Sviatoslav Richter plays Ravel — Alborada del gracioso

[TomasMikaX]

If there was a movie about him, he should be played by Malkovich.

[789armstrong]

Richter sets the standard for artistic excellence in this masterpiece.Stunning to say the least.

[MusicForever020898]

I love Ravel's style of music! :) It sounds so magical? I can't define it well.

[123must]

What a piano player !

Thanks



[nnp2051]

It's rather redundant to critique Richter's playing based on tempo and technical aspects. In fact, it should be noted how emotional his approach is contrary to a technical one. What's most important is the delivery. This piece could be delivered musically at any tempo. Richter delivers this piece true to its story. Remember, this is from Miroirs "Refections" and Alborada del Gracioso is more or less translated to "A Clown's Love Poem, or Song"

[nnp2051]

@nnp2051

At 1:53 Richter emphasizes the Spanish style with a guitar strum like gesture. Then in the middle sections its a dreamy dark depression of a clown. The energy delivered in this piece is never lacking or annoying.

[MrLiqouricestick]

Luke, I respect your opinion but I stick by what I said originally. This version is nowhere near perfect. The tempo is too slow and slows further in places of technical difficulty. The rapid repeated notes are not as clearly articulated as in either Lipatti's or Gilel's interpretations and some notes are lost entirely. His dynamic range is also noweher near as wide as either Lipatti or Gilel's interpretation and is all rather 'tame' by comparison.You need to listen more carefully to the detail.

[TheIsraelArturo]

richter's playing is just much more different from others... he has so much strength and is awsome to hear his work on ravel...

[luke1841]

@ MrLiqouricestick I personally do not like Lipatti's interpretation--Gilels is pretty good, but I feel Richters primal attack of the keys in this piece serves it best IMHO

[awesomekapownoises23]

Yes.. the prague recording is infinitly superior to any recording ive ever heard of this though... gilsl and lippati are better than this recording in my opinion as well

[MrLiqouricestick]

I don't agree. Gilel's and Lipatti's interpretations are far superior, both technically and musically, in my view.

[espejosgigantescos]

@MrLiqouricestick richter is best.i put up gilels above lippati.. but richter goes with out effort, and didnt practice scales.

[RediForKing]

This version is perfect