Sviatoslav Richter: Schubert Sonata D.894 1st mvt. 1/3

[meinherzistschwer]

if truth would sound, it would exactly sound like that, like an ancient, wraithlike lullaby, that was well-known and then forgotten, just the longing remained.

[kirinlager49]

This piece is pretty...

Pretty BORING

[ChopinBachBrahms]

Just listen to how all the chords in the beginning fade out. I don't necessarily agree with the selected tempo, but the control of his dynamics and tone is absolutely amazing, per usual for Richter.

[sukkot54]

yes, this is one of the brilliances of SR, how he extracts so much out of a the slow movements, the simple slow movements, and always with rhythm.

he would have been a great jazzisto.

[diananeder]

This is without doubt on the slow side, with a "Moderato"-marking it should be at least a bit faster. But the slow tempo actually fits the character of the piece really well, making it much more heavy and contemplative. That wonderful D-major section from the exposition sounds like bittersweet tenderness. And when those first fortissimo-chords from the development section strike upon you, they feel all the more dramatic and it's like the end is near and coming.

[simondurrant1]

Marvellous tempo in the first movement, exactly what the piece needs. Well done, Richter!

[TheBoshintang]

Richter went to Japan around 8 times, I think this is the last time he ever went there.

[poplife123]

very very slow Andante movement.....interesting though...I like Seymour Lipkin's version ....worth hearing

[FirstPublicChannel]

please please re up in one video!!!!!!

[FirstPublicChannel]

do you think it's possible to play this better?

[MrAndieMusik]

Everything I like Schubert for is included in this marvellous Piano Sonata. The extremely gentle way Richter is playing it keeps me spellbound all the time.

[abucunezzer101]

Arthur Rubinstein described his first exposure to Richter as follows: "It really wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Then at some point I noticed my eyes growing moist: tears began rolling down my cheeks."

[circa1907czec]

@abucunezzer101 HIs genuine quality is free of ego. He might not have had "showmanship", but he showed you the truth. It is great to read that other great pianist praise him. He was a very special musician.

[sdfgdsgfsdfg]

What's the fucking matter with comparing Mozart to Schubert. The one is a genius of the classical, the other of the romantic period, my goodness. It's like comparing Caspar David Friedrich to Van Gogh or something.

[utra1337]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOORINGGGG!!!

[BassicStorm]

@utra1337 it isnt boring, its hes interpretation, RICHTER is original and unique! Thats why hes the best pianist ever

[Ivanhoe2]

@utra1337 ,,,Richter is NEVER boring. One is entitled to an opinion,,,,but your arrogant and unpleasant exclamation would suggest that of a tasteless prat!

[lolaman826]

I've never been a big fan of schubert but this is just devastatingly beautiful. he is mesmerizing to watch.

[bzandi]

@lolaman826

That is exactly what Glenn Gould said after watching Richter's performance of this sonata (in "Richter: The Enigma" DVD).

[AndrewFinch1]

Schubert was a great composer, but I'd trade all of his compositions for one of Mozart's greatest.

[tsirosgoddammit]

i am a bit curious. he certainly remembers the whole piece by heart, why does he need to see the score?

[AndrewFinch1]

@tsirosgoddammit He doesn't remember the score. In this video, he is close to 100 years old, and so he needs the score to remember it. He had Alzheimers by the time this video was made, and he would eat plum baby food. It is an uneven performance, and he shit his pants when it was all finished, but it still has that.... that.... Richter wonderfulness.

[tsirosgoddammit]

@AndrewFinch1 he was... 62 in 1977 ? hardly close to 100.

[1984ekul]

@tsirosgoddammit As I understand it, Richter had perfect pitch but it began to fail him in his old age, gradually becoming flatter and flatter. This played havoc with his memorization (i.e., if he was playing a piece that was in C major, then to him it sounded like B major - the wrong key). He therefore began playing with the scores as a safety measure, even though pieces like this were obviously well and truly buried in the muscle memory of his hands.

[m1ramira]

@tsirosgoddammit Musicians often use a score not to read note-by-note, but to remember the large-scale architecture of a piece. Schubert is one of those composers where it's easy to forget if it's the first or second or fifth time you're playing a given theme once the performance comes around.

[leomulder]

He is crazy to play it so slowly. I'd like to understand why.

[wnxg4nd4lf]

@leomulder @leomulder For most written pieces of music on the top left side of the first page of the sheet, there are certain words or phrases that indicate the tempo at which the piece should be played. In our case, for this sonata it reads "Molto Moderato e Cantabile" This is italian for "very moderate speed and with a singing mood" .

So taking in consideration this i'd say it's not his tempo that's crazy but his incredible ability to put such emotion and life into this beautiful piece!

[leomulder]

@wnxg4nd4lf You're right and I understand. But this is clearly extremely slow, not "moderato". It's on the limit. Even the "cantabile" element is lost in this tempo. But even so, the effect is hypnotic. It's an excentric choice and I'd like to know what he thought about it.

[pierpaolo80]

@leomulder  because he was the greatest pianist in the word...and this is thegreatest miracle of music af all times..

[Ivanhoe2]

Another stunning piece of Richter magic. The man had such depth and while I enjoy all the great virtuosi,,,I cannot help returning again and again to this fascinating artist. Let us give thanks for them all. Thanks for posting and Best Wishes.

[julianglantz]

@brianodonohue. Interesting. Christopher Nupen and Andres Schiff both state the view that Schubert did reach musical maturity in his last few years. As you say, its a redundant and essentially pointless argument. But for what it's worth, I'm with Schiff, who believes that Schubert's essential modesty and humility are what makes his music so special. Far more so for me than Mozart, who rarely moves me in such a profound way.

[briandonohue100]

The NYT classical music critic, a fellow named Tommasini, makes the case that Schubert, not Mozart, is the most tragic of premature deaths in music history. It's an obviously idle argument to engage in, but when you realize some of the incredibly modern harmonies with which Schubert was experimenting in his late 20's, that sense of what might have been is certainly equally as acute as in the case of Mozart.

And yes, that score looks like it was published just after Schubert's death...

[bouzbou]

@briandonohue100 How can you compare Schubert with Mozart? So degrading. Mozart is a genius!

[dubfil93]

@bouzbou O please they were both geniuses, just in their own ways. Mozart may have been a ridiculously talented prodigy, but that does not mean Schubert is any less of a genius.

[bonsema1]

he truly laid it on the public...

[micheng1]

I've never been a fan of Schubert's sonatas, but Richter turns this piece into an absolutely sublime experience, almost like he had his fingers on my very heart strings. His delicate and tender treatment is matched only by his disciplined sense of rhythm. I look forward to his other performances of Schubert sonatas.

[nkhmd]

@micheng1

what a wonderful comment! Thank you.

[hedones]

En écoutant Richter interpréter Schubert, on en vient à oublier que la laideur, le mal ou les bouquins de michel Onfray (mieux de se taire) puissent exister.

[fdsaman123]

And for people complaining that it's too slow - This is the first time I've heard the piece, and it's not too slow to me. It's just neutral, because I'm not familiar with it.

[BassicStorm]

@fdsaman123 me2, i heard it 1st time by Richter , and now i cant listen to any other pianist :P but i love this tempo

[fdsaman123]

If there were such a thing as a music 'God', Richter had the direct-line.

[4785689]

27. Aldeburgh.

Schubert: Sonata D. 566;

Scherzo No. 2, D. 593;

Andante D. 604;

4 Landler D. 366;

Allegretto D. 915;

Sonata D. 894;

(encore) Sonata D. 894 [ IV only ]

upload more :)

[Composerland]

tremendously effective for those who like the unexpected.

[marcxopoco]

Wow does he take this first movement slowly.

[castalia2084]

DIO TI BENEDICA...OVUNQUE TU E LUI VI TROVIATE IN QUESTO MOMENTO.

[jeffg2020]

I adore Richter. But I have to say I find this too slow. Interesting take, very contemplative, but I think it needs a bit more bounce.

[0the00piano00hugger0]

SUBLIME

[cliffhuxtble]

I am very uneducated about music. Can someone please explain why this is such a masterpiece to me?

[hexvictor]

@cliffhuxtble ...this is not a "masterpeice"...it is a very listanable work by a master of piano..."masterpiece" is in your own mind...period

[quinto34]

This man had a build in metronome lol

[John11inch]

Actually, if there's one thing wrong with the performance, it's his rhythm. Listen to the first 20 seconds, then skip directly to the 5 or 8 minute mark. Completely off.

[quinto34]

You are right, but that is not the way you should listen to music haha

Anyways, no way you can call his rhythm wrong, what you hear it's the rhythm of a genius..

Metronomes are overrated anyway :)

[ausrotten9]

This is one of the greatest miracles in all of music history

[kalumander]

@ausrotten9

you mean He? :)

[pianowereld]

@ausrotten9 I agree... what a musical tension...

[sam0xin]

SOLEMNIS ! SOLEMNIS ! Masterpiece !

by MASTER . .

[yourforte]

A mesmerising performance of a beautiful work. Richter is at one with Schubert.

[Amarantala]

Hello! YOU ALL RIGHT, i 0PREFER OBVIOUSLY SOMENTHING MORE... LAZY..

[jellybeannean]

didnt Schubert label it heavenly tedious?

To his credit he plays very well and the D majors are ment to be the hardest to play of Schumann

[FlashyCat2008]

Give me a break, Radu Lupu blows this out of the water. Hard to believe that they both came from the same Russian school.

[ciliusj]

@jellybeannean : This is the Piano Sonata No. 18 in G Major.

[ll0llll0ll]

control. control. richter has this extraordinary ability to control the tempo in a slower pace.

[DanielLaszloKovacs]

Pure magic this Music is!!

[kcurrie09]

This is a restoration of the original meaning of Schumann's "heavenly length"...

[Grigoris80]

This is not D.894, but D.960.

[samsonno]

I´m sorry, but this is really no. 18 D. 894 in G major. D. 960 (no. 21) goes in Bb major.

[Grigoris80]

Oooops! Yes I'm so sorry, my mistake!

[Ben0Bertels]

@samsonno yes, you're right..D 960 played by richter is the most honest piece of music i've ever heard i think..

[bakvarnyu]

@samsonno this is D 838 F major

[lextune]

@bakvarnyu No. It is exactly what it is listed as. Sonata G major D. 894 (Op. 78).

Why would you post such a thing?

[awefaislfdas]

lol bitch

[PrincessUnicorn69]

@Grigoris80 Haha you're such a bitch. Die.

[mradipatti]

the public was awe struck, R. slowed evrybody´s pulse and brain.

no pomp & circumstance you know but the british thank god recognised this unique mastery after a few bars and stopped coughing in the bargain

[BugaDotCom]

! :)

[prodesica]

Ma ddddai, volodos..... Ma per piacere!!!! Richter è di e su un altro pianeta!!!!!

[kelkolilla]

This one is a wonderful performance of this Sonata, but maybe too slow...

For this piece, I recommend Volodos' interpretation... It is completely perfect.

[ipublica]

Thanks for your recommendation. I died in the meantime, Richter as well. So you get to see an authentic posthumous comment...

[klinsha8]

Just one word:

PERFECT!

[kevasman]

I love Richter's playing but this is painfully slow for this movement.

[leomulder]

It's so strange, isn't it? Even so, it is so beautifully played...

[dido93]

I agree....I like very much Brendel's rendition of this sonata...

[christophleipzig]

Da wird es ja noch andere Wege geben. ;)

[berlinzerberus]

eugen jochum ist der größere bruckner-dirigent,nach meiner meinung der bedeutendste überhaupt,noch besser als günter wand.

bruckners 7.sinfonie mit jochum und dem amsterdamer concertgebouw orchester hier auf youtube ist eine offenbarung:

tränenrührend und herzzerreißend!

[christophleipzig]

Again, I have no doubts that Jochum is an excellent Bruckner conductor - but in puncto Celibidache we just have a different point of view. And it's not likely that Celibidache used always slow tempi...

But another thing: Richter said: "I have had three teachers: My father, Neuhaus and Richard Wagner."

No discussions about Theophil Richter and Heinrich Neuhaus - but where do you see the Influence of Richard Wagner in Richters play? I really would be curious about ideas, associations or signs.

[berlinzerberus]

ich komme nicht durch mit meinem kommentar,der inhaber des channels hat wohl ein limit gesetzt :((----------->fuck!

[berlinzerberus]

so stellt die musik,gerade,wenn sie so episch angelegt ist,einen zustand dar.richter ist sich wahrscheinlich in jedem takt bewusst,wo er herkommt und wo er hin geht,so dass anfang,mitte und ende als stets gleichzeitig erscheint.

vergangenheit,gegenwart und zukunft fallen quasi zusammen.

diese fähigkeit des interpretationsansatzes haben nur einige wenige begnadete.

so werden details vollends unwichtig und nur der immerwährende zusammenhang zählt noch.

großartig und überwältigend zugleich

[christophleipzig]

...in jedem Takt wissen wo man herkommt und wo man hingeht - wenige begnadete...

Mir fällt dazu eigentlich als Dirigenten nur Sergiu Celibidache ein, der das mit Bruckner, Brahms oder anderen schafft, was Richter hier mit Schubert vermag.

Bei jedem anderen wären derart langsame Tempi bei Bruckner einschläfernd und aggressionsfördernd. Bei Celibache funktionieren sie (meistens). Dann stimmt aber auch alles - Phrasierung im Kleinen wie im Großen - und was für Klänge!

[berlinzerberus]

...mit dem unterschied,und der ist gravierend,dass celibidache manchmal nicht nur den überblick verliert,sondern auch,ungeachtet des charakters,alles träge und zu langsam nimmt.richter hingegen,und hör dir mal den letzten satz der sonate an,findet auch schnelle tempi und das ist ja das unbegreifliche:

auch in diesem tempo ist er immer baumeister des werkes in seiner ganzheitlichkeit und schnelle sätze bekommen durch seine stupende technik glanz und virtuosen zugriff.

richter ist ein rätsel

[christophleipzig]

Ja, so gehen die Ansichten auseinander. ;)

Darüber könnte ich ewig diskutieren. Aber das ist ja hier nicht der Platz. Hier spielt Richter unfassbar.

[berlinzerberus]

ich finde celibidache weder aufregend noch originell in seiner art zu musizieren.

er war doch im wesentlichen ein furtwängler-imitator,den er bekanntlich sehr verehrte.

um sich von ihm abzusetzen,würzte er seine musikauffassung mit buddhistischen aspekten,über die er stets viel redete.

sergiu celibidache gegenüber bin ich misstrauisch und skeptisch eingestellt.

[sabadabaduz]

erklär mal den unterschied (deinen) zwischen misstrauisch und skeptisch...

quasselstrippe

[toccoco]

I have a theory, why he took the score again in his late years: I think, it was his last great gesture to eliminate all narcisstic elements in his play (like playing whithout scores). A final step on his beatiful way to put the music above all personality! You don`t hear him, you just hear the music through him. I admire this so much. Unbelievable!

[berlinzerberus]

as he said,but that was not the actual reason for playing by score!

thus your theory might be wrong.

[9Simmo]

This theory is definitely consistent with his personality and perpsective on music. But according to Richter himself, his sense of pitched shifted an entire tone, so without the score he found himself transposing automatically. He then started using the score to safeguard against this

[anyclassical]

oh,classical music,you're full og light and kindness...

[9Simmo]

By the way, I'm desperate to hear Richter playing D845 in Amin and D850 in Dmaj (Amazon prices are through the roof). Does anybody know where I could access these online?

Also, check out Richter playing Schubert's Emin sonata- unbelievable.

[9Simmo]

OMG praise the person who uploaded this clip! Richter is hands down my favourite pianist and this is my favourite Schubert sonata. Having played this mvt (believe me, it's insanely difficult!) I find it a bit hard to appreciate Richter's slowness at times, but still, he plays it so much more interestingly and profoundly than the more "traditional" pianists like Kempf and Brendel. If it wasn't for Richter's interpretation I never would have realised how earth-shattering this sonata is

[umbrellano]

wow..we got some good comments on this page. Richter would be happy to know his playing inspired so much sincerity in people.

[withcellist]

this is seriously my favourite piano sonata of all time...

[toccoco]

you can hear the end of the world...

[thecosgrove]

beautiful. if anyone were to doubt that Richter was a genius, they need only listen to this piece.

[afertyus1000]

yes he truly was,in these days of superficial celebrity and fame he outshone them all

[alexggable]

This must be listened with closed eyes.

RIchter found in his tempo a cathartic and introspective aspect of Shubert and through this performance I know now why he did it that way.

Please do it and enjoy.

[christophleipzig]

He stops time flow. Magnificent! So full of tension! So dramatic!

What Richter does with Schubert can be compared with Celibidache's handling of Bruckner. Finally I more often realize similarities between Schubert and Bruckner.

Glenn Gould once said about Richter, that he (Gould) disliked Schubert, but in the performance of Richter he described his feelings with two words: "hypnotic trance".

That's a good summarization.

[berlinzerberus]

...actually its too slow,but richter the great is going to hold on the tension and the "sostenuto" the whole mouvement long...

aber jader andere pianist ist gut beraten,ihm in dieser hinsicht nicht zu folgen,weil dieses unterfangen von vorne herein zum scheitern verurteilt ist.

richter ist richter!

[christophleipzig]

I agree. I don't know another pianist, who could perform it in this tempo.

Do you know one? I would like to know.

[berlinzerberus]

ich kenne niemanden,den einzigen,dem ich es zutrauen würde,in solch einem langsamen tempo zu spielen,ist glenn gould.jedoch läge die vermutung nahe,da er schubert nicht mag,diesen satz in einem eher unglaublich schnellen tempo abzuspulen,um so seine interpretation ironisierend rüberzubringen.

nur ein architekt wie richter war in der lage,die musikalische landschaft dieser sonate, gleichsam wie ein adler gleitet,aus der vogelperspektive vor sich zu sehen und sie so langsam zu spielen.

[mradipatti]

nix too slow.

"bold" pianist , that´s one way of putting it.

[SCOREdom]

excellent piano playing!

[mal8739]

I must respectfully disagree with those who say the tempo is too slow. What he does is make the lovely little anti-scherzo (6:53, et seq) even more meaningful and beautiful, as well as accentuate the dramatics to follow. Every time I hear Richter play I hear things I have never heard or thought of before. I have never heard a pianist who has achieved the balance between his hands as he has. There comes a point finally where one must say "this is the best."

[marianomanto]

this bold guy really knows how to play!

[meredith21846]

I love the overall serenity Richter brings to this mvt without diminishing the dramatic moments, although the unusually slow tempo will not be to all tastes.

[volodya2]

Thank you!

[caijpp]

Schubert chose the most excruciating opening to this sonata. There is no sparks of life, no cries of death, only the tormenting rhythm and the unrelenting pulse of living.

[berlinzerberus]

i appreciate richter particularly in schubert very much,but the tempo is definitive too slow.although he can hold the sostenuto perfectly the music doesnt flow right,stagnant music.

[Gavitron22]

have to say i agree, i'm analysing it for college, thats only the development and in the score there is a repeat, that means play this again without one note changed (2omins) before you even get to the development, could be nice if on a shorter peice, or on a shortened version of this, but on one this long it's just sorta unreasonable.

[goggyli]

thank you so much for posting this.

thank you...

[lionssmith]

mesmerizing, beautiful, and powerful performance. Schubert would be amazed hearing the beauty of this sonata through the hands and soul of the great Richter!

[quintos34]

Simply stunning.. This man had a exeptional insight in Schubert's music..

Thank god for Schubert, Richter and stereo!

[powerpiano]

was there in Japan??

[samsonno]

No, in Aldeburgh England.

[TroesmaDeNada]

This piece is sensational - I recently heard him play it on "Richter - The Authorised Recordings - Schubert" - though obviously a different recording, and have been trying to buy since (posted on Amazon new for £174)...so delighted to find this here...thanks.

[leomulder]

And was this other recording of it, that you mentioned, as slow as this one?

[tonyinvan]

I started listening to this and at first thought it was agonisingly slow. After three minutes I realised it was working and after 4.30 working wonderfully. I listened to the whole thing hypnotised. So touching and lovely from beginning to end!

On the silly side I love the fact that Richter has this old ratty score of this sonata that he uses and probably has had for 50 years.

[johnuio]

@tonyinvan --> Have you seen that Glenn Gould had the same reaction to Richter playing Schubert, maybe back in the 50s when Gould visited the Soviet Union? You are coinciding with a very special and picky mind!!

[SierraNeef]

@johnuio

On the other side Richter said that Gould was completly wrong about what he said. "Schubert has nothing to do with what Gould said", were his words.

[johnuio]

@SierraNeef --> I know that. I think all pianists of this level are Gods. Brendel's reaction to Gould carried a spite beyond Gould's death. The Gods are very sensitive and hardly like us Bourgeois who see such deeply fundamental disagreement as impolite.

[SierraNeef]

@johnuio

Well, one must admit that Gould was a bit irritating with his remarks. I recently aquired a book of his critic textes; some things he says are fascinating, others... anoying.

[johnuio]

@SierraNeef --> of course... Geniuses annoy. Richter & Brendel are right, and in a way THEY are petty. But you are right. Part of Gould's personality was a totally arbitrary kinda teasing childish insight, which was may times as provocative as uncanny. Thanks for your remarks, SierraNeef.

[yourforte]

Love this sonata and love Richter's interpretation of it. Thanks for posting.

[ernent]

It is in this sonata (his most perfect and most individual according to Einstein) that Schubert's "heavenly lengths" are at their lengthiest and heavenliest and Richter makes them even lengthier and heavenlier ! I wonder how many listeners who were not so well prepared survived this performance ...

[hansmeyer111]

Oh God, from the whole earth there are only a few hundred people, they have seen and heard this until now... it had to be thousands...

[samsonno]

The page turner must be the well known pianist Roger Vignoles.

[aivalas]

incredible!! thank you very much for posting all these videos

[crottylucien1]

thank you so much for sharing. where are u finding these treasures

[samsonno]

I have my sources!

Just listen to his phrasing and structure, it is incomparable! It is so beautifully played! Please listen to the other movements!

[Toxxic88]

Wow thank you so much for this! This piece is rarely found and you upload RICHTER playing it!

AMAZING *****