Beethoven – Piano Sonatas 3, 7 and 19

Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Sonata for Piano No. 3 in C Major, Opus 2/3

Sonata for Piano No. 7 in D Major, Opus 10/3

Sonata for Piano No. 19 in G Minor, Opus 49/1

Sviatoslav Richter, Piano

Sonatas 3 and 7 Recorded Live in 1960 and Sonata 19 Recorded Live in 1965 (Reissued by Leningrad Masters – 1995)

ONE-SENTENCE REVIEW:

One of those amazing historical recordings pulled from the abundant but badly preserved Soviet vaults, Sviatoslav Richter rips into these sonatas like a great pianist in his prime – if only the recording quality were as perfect as these performances.

ORIGINAL LINER NOTES (typos included from the original horrible translation):

Born in Zhytomyr on March 20, 1915 during his life, Sviatoslav Richter has been one of the most brilliant pianists in history.

After receiving general musical tuition, the Ukrainian musical completed his training with Heinrich Neuhaus.

He worked for seven years under this great pianist and teacher, his classroom companion being the equally gifted Emil Gilels and he soon made friends with Mstislav Rostropovitch and Sergei Prokofiev.

It has been said that Richter possesses an amazing capacity for improvisation and memory, but the real secret of his success is to be found in his powerful personality, which emerges in a revealing manner in each of his passionate interpretations.

Richter is an artist totally consumed by music. He was awarded first prize at the 1935 USSR Piano Competition.

Always seen as controversial at the time, today the pianist is considered a “megastar” who keeps record companies at a distance and shies away from the concert circuit.

Each time he sits down at the piano, Richter reflects, with a sublime capacity for philosophy, on the fundamental questions and messages which surround the works he confronts in a repertoire which ranges from Bach to Shostakovich.

In this live recording, we encounter one of the cornerstones of Richter’s art: “his” Beethoven.

There are very few opportunities for the record lover to preserve Richter in the music of Beethoven and consequently this record has value as a rarity.

Richter has been captured live in his creative work – an immense, metaphysical and exclusive creation – of Piano Sonatas Nos. 3, 7 and 19 by Ludwig van Beethoven.

TRACK LISTING:

• 1-4: Beethoven Sonata for Piano No. 3 in C Major, Opus 2/3
• 5-8: Beethoven Sonata for Piano No. 7 in D Major, Opus 10/3
• 9-10: Beethoven Sonata for Piano No. 19 in G Minor, Opus 49/1

FINAL THOUGHT:

I remember being so excited after the fall of the Soviet Union when they opened the previously closed vaults of Soviet recordings. There was so much there. I only wish there was a company that remastered and took care of these precious moments in time. I love the great musicians from the 20th century Soviet Union. Like ballet, music composition, art and opera, they were really in a class by themselves.

Emily Sachs – President – Manka Music Group (A division of Manka Bros. Studios – The World’s Largest Media Company)