Sviatoslav Richter – Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.2 in C Minor, 6 Preludes (180g LP)

Label : Deutsche Grammophon 138 076 ( Clearaudio)
Among the most outstanding of Richter´s characteristics was his uncanny ability to illuminate the minutest details while at the saure time aking them converge into a single unified whole. This, allied to his prismatic approach to colour, goes some way towards explaining the quite extraordinary spell cast by his Debussy-playing. In the light of his playing of Estampes in particular, he raust surely be ranked as peerless in this repertoire.

“Although the late Sviatoslav Richter spent his later years concentrating on Bach, Beethoven, and Haydn, he never completely abandoned the music of his native country. His reading of Rachmaninov’s most popular concerto, captured in fine late-1950s stereo, is one of the most glorious ever recorded. Richter’s amazing technique is completely up to the demands of Rachmaninov’s difficult writing, and he plays the heart-on-sleeve melodies with such refined intensity that they never sound sentimental. This performance is a truly amazing example of great pianism, very strongly supported by the fine orchestra and its little-known conductor.” — Amazon.com