Sviatoslav Richter Archives, Vol. 18 - Schubert / Liszt February 11, 1958

DoReMi continues to unearth new items that add to the Richter discography, such as this complete concert, in quite listenable mono, performed on Feb. 11, 1958, in Budapest. There's only a touch of microphone overload at the loudest peaks; otherwise, the miking is close up and resonant, with a fairly good piano that is neither clangy nor pingy. Here's the program:Schubert:Sonata in A major, D.664 (Op.120)Impromptu in Ab major, D.899 (Op.90) No.4LisztFunérailles (No.7 from Harmonies poétiques et réligieuses)Gnomenreigen (No.2 from Konzertetüden)Liebestraum No.2; Liebestraum No.3Valse oubliée No.1 in F# minorValse oubliée No.2 in Ab majorValse oubliée No.3 in Db majorSonetto del Petrarca No.123 (from Années de Pèlerinage II)Feux Follets (No.5 from Études d'exécution transcendante)Some of the Liszt material was captured a few months later in Moscow and released as part of Parnassus's valuable series of Richter in the 1950s, but the refurbished sound here is clearer and altogether brighter. As for the Schubert Sonata in A, D. 664, this is the earliest rendition by five years, and it's quite lovely, betraying none of the clamorous touch that often characterized Richter's Schubert. for it alone this would be a very valuable CD, yet nothing else is less than treasurable -- the pianist was in great form, and so Vol. 18 of DoReMi's Richter Archives is an outright winner on all counts.

Ahh, here's a concertgoer so in love with the pianist that he took pains to record on a tape recorder in his lap pieces which are now first coming to light. Richter around age 40 and before is at his musical and daring peak. I have many recordings of him, but some of these Liszt pieces are new to me, and I believe exist in no previous recording. Richter himself discontinued playing them. We know this, for Richter kept records of all his performances, how often he played a piece and in what years. I didn't mind the tape hiss, and don't you mind it either, for the performances are of surpassing beauty and excitement. The rythmic force which constructs these pieces is Richter's inherent forte. They breathe.