Sviatoslav Richter in Prague, 1984 - Rachmaninov Etudes-Tableaux

00:00 - Rachmaninov Etude-Tableau Op.33, No.4
03:11 - Rachmaninov Etude-Tableau Op.33, No.5
04:56 - Rachmaninov Etude-Tableau Op.33, No.8
07:41 - Rachmaninov Etude-Tableau Op.39, No.1
10:33 - Rachmaninov Etude-Tableau Op.39, No.2
17:45 - Rachmaninov Etude-Tableau Op.39, No.3
20:33 - Rachmaninov Etude-Tableau Op.39, No.4
23:44 - Rachmaninov Etude-Tableau Op.39, No.9
/ newfranzferencliszt

[@peterlunow]

My good Lord ....and then realizing this is LIVE.....almost frightning:-)

[@aidanturner6139]

Transcendental performances. His technique and energy levels, even at 69, were phenomenal. There is something about the way he performs which is unlike any other Pianist I have heard - such AUTHORITY!

[@Eugen_969b]

На страницу с исполнением Рихтера всегда можно заходить с целью оздоровиться. Как в горный сосновый лес попал -- не надышишься. Такое спокойствие, мудрость, свежесть, ясность, глубина! Такая высокая степень выявленной потенциальной силы и красоты произведения, помещённой в ноты композитором.

[@mnadrigny5819]

Totalement d'accord

[@donaldwright6617]

Absolutely astonishing performances--so musical and passionate, and absolutely fearless!

[@LukeJonesPiano]

Really extraordinary performance. Magical, powerful, moving, intense.. so many wonderful adjectives one could use to describe Richter's musicianship. So admirable, videos like this are the ones that should have millions of views instead of cheap, forgettable music...truly wonderful musician

[@geuros]

I would like to point out the theme at 0:34 - note how he sings the melody in the left hand, but keeps articulation in the ostinato - unbelievable, search for the score, incredibly difficult on focus, precise timing, and also, huge hands. Also, 1:52 he uses the middle pedal, so he can again keep the ostinato articulated... Another example, 2:46, the end of the main "left hand" theme, opening with a fifth with melodical D. He holds that with thumb and rotates the wrist around it to play the accompanying notes again to allow the ostinato be articulated... So loyal to the score and composer's ideas... This 33/4 etude might not seem as really challenging, but once you start realising the complete picture, it becomes quite a challenge. Richter is just amazing

[@adriancameron8665]

Yes it seems he has additional dimensions of interpretation. He can bring out voicings that are somehow buried on other recordings

[@dgollaher]

Anyone who's ever played op 33 #4 understands how difficult it is to draw the several moving lines together. Richter's attention to detail, while maintaining the lyrical flow, is quite extraordinary.

[@sheilaweinstein5655]

I am half Russian. And Rachmaninov has always swelled my soul. This is stunning playing.

[@fromanotherstar]

The crispness of his play is so appealing....what a wonderful pianist...

[@Panzerino02]

This is simply unbelievable and amazing. He WAS the greatest pianist of the 20th century ( with Sergei Rachmaninoff ). Genius. Period.

[@msotil]

He extracts every drop of music out of these etudes. Beyond superlatives.

[@penmerch2804]

Strange though that op39/4 sounds as though it was recorded on a piano roll

[@fredsharp7419]

Can there really be any doubt as to who is the greatest pianist of the 20th century? The tone contrasts here, the technical brilliance, the musicality, the courage, the conviction, the sheer 'authority' is unmatched to my mind.

[@geuros]

Don't forget the fact nobody ever had as vast repertoire as him, and probably never will... I don't know the precise number, but he could make like 90 different recitals in a row never to repeat a single piece

[@NormanicusDiabolicus]

Richter is a superb artist and these works of Rachmaninov are some of the most thrilling piano works especially Op33 No 5 .

[@KlavierEum]

Overwhelmed. This is Richter's best performance I've ever heard.

[@elenapinneker6993]

Нечеловечески прекрасное исполнение! До мурашек...

[@elisabettagennerelli9566]

Thank you for posting. Pure Bliss. Incomparable. A truly great musician.

[@9964jjc]

Richter played as the composer might think, he once said. He revisited that thought many times. These remain various and singularly dangerous, today, in sound. He remained critical! Love these late recordings. Thank you for posting

[@mattgreen3118]

Dangerous indeed! Well put.

[@nelidaferraz6497]

There are many greater artists of the piano , this unpaired instrument. But to my ears Richter is far beyond a bunch of respectable and even inspired ones. Really a genius.

[@Reiko11788]

Absolutely fantastic

[@walfootrot7005]

The best Rachmaninov interpreter of all time that includes Rachmaninov himself. I never cared for Rach until I heard Richter.

[@vankasnak1]

Absolutely, you're so right

[@bloodybonescomic]

I am absolutely ADDICTED to this.

[@coolcat1813]

no4 gives me ALWAYS goose bumps ,no8 a thrill of ecstasy

[@busylifemeto]

The inimitable Richter power and dynamics with amazing musicality unmatched. Lugansky, Ashkanazy, Berman Gilels Horiwitz all all amazing but Richter is the Giant.

[@EmptyVee00000]

Ashkenazy is the Giant in these études.

[@constantin250]

Hands down the best interpretation 🙌

[@ChameauProductions]

I think it's the best performance of this etudes. Richter was a genius.

[@strav12]

Thanks so much for this, yes, 'stunning' post - Richter just being Richter again!

[@joseffoerster7515]

astounding, intoxicating, superb pianism. thank you for enriching my life with this post.

[@consternation6]

such as? I find this simply glorious, he opens up the music in ways other pianists do not even hint at, turning notes on staves into beatiful music.

[@user-sd8rs2pk4f]

Это блеск, супер исполнение. Спасибо большое

[@satyu131089]

"It is extremely stupid to say that anyone is the greatest in art" - Arthur Rubinstein

[@stonefireice6058]

Yet, consider Rachmaninov stoped to perform his own compositions after he heard Rubinstein! He said Arthur was better! Rubinstein in his turn presented the medal for the best pianist-interpreter of Rachmaninov’s music with Rachmaninov’s cameo to Emil Gilels. Rubinstein, who befriended Gilels at Emil’s graduation of Odessa Conservatory, introduced him to Rachmaninov. The medal went to Gilels with Rachmaninov’s signature. The Medal can be seen at Gilels museum in Moscow.

[@gredaderlol]

Richter and Rachmaninoff definitely have the most incredible recordings there are, along with Vladimir Horowitz. They are all geniuses who I would give my life's fortune to go back in time and see live.

[@vova47]

This comment makes me proud that I have had the good fortune to hear both Richter and Horowitz live in concert and meet both of them. But I too would give a lot to see Rachmaninov play (or just to see him)............

[@friedrich1012]

Parece de otro planeta.

[@peterlunow]

a true master

[@632ash]

So extraordinary beautiful! Thank you.

[@bartpotters4496]

Speechless

[@QuickMadeUpName]

astonishing

[@paolabartolini36]

Sublime... 🙂✨💖

[@erwe303]

I'm so glad i found this concert on the internet :O

[@bloodybonescomic]

Sviatoslav Richter was nothing less than a gift from God.

[@bloodybonescomic]

I don't believe in God, but your comment is beyond reproach.

[@classicalmusicman3128]

Wonderful

[@vankasnak1]

Wow ! This must be Richter. Wait till you hear the studio recording.

[@JohnEBPiano]

Amazing interpretations

[@dominiquevono2858]

Les études _ tableaux là musique de ma vie ...

[@georginaandr3472]

Great pianist ! Each piece played as it has to be !

[@zinam5795]

Thanks for posting...S.Richter is BEST !!!

[@barrtok]

thanks!

[@barendschipper]

Haha, it always makes me laugh when I say or read/hear others say he/she was the best...as if we knew all the great pianists.... during 100 years, of 169 countries.. Hahaha! But Richter WAS a genius in performing classical piano music in the broadest sense. Period ; )

[@jimkost2002]

Richter--transcendental depth. He has a selfless quality in his interpretations that Horowitz, for all his coloristic wizardry never possessed. But Horowitz was an innovator and genius nonetheless.

[@EmptyVee00000]

Horowitz was a charlatan.

[@paulzeng6211]

@@EmptyVee00000 Horoble Horowitz

[@naftush]

@@paulzeng6211 and EmptyVee, Horowitz handled dynamics like no one else. He created a sound with Scriabin that even Richter didn't match: not better or worse, just different, and not only by tuning his piano oddly. Give him some credit.

[@paulzeng6211]

@@EmptyVee00000 Is your account name from the illuminati card game lol

[@EmptyVee00000]

@@paulzeng6211: Which game is that?

[@soongsoong123]

Richter's op.39-3(17:45) is very unique sound.

[@zinam5795]

...The sound with Rhithm !

[@user-pf3ku5ph2p]

Richter The Master.

[@hotbebimauz]

Brilliant. Thank you for sharing! The third etude on this vid. is no. 9 of the op. 33 set, not 8 :-)

[@GhostChance1]

This is such playing as, really, others only hint at. Imagine, Horowitz trying to do with the A minor Etude what Richter does here. You see, Horowitz was a coloristic genius and had that little twitch that you need to make things interesting. But Richter, well, Richter has his share of the neurosis required, also, but there is a sense of stiller waters, running deeper. The A minor one is the most difficult, and many pianists founder here. Not this man. He thinks, as is said below, like the composer, and is not afraid to go where that may lead. Possibly the greatest all round pianist of the twentieth century. You could make that argument. But let's not bother. Thank God these recordings exist. Recently, I've been enjoying Nicholas Angelich's offering of all of the ETs of Rachmaninoff, but would dearly love to have a Richter recording of all of them.

[@QMPhilosophe]

In my opinion, by far the best interpretation of the Rachmaninoff Etudes, especially Op. 33 no. 4. Pure genius!

[@Sveccha93]

Paul Dykstra You know, often it is so pretentious and self-soothing when people speak this way about artists. But I have this strange reaction to Richter, which started when I discovered him through his Prokofiev, and I agree with the above wholeheartedly. Cheers.

[@EmptyVee00000]

I much prefer Ashkenazy.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

EmptyVee00000 So does HE...lol

[@user-vs4ch8kp6h]

+Paul Dykstra Thank you for your comment. Very quiet & calm!!! I quite agree. " Thank God these recordings exist "

[@makar1998]

Гениально!!!

[@pyrokynesis]

Hermoso amo toda la musica de rachmaninoff

[@DavidGutierrez-ko7du]

Fantastic, even for Richter.

[@paulzeng6211]

The best. This beats Glenn Gould's autism by a mile.

[@13shirokuma]

Has this ever been released on vinyl? Anybody? No 4 takes my breath away each time i hear it.

[@kelownapianoconsult5354]

The vinyl/CD release is less satisfying, less risky, multiple takes. This music live is incredibly difficult to pull off. Hence, this concert is precious

[@femmecorbeau]

grateful. xoxoxox

[@jean-mariedethier5495]

Un sommet absolu...

[@jean-louisyoung5086]

J’ai un faible Pour Rachma, mais ça c’est magnifique…

[@vova47]

You misunderstood me,i agree it's work of genius, but it sounded like KlavierEum was surprised to hear Richter doing such glorious playing. i am simply pointing out that this level of mastery is what one usually expects ( and gets) from Richter. BTW, you are living up to your name...... .

[@murakisadao]

Maybe we never hear again that kind of true fidelity to the score, traduced in a performance plenty of nerve and emotion. Maybe we never hear again Rachmaninov´s inner voices living with absolute independence and clarity. Richter was one of the most conscious masters of pedalling and also not-pedalling. Performing Rachamninov´s preludes and etudes we can find Richter at his best.

[@rouhyito]

Thanks. This is beautiful, and rare (as far as I know). What's the source?

[@cynic150]

Masterfull is an understatement...

[@maribell3117]

Рихтер просто гений!!! 👏👍💐💐👏👍

[@am3456]

20:23 - 39/4

[@ludwigvanbeethoven926]

GENIUS

[@FirstPublicChannel]

@Panzerino02 I absolutely agree!

[@marvintorrejas767]

Does anyone have Audio of Richter playing the Op.39 no.5😭😭 I couldn't find anything. 😭

[@FirstPublicChannel]

@gwozdezzz there are 2 different opus, it is a selection, and there's a final clapping. So, yes, this is the order.

[@loboris1995]

Thank you for this recording , but before in youtube I saw a video of Richter playing these etudes , and it looks like it was in Japan , can someone give me information about it ?

[@brntlandon]

Second Etude, wow.

[@MrCinemuso]

Richter must have loved Prague...

[@UaM17]

From "ppp" to " ffff " ! Fantastic

[@adamzidek2286]

Komplet Richterových nahrávek z různých ročníků Pražských jar je to nejlepší co tento klavírista natočil. Rachmaninova hrál mistrně.

[@BjornHegstad]

If anyone finds a Richter recording of etude opus 39 no. 5, please notify me!

[@TomHawk640]

I have these on CD. Yet to find any other interpretations that come close.

[@kelownapianoconsult5354]

yeah, but.....live?

[@TomHawk640]

@@kelownapianoconsult5354 YOU'RE RIGHT. LISTENED AGAIN.... NOT THE PHILIPS, which was a studio recording. These are close, interpretively, but actually better, I think. (If that can be imagined.)

[@orvillewrightjr.6119]

Sviatoslav Richter is far and away my favorite pianist of all time. His mastery of this selection of Rachmaninoff's Etudes-Tableaux is astounding; however, my favorites are the Brahm's Second Piano Concerto(which I heard him perform live at Indiana University at Evanston); but, even beyond that, his recordings of the Schubert-Liszt 'Der Wanderer' Fantasia, which remains the model for my performance to this day. Also there is the recording of his recital in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1957, which is both compendious and highly noteworthy; but unfortunately hard to find these days.

[@ChameauProductions]

He plays so well that all others interpretations seem me bad.

[@muddieblue]

Meissen....Albrechtsburg.....bis heute unvergessen....in aufrichtiger Dankbarkeit für das Gefühlte...

[@DadoD999]

I think he was a god :)

[@olivierhennaux1279]

Notre Maître à tous!! ;-)

[@dominiquevono2858]

Un aigle

[@bernardnara]

god in heaven... what is that piano? (4:00 - 4:05)

[@cekevilon]

i need # of the catalog please

[@RoellWestrik]

Have you heard of Wibi Soerjadi? Or Vyacheslav Gryaznov? No, they are not on the same level as Richter, however they are far better than a lot of well-known pianists of today. So no. We do not know all great pianists.

[@pupulique]

How about Horowitz?

[@erickverran653]

14:38 Chopin?

[@jshin1495]

Treasure

[@vova47]

"Except if they say it about me...in which case it's highly intelligent." Arthur Rubinstein.

[@lunchmind]

I would ,too if I had one to give : )

[@vova47]

Great performance but hardly the highest on Richter scale. There are many treasures in his recording output as high and higher.

[@kelownapianoconsult5354]

But not live ones!

[@arthurrex5715]

Howard Shelley is the best performer of Rachmaninov's etudes tableaux

[@donpa4967]

hmmm....I don't think so.

[@josephhapp9]

Arthur Rex cough,,,,,

[@paulzeng6211]

pppffffft

[@BeethovenHD]

4:56 etude?

[@user-sl5wn3ec9h]

Op 33 n 8

[@fierycarnisphere1166]

I know the numbers are a little messed up but where's 6?

[@TheosophyinRussia]

!

[@hoyywswjbczzzy1]

20:24

[@user-us4hq6kg2t]

russian music connects to the russian spirit

[@billbeel4572]

Have you seen the movie where the guy is astonished at the bag that's floating in the wind and he thinks it's divine and way more of what it really is you are all that guy is

[@michaelrogers5495]

I think that's American beauty

[@arthurhogan2133]

@Paul Dyksta: Well, a thumbs up, but with certain resevations; 1. Horowitz apparently didn't care enough for the E.T. perhaps with the exception of the one in D Major of which brought the house down in one concert. The live pressing of it is astonishing. I have two recordings in Which I'm able to compare the two worth hearing. The Brahms 2nd: Horowitz's dated pressing. And Schumann's Tocata in C major. First listen to Richrer. Then, Horowitz's playing of the piece. You'll see why with the exception of material consumed by these guys ( Richter's seemingly out distancing Horowitz to some degree ) Volodya might have been even better than Richter. Richter, in this concert seems to have chosen an instrument with a very bright register, comparable to the piano sound Horowitz chose for his instrument. I personally would rather he, Richter selected a piano with a more mellow sound, rounder. If you will. It might have been the only one available in the hall suitable to his liking. However, I think it was intentional here. Both these guys studied with Neuhaus. Richter much later. I do belive they met up at the same time more or less. I also think that Richter was somewhat jealous of Horowitz: from my reading of Monsaingeon,'s ( Bruno) book on him months before his death. Only he knows what Horowitz was like as a technician. What was Horowitz like in his early twenties?? ' Must have been mi d blowing. Remember, we only heard Richter here in America after he had turned forty years of age. Also, he left off of a career as a conductor. Lucky us!!! If Richter had tackled the Rachmaninoff third concerto, performed it regularly. Then we'd have a very real vehicle in which to compare these guys. He never has to my knowledge.

[@kelownapianoconsult5354]

I do truly love the Horowitz D major ET and the C major as well. As a coloristic and inner voicing wizard he is in a league of his own. But only Richter has a live document like this, which speaks to his greatness. Don't get me wrong, the Horowitz live recording of Schumann Fantasy is an all time fav. But Horowitz was, at least, partly American in his sensibilities regarding how to please the public and script things. All of this takes NOTHING away from his incredible piano playing. We're lucky to have KZbin to hear, compare, and give our impressions a voice. Cheers!

[@pupulique]

I think he at least not less great.