Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter (Святослав Рихтер; March 20, 1915 - August 1… Read Full Bio ↴Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter (Святослав Рихтер; March 20, 1915 - August 1, 1997) was a Soviet pianist. Sviatoslav Richter was widely recognized as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. He was well known for his vast repertoire, effortless technique and poetic phrasing.
Richter was born in Zhitomir, Ukraine but grew up in Odessa. Unusually, he was largely self-taught although his organist father provided him with a basic education in music. Even at an early age, Richter was an excellent sight-reader, and regularly practiced with local opera and ballet companies. He developed a lifelong passion for opera, vocal and chamber music that found its full expression in the festival he established in Grange de Meslay, France. He started to work at the Odessa Conservatory where he accompanied the opera rehearsals. He gave his first recital in 1934 at the engineer club of Odessa but did not formally study piano until three years later, when he enrolled in the Moscow Conservatory, which waived the entrance exam for the young prodigy after it was clear he would not pass. He studied with Heinrich Neuhaus who also taught Emil Gilels, and who claimed Richter to be "the genius pupil, for whom he had been waiting all his life". In 1940, while still a student, he gave the world premiere of the Sonata No. 6 by Sergei Prokofiev, a composer with whose works he was ever after associated. He also became known for skipping compulsory political lessons at the conservatory and being expelled twice during his first year. Richter remained a political outsider in the U.S.S.R. and never joined the Party.
Richter met the soprano Nina Dorliak in 1945 when he accompanied her in a program that included songs by Rimsky-Korsakov and Prokofiev. "This was the first meeting in an association that would last the rest of their lives. Richter and Dorliak were never officially married, but they were constant companions. She was the practical counterbalance to his impulsive nature. She would wind his watch for him, remind him of appointments, and manage his professional commitments" (Geffen 1999). In 1949 he won the Stalin Prize, which led to extensive concert tours in Russia, Eastern Europe and China.
The West first became aware of Richter through recordings made in the 1950s. He was not allowed to tour the United States until 1960, but when he did, he created a sensation, playing a series of sold-out concerts in Carnegie Hall. Touring, however, was not Richter's forté. He preferred not to plan concerts years in advance, and in later years took to playing on very short notice in small, often darkened halls, sometimes with only a small lamp lighting his piano. He died in Moscow while studying for a concert series he was to give.
Richter's repertoire spanned the major works of the piano repertoire, although with many omissions (e.g., Bach's Goldberg Variations, Beethoven's Waldstein sonata and Fourth and Fifth piano concertos, Schubert's A-major sonata D. 959). Among his noted recordings are works by Franz Schubert, Beethoven, Bach (whose Well-Tempered Clavier part II he is said to have learned by heart in one month), Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Sergei Prokofiev, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin and many others. He was said to be the finest interpreter of the piano works of Robert Schumann. He gave the premiere of Prokofiev's Sonata No. 7 (which he learned in just four days before staging a performance of the work), and Prokofiev dedicated his Sonata No. 9 to him. Apart from playing solo he also enjoyed playing chamber music with partners such as David Oistrakh, Benjamin Britten, and Mstislav Rostropovich. He had unusually large hands, capable of taking a twelfth.
Despite his huge discography, Richter hated the process of recording. Glenn Gould called him one of the most powerful musical communicators of our time, and it was in concert that Richter's musical genius found its full expression.
Richter was born in Zhitomir, Ukraine but grew up in Odessa. Unusually, he was largely self-taught although his organist father provided him with a basic education in music. Even at an early age, Richter was an excellent sight-reader, and regularly practiced with local opera and ballet companies. He developed a lifelong passion for opera, vocal and chamber music that found its full expression in the festival he established in Grange de Meslay, France. He started to work at the Odessa Conservatory where he accompanied the opera rehearsals. He gave his first recital in 1934 at the engineer club of Odessa but did not formally study piano until three years later, when he enrolled in the Moscow Conservatory, which waived the entrance exam for the young prodigy after it was clear he would not pass. He studied with Heinrich Neuhaus who also taught Emil Gilels, and who claimed Richter to be "the genius pupil, for whom he had been waiting all his life". In 1940, while still a student, he gave the world premiere of the Sonata No. 6 by Sergei Prokofiev, a composer with whose works he was ever after associated. He also became known for skipping compulsory political lessons at the conservatory and being expelled twice during his first year. Richter remained a political outsider in the U.S.S.R. and never joined the Party.
Richter met the soprano Nina Dorliak in 1945 when he accompanied her in a program that included songs by Rimsky-Korsakov and Prokofiev. "This was the first meeting in an association that would last the rest of their lives. Richter and Dorliak were never officially married, but they were constant companions. She was the practical counterbalance to his impulsive nature. She would wind his watch for him, remind him of appointments, and manage his professional commitments" (Geffen 1999). In 1949 he won the Stalin Prize, which led to extensive concert tours in Russia, Eastern Europe and China.
The West first became aware of Richter through recordings made in the 1950s. He was not allowed to tour the United States until 1960, but when he did, he created a sensation, playing a series of sold-out concerts in Carnegie Hall. Touring, however, was not Richter's forté. He preferred not to plan concerts years in advance, and in later years took to playing on very short notice in small, often darkened halls, sometimes with only a small lamp lighting his piano. He died in Moscow while studying for a concert series he was to give.
Richter's repertoire spanned the major works of the piano repertoire, although with many omissions (e.g., Bach's Goldberg Variations, Beethoven's Waldstein sonata and Fourth and Fifth piano concertos, Schubert's A-major sonata D. 959). Among his noted recordings are works by Franz Schubert, Beethoven, Bach (whose Well-Tempered Clavier part II he is said to have learned by heart in one month), Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Sergei Prokofiev, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin and many others. He was said to be the finest interpreter of the piano works of Robert Schumann. He gave the premiere of Prokofiev's Sonata No. 7 (which he learned in just four days before staging a performance of the work), and Prokofiev dedicated his Sonata No. 9 to him. Apart from playing solo he also enjoyed playing chamber music with partners such as David Oistrakh, Benjamin Britten, and Mstislav Rostropovich. He had unusually large hands, capable of taking a twelfth.
Despite his huge discography, Richter hated the process of recording. Glenn Gould called him one of the most powerful musical communicators of our time, and it was in concert that Richter's musical genius found its full expression.
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09Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2, The Tempest: I. Largo - Allegro9:25Sviatoslav Richter
13Piano Sonata No. 13 in A Major, Op. Posth. 120, D. 664: I. Allegro moderato11:52Sviatoslav Richter
16Fantasia in C Major, D.760 'Wandererfantasie' (1998 Digital Remaster): I. Allegro con fuoco ma non troppo5:46Sviatoslav Richter
20Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17: I. Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen - Im Legendenton13:53Sviatoslav Richter
21Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17: II. Mässig, durchaus energisch - Etwas bewegter - Viel bewegter6:47Sviatoslav Richter
22Fantasy in C Major, Op.17 (2002 Digital Remaster): III. Langsam getragen - Durchweg leise zu halten11:17Sviatoslav Richter
34Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring": II. Adagio molto espressivo6:43Sviatoslav Richter
35Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring": III. Scherzo. Allegro molto - Trio1:09Sviatoslav Richter
36Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring": IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo6:44Sviatoslav Richter
37Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667, "Trout" : I. Allegro vivace13:30Borodin Quartet/Sviatoslav Richter/Georg Hörtnagel
38Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667, "Trout" : II. Andante8:29Borodin Quartet/Sviatoslav Richter/Georg Hörtnagel
39Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667, "Trout" : III. Scherzo (Presto)4:28Borodin Quartet/Sviatoslav Richter/Georg Hörtnagel
40Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667, "Trout": IV. Andantino - Allegretto (Theme, Var. I, II, III, IV, V)7:38Borodin Quartet, Sviatoslav Richter & Georg Hörtnagel
41Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667, "Trout" : V. Finale (Allegro giusto)10:06Borodin Quartet/Sviatoslav Richter/Georg Hörtnagel
42Violin Sonata No. 23 in D Major, K. 306: I. Allegro con spirito (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)10:50Sviatoslav Richter
43Violin Sonata No. 23 in D Major, K. 306: II. Andantino cantabile (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)10:44Sviatoslav Richter
44Violin Sonata No. 23 in D Major, K. 306: III. Allegretto (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)6:54Sviatoslav Richter
45Violin Sonata No. 26 in B-Flat Major, K. 378: I. Allegro moderato (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)13:11Sviatoslav Richter
46Violin Sonata No. 26 in B-Flat Major, K. 378: II. Andantino sostenuto e cantabile (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)7:31Sviatoslav Richter
47Violin Sonata No. 26 in B-Flat Major, K. 378: III. Rondo. Allegro (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)4:19Sviatoslav Richter
48Violin Sonata No. 31 in C Major, K. 404: I. Andante (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)2:21Oleg Kagaan/Sviatoslav Richter
49Violin Sonata No. 31 in C Major, K. 404: II. Allegretto (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)1:34Oleg Kagaan/Sviatoslav Richter
50Allegro for Violin and Piano in B-Flat Major, K. 372 (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)2:12Sviatoslav Richter
61Harpsichord Suite No. 5 in E Major, HWV 430: I. Prélude (from "Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin I", 1720)1:49Sviatoslav Richter
62Harpsichord Suite No. 5 in E Major, HWV 430: II. Allemande (from "Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin I", 1720)4:47Sviatoslav Richter
63Harpsichord Suite No. 5 in E Major, HWV 430: III. Courante (from "Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin I", 1720)2:05Sviatoslav Richter
64Harpsichord Suite No. 5 in E Major, HWV 430: IV. Air con Variazioni, "The Harmonious Blacksmith" (from "Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin I", 1720) [1996 Digital Remaster]4:24Sviatoslav Richter
8715 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 1, Keinen hat es noch gereut4:00Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
8815 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 2, Traun! Bogen und Pfeil sind gut1:38Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
8915 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 3, Sind es Schmerzen, sind es Freuden5:32Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
9015 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 4, Liebe kam aus fernen Landen4:47Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
9115 Romances from Ludwig Tieck's "Magelone", Op. 33: No. 5, "So willst du des Armen"1:35Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
9215 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 6, Wie soll ich die Freude6:12Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
9315 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 7, War es dir, dem diese Lippen bebten2:54Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
9415 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 8, Wir müssen uns trennen4:22Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
9515 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 9, Ruhe, Süssliebchen5:55Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
9615 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 10, Verzweiflung. "So tönet denn"2:40Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
9715 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 11, Wie schnell verschwindet4:25Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
9815 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 12, Muss es eine Trennung geben3:25Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
9915 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 13, Sulima. "Geliebter, wo zaudert"1:57Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
10015 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 14, Wie froh und frisch2:37Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
10115 Romances from Tieck's "Die schöne Magelone", Op. 33: No. 15, Treue Liebe dauert lange5:07Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
104Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-Flat Major, K. 482: III. Allegro - Andante cantabile (Cadenza by Britten)Sviatoslav Richter
108Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 56: I. Allegro (Recorded 1969)0:01David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sviatoslav Richter, Herbert von Karajan & Berliner Philharmoniker
109Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 56: II. Largo (Recorded 1969)5:36David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sviatoslav Richter, Herbert von Karajan & Berliner Philharmoniker
110Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 56: III. Rondo alla Polacca (Recorded 1969)13:05David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sviatoslav Richter, Herbert von Karajan & Berliner Philharmoniker
118Violin Sonata No. 27 in G Major, K. 379: I. Adagio - Allegretto (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)12:29Sviatoslav Richter
119Violin Sonata No. 27 in G Major, K. 379: II. Theme and Variations - III. Allegretto (Live, Grange de la Besnardière, 1974)10:03Sviatoslav Richter
126Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16: I. Allegro molto moderato (2003 Remaster)12:42Sviatoslav Richter
128Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16: III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato - Andante maestoso9:56Sviatoslav Richter
137Chamber Concerto for Piano, Violin and 13 Wind Instruments: I. Tema scherzoso con variazioni9:46Yuri Nikolayevsky
139Chamber Concerto for Piano, Violin and 13 Wind Instruments: III. Rondo ritmico con introduzione0:01Yuri Nikolayevsky
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Sviatoslav Richter: The Master Pianist
Sviatoslav Richter Lyrics
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