Anyone who thinks that there is no longer anything to say on the subject of Sviatoslav Richter’s discography is wrong. For sixty years these recordings, which were made by Deutsche Grammophon at the Tours and Lucerne Festivals in 1965, have slumbered in the Yellow Label’s archives. Carefully restored by Emil Berliner Studios, they are being released now for the very first time. Like many other artists, Richter felt that he could play more freely and give better performances in the concert hall rather than in the studio. These tremendous recordings reveal the pianist at the pinnacle of his powers as a pianist. Indeed, they evoke Van Cliburn's comment: ‘That is the most powerful piano playing I have ever heard’. Richter's interpretations of Beethoven are phenomenal. The performances of the Sonatas Nos. 18, 27, 28 and 31 show a strikingly modern approach that never shies away from taking risks to express the music in its furthest extreme. Pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja, a confidante of Richter, was enthusiastic about the artistic freedom, technical brilliance and love of the music conveyed in these recordings. The album is available digitally, as a CD and double LP and includes a recent interview with Elisabeth Leonskaja, an essay by Jed Distler and editorial notes by Markus Kettner. Numerous photographs, some previously unpublished, complete the edition.

Now available exclusively in our D2C Store: White Label of this recording pressed, including a cover card with tracklist on the back. Limited to 99 copies worldwide.

Tracklisting:

Live at Kunsthaus, Lucerne, 1965
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-Flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3 „The Hunt”

1. I. Allegro 
2. II. Scherzo. Allegretto vivace 
3. III. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso 
4. IV. Presto con fuoco 

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90

5. I. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck 
6. II. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen 

Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101

7. I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung. Allegretto ma non troppo 
8. II. Lebhaft, marschmäßig. Vivace alla marcia 
9. III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll. Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto 
10. IV. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit. Allegro 

Live at La Grange de Meslay, Tours, 1965
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110

11. I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo 
12. II. Allegro molto 
13. IIIa. Adagio ma non troppo 
14. IIIb. Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo