Sviatoslav Richter, known for his reluctance to perform in studio settings, became one of the most recorded pianists of the 20th century. While his studio recordings are numerous, it’s the wealth of live performances captured over four decades that truly enrich his discography, offering multiple takes on many pieces in his repertoire. This makes the release of “The Lost Tapes” a remarkable addition, even if it may not seem so at first glance.
This album features live recordings of four Beethoven piano sonatas—Op. 31 No. 3, Op. 90, Op. 101, and Op. 110—taken from Richter’s concerts in 1965. Notably, the Op. 110 performance was recorded at a piano festival Richter founded in La Grange de Meslay near Tours, while the other sonatas come from a concert in Lucerne just three months later.
Although there are existing recordings of these sonatas, the immediacy of these performances is striking. Richter never settled for merely replicating his interpretations; he approached each performance with fresh eyes, discovering new nuances every time. This is evident in the exuberance of the third sonata from Op. 31, the rich palette of colors he brings to Op. 101, and the serene depth he infuses into the fugues of Op. 110’s finale.
These original recordings were made by Deutsche Grammophon engineers who followed Richter on tour that year, and the sound quality has been enhanced for this release. However, the piano tone can be an issue—particularly in the Lucerne recordings, where it often sounds bright and somewhat shallow, reminiscent of a mid-19th-century instrument. Despite this, the glorious artistry of Richter’s playing shines through.
Listen to the album on Apple Music (above) or Spotify.
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