Art and Media Reviews by Pierre F. Walter
This partial performance of the 15th Fugue from the 2nd Volume of the Preludes and Fugues op. 87, by Shostakovich, is absolutely unique. It is beyond what ordinary pianists can render. Even Keith Jarrett whose rendering of these pieces I have highly acclaimed in my CD Review is far from such an exuberance, such a tremendous delirious speed and such ecstasy in the expression. This is truly one of the most genial performances of the great Maestro Richter! - Review by Pierre F. Walter
This is a phenomenal recording. This extremely difficult piano piece is known around the world as a parade gimmick for Encores, but Richter puts something truly philosophical in his interpretation. It's not only technically the utmost what a pianist can do with this monstrous piece, but Richter genially conveys the spirit of the Gracioso, Narr, Clown, and Harlequin, the Fool of the Tarot. This recording was one of the exceptions in the sense that it was obviously done in a TV studio, when Rich...
While most critics only seem to see the marvels in Richter's life, I can see a deep fate, and a fate that another and less stoic genius than him would have dearly implored. This fate was that all really gigantic recordings date from a time and from (unlucky) circumstances that produced a miserable sound, and all of the newer recordings, like the present one, that are perfect, or almost, in sound quality and image, are rather mediocre artistically. I have heard some exceptions to this rule, but...
Prokofiev was next to Ravel and Rachmaninov where Richter gave his ever best. A long-term friend of the composer, he received the dedication from him of his 9th Piano sonata. It was also a sign of gratitude as it was Richter, and only Richter who was able to make Prokofiev's 5th Piano Concerto a worldwide success! I cannot imagine another pianist of the past or of our days who could ever play Prokofiev with the perfection, the brilliance and the authenticity that Richter played it. - Review by...
This famous violin sonata by Johannes Brahms assumes a power and a dimension of drama in the interpretation of these giants that I have never heard before. The filmmaker has clearly merited an applause for his fantastic and poetic recording that is in full accord of the prevailing emotion of drama and passion of this wonderful sonata, and the sepia tone of the film wonderfully fits this purpose. - Review by Pierre F. Walter
This is a nice theme presentation, as it shows Richter at his favorite place, the Touraine in France where he founded, in the Grange de Mesley, near the town of Tours, a festival event that was celebrated for more than 20 years every summer and that attracted many famous international artists, and Richter himself, for the time of about two months, and that triggered very positive reactions from the side of the French authorities, the government, and business sponsors, such as Yamaha. I have of...
This well-known piano concerto by Mozart was here played in its transcription for two pianos by the British composer Benjamin Britten, who was one of Richter's best friends, and the maestro himself. It's a strange event in that Richter seemed angered and bored at the end and hacked down the last chords in a way that made Britten smile at him in surprise. Richter admitted in various interviews that he was unable to play Mozart, that he did not understand Mozart, and this present recording is ab...
This is undoubtedly a very bad recording, technically speaking. I mean both in terms of recording technique and piano technique. Richter was in bad shape that day or he was exhausted form other commitments. These Variations Sérieuses are not that difficult to play, and today many pianists play them even much faster and without wrong notes. But this does not mean they play it better. I love this recording despite the obvious mistakes and the lousy sound. It's absolutely passionate and ecstatic....
I cannot cite any other pianist in human history who has played Chopin with such drama; yes, Maurizio Pollini in his younger years, but still, Pollini was always more polished and elegant, more refined, while Richter's Chopin is like Shakespeare in music. I have no other words, it's simply overwhelming, and I cannot listen to that often. It turns all my inner emotions out and my outer emotions in. To be able to play Chopin in this way is genius, because it is a unique combination of outstandin...
Richter plays the 2nd Sonata of Johannes Brahms in a somewhat spectacular performance that he had actually canceled. However, the crowds arrived and the audience was fully packed. Eventually, only upon the ambassador of the country was calling him asking him if he should shoot himself now, Richter was moved and performed the concert - and it was a memorable event, he recalls. - Review by Pierre F. Walter
