Wishes of the composer? It's up to the performer. I don't think Chopin would give an arse about how this piece is interpreted by anyone. You have no right to criticize pianists, it's all up to them.Noone wants to hear your unkind, unnecessary comments.I know people with an ego like yours won't take into account what Im saying.Just imagine someone bashing you like you are
johnalt16 4 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
'Wishes of the composer? It's up to the performer'...you have no idea how wrong you are.
I have EVERY right to criticize or praise as I see appropriate. YOU, on the other, have no right to tell me that I have no right.
Phooey!
You have no idea about my 'ego' - you only THINK you do.
organman52 4 years ago
organman 52 - Of course you have 'every right' to criticize or praise as you see appropriate. When things are placed in the public forum, they invite response. However, you have placed your comments in the very same public forum. So, to defend your right to criticize Richter is to defend johnalt16's right to criticize you.
jvertol1 3 years ago
I have no problem with criticism, simply because I usually reject it.
The man at the piano of this youtube is a mad freak - not a musician. It's all theatrics, and no Chopin. He does everything he can to make it look difficult - which it is - but he's overboard. Pathetic.
organman52 3 years ago
he makes it look easy, dude. hey maybe he's a mad pianist, he's awesome!
bookguy12000 2 years ago 2
Sorry, it seems like you don't know who Richter is. I understand your criticism, many people hold that view, but to term it 'a mad freak - not a musician. It's all theatrics, and no Chopin' is just ridiculous. No one debates that Richter was one of the greatest pianists to have ever lived. Now you may not like his style, he may be low on your list of the greats, but you make him sound as though he was a mere amateur. His technique was flawless, it is all a debate of style.
curzmg 2 years ago
Obviously, you don't hear how inaccurate his playing is in many places. As for your assertion 'no one debates that Richter was....' - wrong - I debate it.
organman52 2 years ago
There is no such thing as accurate at this level. Richter could play this piece any way you asked him to. Do you honestly think organman52 that Richter couldn't read music? Do you think you would list his inaccuracies and he would say 'oh organman52 what a genius you are! I never saw that before despite being taught by and with the greatest'. Richter knew what he was doing, if he did something 'wrong' he did it on purpose, this is why it is style or interpretation, not technique.
curzmg 2 years ago
If he played it too quickly it wasn't because he didn't understand how a metronome works or he couldn't play in time, it was because he thought the piece was more pleasing at a greater pace. You can disagree, that is fine of course but you can't act as though he didn't understand. He knew far more of music than you do, of course that doesn't mean you can't criticise but it does make it rather ridiculous to act as though his interpretations were an accident.
curzmg 2 years ago
In response, no I can not hear a single 'inaccuracy' in his playing though I can hear an interpretation. It is ridiculous and impossible to follow a score exactly. A composer can not mark the dynamics of every note, a nuanced performance requires personal input. You will never know exactly how Chopin wanted this to be played, it is therefore ridiculous to attempt a literal reading to the extent you seem to be asking for. Where all pianists sound identical.
curzmg 2 years ago
Thank you so much for the lectures. Unfortunately, you don't know what you are talking about. But thanks just the same.
organman52 2 years ago
Please don't get all sarcastic on me it is just irritating. This man was a brilliant pianist, perhaps you don't think his style is suited to Chopin, I can see quite plainly why you might say that - it is a fair criticism and you're not the only one to make it. Still, to treat him as if he was on grade 3 is just insanity. Tell me, I will find the score, where his unforgivable mistakes are, give me the time?
curzmg 2 years ago
I see you like Kissin, he too has made mistakes in the past, give Richter a chance. Listen to this if you don't believe me watch?v=0sPxr539mts if memory serves me right Kissin hits wrong notes on three occasions, maybe two. I'm not saying I don't like that performace, it is actually my favourite interpretation of Liebestraume.
curzmg 2 years ago
It is not my duty to educate others anymore. And for what it is worth, I really don't care about wrong notes - IF the person playing them doesn't act like an impetuous school child - acting out all over the place, making it look like it is impossible, AND distorting the rhythm for a variety of 'reasons.' I do not want to engage in yet another time-consuming waste of time on youtube. But I AM entitled to make my comments. Whether others agree with them is not at all my concern.
organman52 2 years ago
You cannot educate people in these things, it is a matter of taste. I don't care much for wrong notes myself I was simply pointing out that mistakes are made by all. Do you not think that it is childish to judge a pianist by his presence at the piano? You who seem so concerned by the music and yet are chastising because of image. Of course you're entitled to make any comment you would like but we all make our best conclusions by discussion.
curzmg 2 years ago
You're out of your mind.
organman52 3 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
terrible piano playing, he think he is a butcher... maybe he is one... a perfect example of the non-musician. Other examples: pollini
marcelmombeek 4 years ago
why are there so many of you that like to define musician/non-musician? Can't you accept that different people have different interpretations? If everyone played every piece the same then classical music would fail to inspire future generations. It's not hard simply to say "I don't like this interpretation"...
JASenior44 4 years ago 4
Richter is the man.
nibelungensohn 4 years ago
Now, that is how the piano should be played! Too bad we don't have the whole piece here.
a6282 4 years ago 2
I found it in my house. It sounds nearly identical to this performance. It says Richter on it.
yezelsqueeze 4 years ago
ofcourse it is nearly identical to your record, richter was never able to play a piece with different interpreations.Why not? he was not a musician, just a wonder-pianist, but no musician. real musicians: horowitz, cortot, cziffra, pogorelich, ginzburg...
marcelmombeek 4 years ago
Where do you get those tapes of Richter playing Scherzo?
SkiddyBlade 4 years ago
I have a cassete tape of Richter playing all four of the scherzi (plural for scherzo). I might upload them if I knew how.
yezelsqueeze 4 years ago
excuse me,is it some kind of a transcription of Chopin's Scherzo No2 by rachmaninov? (the video mentions sth in german i can' gifure out) or is it simply TOTALLY wrong? I mean....the whole piece is missing! it doesn't have the sostenuto part in a major, nothing...he just makes a mistake and goes straight to the end!!i don't know, am i wrong here? i find it hard to believe that noone noticed!!
also, i love his technique but i find i too harsh, it doesn't have "breathing" inside it..
MrsOptima 4 years ago
It's actually Russian. I think Richter is just listing all the stuff he plays. This is a Chopin piece.
DeathByMoshPit666 4 years ago
ok, then it's definitely wrong.:-p
MrsOptima 4 years ago
It is a clip from the old Soviet propaganda documentary! ;)
The main idea was to show that *high art* belongs to *simple people*. Film director definitely tried to please communist party bosses!
truecrypt 4 years ago
Agree - great technique but hardly anything more. It seems that he actually didn't like the piece. Or perhaps he was just in a hurry for a meeting, which would explain the missing part... However, the audible key here is B instead of B-flat. If this is a film speed error, it even affects the musical tempo and of course the "breathing". I like Zimmerman's interpretation of this piece a lot.
Isayiwill 4 years ago
listern to argerich's recording. 100x better than this.
jvmalfi 4 years ago
Thanks, I believe you. She does a wonderful scherzo #3, two versions of which are available here on Youtube. I'll see if I can find her #2 somewhere then.
Isayiwill 4 years ago
speaking as a completely heteroxsexual male, he is one good looking man
georgecziffra 4 years ago
I'd do him in a heartbeat. That is, in a strictly heterosexual way. How? No idea, but it must be done!
phlegmuffin 4 years ago
This sounds so fast forwarded.
MarcInStereo 4 years ago
not a single bar of lyric piano playing, only butchering the piano... people please, start listening to real musicians and forget richter in this kind of music. He is excellent in prokovieff, but let him not touch chopin or schumann...
marcelmombeekeigen 4 years ago
Yes. All the wonderful poetry of Chopin's music slips through his racing fingers...But he had his public, and they got what they wanted. We can listen briefly to his play and wonder...how much more other pianists make with this music.
Ernesto7608 4 years ago
the public is, as so often, stupid, and does not know what real music-making is...
marcelmombeekeigen 4 years ago
Indeed some public is there just for the show of technical ability. But technique is the means and not a goal. I put the blame on Richter for this. I cannot imagine anybody who feels the music of Chopin enjoying this banged-out performance. Good that we can pick and choose from so many good interpretations of this music.
Ernesto7608 4 years ago
Sure yu do know!
optimusito 4 years ago
many great pianists had nothing but praise to say about Richter's playing (such as Glenn Gould, van Cliburn, and Vladimir Horowitz). I think most people would agree that they know what real music-making is...
georgecziffra 4 years ago 3
horowitz, gould and cliburn where polite, that's all... richter is a machine.
iwantmusicplease 4 years ago
i agree
jvmalfi 4 years ago
He all surpasses.
K189T 4 years ago
did richter mary ??
thegoddescomposer 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
he was homosexual, and no im not trying to be mean.
blade42251 2 years ago
Spank that piano Richter like you know it wants to be spanked!
rmilewsk 4 years ago 3
oh richter at last, a good version
noleno 4 years ago
richter is the best
nikitamamedov 4 years ago
wrestle the piano!
seahyimin 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
honestly.. his playing feels to me: he'd rather be somewhere else at the moment.
no lyricism at all, no musicality. i'd rather a robot play that.
his technique is amazing, but that is not the only thing it takes to be a good pianist.
fichan25052505 4 years ago
Ok, Can you reply by adding your "greatest" version which is more lyric, more musical, more human, more whatever.... ?
kmychyx 4 years ago
fichan25052505- i would say that only for evgeny kissin. how dare u say something like that about richter. that i pure music and stretches out into the depths of the heart. that is what makes a pianist, u are right, but richter is a "pianist"
crazyforpiano 4 years ago
Thank you so much for posting this.
Rosemary222 4 years ago 3
Estonia pianos are actually nice sounding.
ihrtmusic12334 4 years ago
ihrtmusic12334- i have played on estonia pianos and truley they sound like harpsichords. and this was in Armenia's Conservatory. He may just have gotton lucky to get a good one. I don't know, but all the Estonia's i have played on i disliked.
crazyforpiano 4 years ago
I love the whole sonata.
BPLince 4 years ago
This scherzo is not a movement from a sonata. it's solo piece
adistar 4 years ago
Thanks. I confused it with the one that comes with the Sonata that also includes the Chopin's Funeral March. Also a beautiful Scherzo.
zonatec 4 years ago
Dude
1:17 to 1:21 how does he play like that AND still play all the right notes? I tried it and I mess up really bad. I can't do what he does.
SkiddyBlade 4 years ago
replying to Skiddy Blade- CAUSE HES RICHTER!!!
crazyforpiano 4 years ago
I only wish that I could find the entire video. Very beautiful playing and tone. Frankly I hate how slowly pianists play this nowadays. My favourite version (young Rubinstein) goes like the wind.
suremate 4 years ago 2
liszts: Please what? You are case in point. There is only one F. Liszt. Therefore you must be a zombie!
RealRussiansOnly 4 years ago
Is this soviet propoganda?
onaip80 4 years ago
In my opinion this guy plays this piece best. I'd listen to it over and over if he played the whole thing lol.
SkiddyBlade 4 years ago
c vraiment super!! je sui en train de laprendre la classe!!!!
nonote28 4 years ago
best interpretation and very nice techniques of course
SkiddyBlade 4 years ago 3
After reading all the posts it is obvious that the world has been taken over by degenerates. RICHTER: the great oak, 75yrs devoted to music being evaluated by bloody snot-sucking zombies on U-tube. Time for the cleansing fire!
RealRussiansOnly 4 years ago
PLEASE!
liszts 4 years ago
poor interpretation but nice technics of course
SecaMartin 4 years ago
thats right!
MihDiV 4 years ago
Is this soviet propoganda?
onaip80 4 years ago
He most likely omitted the bulk of the piece
just for this documentary.
onaip80 4 years ago
Dude who are those random people in that clip? Why they even in there?
SkiddyBlade 4 years ago
It's okay to just play the last part?
SkiddyBlade 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!
pianoparadise 4 years ago
HE MADE THAT PIANO HIS DIRTY LITTLE SLAVE DAMN!llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
ChrisWatch 4 years ago
nevermind.
SkiddyBlade 4 years ago
Okay, so, he played the first part, then skipped a bunch.... What's that second part he played? Where does it start at? Like at the end of this piece?
SkiddyBlade 4 years ago
um, he's playing the last section of the piece. He didn't start at the beginning. The motive at measure 1 starts with B-flat, whereas in this vid, he starts at the last instance, which omits the b-flat from the motive. Look up the score at sheetmusicfox dot com
retrogamerdave 4 years ago
i am waiting for that rare footage of richter picking up the piano and eating it whole. O_o`
AvtpeasK 4 years ago
why does this early video have colour but the other later videos of him mostly are in black and white?
seahyimin 4 years ago
Best interpretation? maybe not. But technically, it is so amazing!
DrAsik100 4 years ago
type "Patricio Molina Chopin" to hear scherzo no 4
chilean100 4 years ago
Look at this guy's face when he plays it.... Like at the beginning he's mad.
SkiddyBlade 4 years ago
wow that was a powerful and energetic interpretation i can see the power he inflicted on those keys and the great control he kept you can see the focus i think we would have understood it more if it actually showed him playing the piece in its entirety.
ChrisWatch 4 years ago
Wow, a very young richter!
But i agree with shentri, this is not the best richter and this interpretation in not so good...
phemt666 4 years ago
lol look at the size of those cameras looks like a friggin cannon. yet again, i respect his playing. very talanted pianist.
ThunderRanger 4 years ago
Wow.... Look at his hands!
SkiddyBlade 4 years ago
Just rushed. Not much feeling
1124755 4 years ago
this guy is god waering pianist skin, verybody here say opinion like a expert and went into a lot of perfiles and nobody has a fucking video playing piano ...
SELG88 4 years ago
Right, since you need to own a restaurant to be a restaurant critic. Richter is undoubtedly a talented pianist, but this interpretation is way too harsh, rushed, and immature.
shentri 4 years ago