Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3: Allegro con brio
2. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3: Adagio
3. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3: Scherzo-Allegro
4. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2 No. 3: Allegro assai
5. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10 No. 3: Presto
6. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10 No. 3: Largo e mesto
7. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10 No. 3: Minuetto. Allegro
8. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10 No. 3: Rondo. Allegro
9. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major, Op. 26: Andante con varizioni
10. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major, Op. 26: Scherzo. Allegro molto
11. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major, Op. 26: Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un Eroe
12. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat major, Op. 26: Allegro

Disc 2:

1. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2: Largo-Allegro
2. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2: Adagio
3. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2: Allegretto
4. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31 No. 3: Allegro
5. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31 No. 3: Scherzo-Allegro vivace
6. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31 No. 3: Minuetto. Moderato e grazioso
7. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31 No. 3: Presto con fuoco
8. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57: Allegro assai
9. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57: Andante con moto-Attacca
10. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57: Allegro ma non troppo-Presto

Disc 3:

1. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90: Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
2. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90: Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorzutragen
3. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung. Allegro ma non troppo
4. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: Lebhaft, marschmabig. Vivace alla marcia
5. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll. Adagio, ma non troppo, con affetto-attacca
6. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101: Geschwind, dich nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit. Allegro
7. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106: Allegro
8. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106: Scherzo. Assai vivace
9. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106: Adagio sostenuto. Appassionato e con molto sentimento
10. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106: Largo-Allegro risoluto

Disc 4:

1. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Vivace
2. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Alla marcia maestoso
3. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Poco allegro
4. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: L'istesso tempo
5. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Un poco piu vivace
6. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Allegro vivace
7. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Allegro ma non troppo e serioso
8. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Un poco piu allegro
9. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Poco vivace
10. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Allegro pesante e risoluto
11. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Presto
12. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Allegretto
13. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Un poco piu moto
14. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Vivace
15. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Grave e maestoso
16. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Presto scherzando
17. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Allegro
18. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Poco moderato
19. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Presto
20. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Andante
21. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Allegro con brio
22. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Allegro molto
23. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Allegro assai
24. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Andante
25. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Allegro
26. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Variation XXVI
27. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Vivace
28. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Allegro
29. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Adagio ma non troppo
30. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Andante, sempre cantabile
31. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Largo, molto espressivo
32. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Fugue-Allegro
33. Beethoven: 33 Variations Diabelli, Op. 120: Tempo di minuetto moderato
34. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
35. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: Allegro molto
36. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: Adagio, ma non troppo
37. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110: Fuga

Disc 5:

1. Beethoven: Concerto for piano & orchestra No. 1 in C major, op. 15: Allegro con brio-Cadence
2. Beethoven: Concerto for piano & orchestra No. 1 in C major, op. 15: Largo
3. Beethoven: Concerto for piano & orchestra No. 1 in C major, op. 15:
4. Beethoven: Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Allegro con brio-Cadence
5. Beethoven: Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Largo
6. Beethoven: Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Rondo-Allegro

Disc 6:

1. Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 1: Allegro
2. Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 1: Andante
3. Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 1: Scherzo-Allegro molto e con fuoco
4. Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 1: Finale-Allegro con fuoco
5. Brahms: Variations in D major on a Hungarian Song Op. 21 No. 2
6. Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 2 in F sharp minor Op. 2: Allegro non troppo in fis-moll Op. 2
7. Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 2 in F sharp minor Op. 2: Andante con espressione
8. Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 2 in F sharp minor Op. 2: Scherzo: allegro
9. Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 2 in F sharp minor Op. 2: Finale: Introduzione, sostenuto-Allegro ma non troppo e rubato

Disc 7:

1. Chopin: Etudes Op. 10: No. 4 in C sharp minor: Presto
2. Chopin: Etudes Op. 10: No. 10 in A flat major: Vivace assai
3. Chopin: Etudes Op. 10: No. 11 in E flat major: Allegretto
4. Chopin: Etudes Op. 25: No. 5 in E minor: Vivace
5. Chopin: Etudes Op. 25: No. 8 in D flat major: Vivace
6. Chopin: Etudes Op. 25: No. 11 in A minor: Lento
7. Chopin: Etudes Op. 25: No. 12 in C minor: Allegro molto con fuoco
8. Chopin: Nocturnes: Op. 62 No. 2 in E major: Lento
9. Chopin: Nocturnes: Op. 72 No. 1 in E minor: Andante
10. Chopin: Polonaise No. 7
11. Scriabine: Piano Sonata No. 2 in G sharp minor, Op. 19: Andante
12. Scriabine: Piano Sonata No. 2 in G sharp minor, Op. 19: Presto
13. Scriabine: Piano Sonata No. 5 in F sharp minor, Op. 53

Disc 8:

1. Beethoven: Rondos op. 51: No. 1 in C major
2. Beethoven: Rondos op. 51: No. 2 in G major
3. Beethoven: Bagatelles op. 126: No. 1: Andante con moto cantabile e compiacevole
4. Beethoven: Bagatelles op. 126: No. 4: Presto, en si minuer
5. Beethoven: Bagatelles op. 126: No. 6: Presto-Andante amabile e con moto
6. Chopin: Etudes op. 10: No. 1 in C major
7. Chopin: Etudes op. 10: No. 2 in A minor
8. Chopin: Etudes op. 10: No. 3 in E major
9. Chopin: Etudes op. 10: No. 12 in C minor
10. Chopin: Etudes op. 25: No. 6 in G sharp minor
11. Chopin: Etudes op. 25: No. 7 in C sharp minor
12. Chopin: Ballades: No. 1 in G minor
13. Chopin: Ballades: No. 2 in F major
14. Chopin: Ballades: No. 3 in A flat
15. Chopin: Ballades: No. 4 in F minor

Disc 9:

1. Liszt: Etudes d'execution transcendante: Preludio
2. Liszt: Etudes d'execution transcendante: Etude
3. Liszt: Etudes d'execution transcendante: Paysage
4. Liszt: Etudes d'execution transcendante: Will-o'-the-wisps
5. Liszt: Etudes d'execution transcendante: Harmonies du soir
6. Ravel: Valse Nobles et Sentimentales
7. Ravel: Miroirs: Noctuelles
8. Ravel: Miroirs: Oiseaux tristes
9. Ravel: Miroirs: Une barque sur l'ocean
10. Ravel: Miroirs: Alborada del gracioso
11. Ravel: Miroirs: La Vallee des cloches

Disc 10:

1. Haydn: Piano Sonata in D major: Allegro con brio
2. Haydn: Piano Sonata in D major: Adagio-Presto
3. Mozart: Piano Sonata in F major: Allegro assai
4. Mozart: Piano Sonata in F major: Adagio
5. Mozart: Piano Sonata in F major: Presto
6. Mozart: Piano Sonata in E flat major: Adagio
7. Mozart: Piano Sonata in E flat major: Minuetto I & II
8. Mozart: Piano Sonata in E flat major: Allegro
9. Mozart: Piano Sonata in A minor: Allegro maestoso
10. Mozart: Piano Sonata in A minor: Andante cantabile con espressione
11. Mozart: Piano Sonata in A minor: Presto

Disc 11:

1. Mozart: Piano Sonata in B flat major: Allegro
2. Mozart: Piano Sonata in B flat major: Andante cantabile
3. Mozart: Piano Sonata in B flat major: Allegretto grazioso
4. Mozart: Piano Sonata in F major: Allegro
5. Mozart: Piano Sonata in F major: Andante
6. Mozart: Rondo in F major
7. Mozart: Piano Sonata in C major: Allegro
8. Mozart: Piano Sonata in C major: Andante
9. Mozart: Piano Sonata in C major: Rondo

Disc 12:

1. Rachmaninov: Etudes-Tableaux op. 33: No. 4 in D minor: Moderato
2. Rachmaninov: Etudes-Tableaux op. 33: No. 5 in E flat minor: Non allegro
3. Rachmaninov: Etudes-Tableaux op. 33: No. 8 in C sharp minor: Grave
4. Rachmaninov: Etudes-Tableaux op. 39: No.1 in C minor: Allegro agitato
5. Rachmaninov: Etudes-Tableaux op. 39: No. 2 in A minor: Lento assai
6. Rachmaninov: Etudes-Tableaux op. 39: No. 3 in F sharp minor: Allegro molto
7. Rachmaninov: Etudes-Tableaux op. 39: No. 4 in B minor: Allegro assai
8. Rachmaninov: Etudes-Tableaux op. 39: No. 9 in D major: Allegro moderato
9. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade
10. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Gnomus
11. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade
12. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Il vecchio castello
13. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade
14. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Les Tuileries
15. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Bydlo
16. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade
17. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Ballet des poussins dans leur coque
18. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Samuel Goldenberg et Schmuyle
19. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade
20. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Limoges, le marche
21. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: Catacombae: Sepulcrum romanum
22. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: La Cabane sur des pattes de poule
23. Moussorgski: Pictures at an Exhibition: La Grand Porte de Kiev

Disc 13:

1. Weber: Piano Sonata Op. 49 No. 3 in D minor: Allegro feroce
2. Weber: Piano Sonata Op. 49 No. 3 in D minor: Andante con moto
3. Weber: Piano Sonata Op. 49 No. 3 in D minor: Rondo. Presto
4. Schubert: Piano Sonata Op. 53 in D minor: Allegro
5. Schubert: Piano Sonata Op. 53 in D minor: Con moto
6. Schubert: Piano Sonata Op. 53 in D minor: Scherzo. Allegro vivace
7. Schubert: Piano Sonata Op. 53 in D minor: Rondo. Allegro moderato

Disc 14:

1. Schubert: Piano Sonata in B flat major: Molto moderato
2. Schubert: Piano Sonata in B flat major: Andante sostenuto
3. Schubert: Piano Sonata in B flat major: Scherzo. Allegro vivace con delicatezza-Trio
4. Schubert: Piano Sonata in B flat major: Allegro ma non troppo
5. Schubert: Impromptu op. 90: Allegretto
6. Liszt: Polonaise No. 2 in E major

Disc 15:

1. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Thema. Andante
2. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Un poco piu vivo
3. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Marcato il canto
4. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Vivace
5. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Variation III
6. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Variation IV
7. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Variation post. I
8. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Variation post. II
9. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Variation post. III
10. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Variation post. IV
11. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Variation post. V
12. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Agitato
13. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Allegro molto
14. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Andante con espressione
15. Schumann: Etudes symphoniques op. 13: Allegro brillante
16. Schumann: Fantasie in C op. 17: Durchaus fantastisch und leidenschaft vorzutragen-Im Legenden Ton
17. Schumann: Fantasie in C op. 17: Mabig. Durchaus energisch-Etwas langsamer-Viel bewegter
18. Schumann: Fantasie in C op. 17: Langsam betragen. Durchweg leise zu halten-Etwas bewegter

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #309006 in Music
• Released on: 2002-02-12
• Number of discs: 15
• Formats: Box set, Import

Amazon.com
This is the largest, most comprehensive, and most valuable collection currently available of the playing of one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. Czech Radio seems to have recorded virtually everything Richter played during his frequent visits to Prague during a period of 34 years. Many of the highlights of the pianist's vast repertoire are included here, including 10 Beethoven Sonatas, two Concertos, and the "Diabelli" Variations, along with major works of Brahms, Chopin, Mozart, Ravel, Schubert, Schumann, and Scriabin. These include such unusual items as the first two Brahms Sonatas and the Chopin Ballades. Some of the earlier recordings are muffled in sound quality, and a few (such as Mozart's Sonata K. 280 and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition) are even afflicted with disturbing tape flutter. But most of the recordings sound excellent, and most of the performances are glorious. At the greatly reduced price (15 CDs for the price of 5), this set is a bargain that any pianophile can afford. But if you've collected the original series, beware of discarding them too quickly. An entire CD of Prokofiev--one of Richter's greatest specialties--is missing from this compilation, as are separately issued discs of the Dvorák and Grieg Concertos, which could have made yet another worthwhile disc. For what we have, however, let us give thanks--and also for the space-saving box! --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews

A Treasure Trove of 'Live' Richter Performances
Recorded by Czech Radio between the mid '50s and the late '80s, this fascinating CD set is one of the best available documents of the great Sviatoslav Richter in concert. Recorded sound is variable (the set rates 5 stars just the same), and most of the pre-1970s performances are mono, but no fan of great pianism should be without this set. And although many performances here are Richter "standards" (Skryabin sonatas, Beethoven's 'Appasionata' and 'Tempest' sonatas, Schumann's 'Fantasie,' to name just a few), there are some rarities as well. Let me give just three reasons why I find this set so indispensable. Richter didn't perform Beethoven's monumental 'Diabelli Variations' and 'Hammerklavier' sonata until quite late in his career; the very well recorded Prague concert recordings presented here are fully the equal of any released on other labels. Likewise, the performance of Brahms's First Piano Sonata (which exists in several Richter versions)is truly first-rate. Nevertheless, the Brahms disc is more valuable for presenting the best Richter performance I've heard of the less well-known Second Sonata, plus the only known Richter performance of the composer's 'Variations on a Hungarian Tune.' Finally, let me say to those who have long known - and loved - Richter's magnificent 1958 Sofia performance of Moussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition,' this set presents a roughly contemporary (1956) Prague account that is almost as good and much better recorded. So Richter fans shouldn't hesitate and those who don't know the the man's art will find in this set a convincing demonstration that the late Ukrainian/Soviet pianist was one of the greatest artists in the history of the instrument. One final note. This is a reissue of a boxed set that appeared several years ago, also on Harmonia Mundi. For the reissue, the fifteen discs have been transferred to sturdy cardboard envelopes and housed in a space saving 'soft' box that is elegant to behold and very space-efficient. Full liner notes duplicate those on the previous issue, but the price has been handsomely reduced: fifteen cds are now offered for the price of five!

Many definitive recordings here
Richter has a way of getting to the heart or to the truth behind any piece he plays. Using his powerful mind, spirtual understanding, and limitless technique, his is able to put his ego aside and let the music speak for itself. Out of the 15 discs, I thoroughly enjoyed 14 of them. The only exception being the Brahms Sonata 1 & 2. I simply do not enjoy listening to either piece. I will now list the pieces in which I believe are definitive performances. Each will be followed with other recordings with which I am comparing them to. 1. Appassionata(Pletnev, Pollini, Rubinstein, Horowitz) 2. Chopin Etude Op.10 No.1 (Perahia, Pollini, Ashkenazy, Lugansky, Wild, Berezovsky) 3. Chopin Nocturne Op.62 No.2 (Pires, Ashkenazy, Rubinstein) 4. Chopin Polonaise-Fantasy Op.61 (Kapell, Horowitz, Pollini) 5. Scriabin Sonata No.5 (Horowitz, Evgeni Mikhailov, Sofronitsky, Bernd Glemser) 6. All Chopin Ballades-definitely some of the most passionate interpretations on record(Perahia, Ashkenazy, Nikolai Petrov, Zimmerman, Kissin) 7. Beethoven Piano Con. 1&3 (Perahia, Serkin, Rubinstein) 8. Liszt Transcendental Etudes-excluding Feux Follets, best performance is given be E.Kissin (V.Ovchinikov, Berezovsky, Arrau, Bolet, F.Kempf) 9. Valses nobles et sentimentales (Cecile Ousset, Berezovsky, Pogorelich) 10. Miroirs-Richter perfectly enters the sound-world of Ravel like no other pianist. His tone and phrasing are out-of-this-world. (Cecile Ousset, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Minoru Nojima, Gieseking, Anne Queffelec) Almost every piece he plays sounds important and has an indescribable satisfaction to it. Buy it! It will give you hours of listening pleasure.

Essential Music
After owning a few dozen recordings with Richter (including a few made in Czechoslovakia), buying this box-set would have been a stretch had it not been for a couple of assumptions: a) Richter's confessed affection for several things Czech b) the promised value for money. Now, to sum it all up, I am so glad this set exceeded my expectations by so much!

Indeed, I could detect in these live performances, given over 3 decades, what might have been Richter's love for music, audience, and Czechoslovakia. The atmosphere is of warm intimacy, punctuated by veritable moments of musical tension built and delivered so masterfully, yet jocular at times. Such unique moments, not always present in his other recordings, I posit, are the fruit of Richter's being in resonance with his part Slavic and part German audience.

As for the presentation, suffice it to say it is simply great. Kudos to Harmonia Mundi Germany! The master-recordings seem to be more than decent--considering their casual nature. The booklet is concise and informative--notes on the composers and pieces as well as notes on Richter's approach to those pieces/composers.

Had I been asked to pay twice as much as I did after listening to this music I would have done it!