Product Details

• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (PCM)
• Subtitles: French, English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Euroarts
• DVD Release Date: June 24, 2008
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0018D8956
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,318 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #85 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Etudes

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Most of this DVD was made at a 1989 London concert filmed by the BBC. The 74-year-old Richter insisted on a darkened hall, a 40-watt gooseneck lamp trained on the music stand the only light source on stage while he played. His purpose was to focus audience attention on the music, not on the performer. Whatever the intention, the results can be compared to a mystical ceremony, the pianist as High Priest invoking musical truths. This ceremonial aspect of the concert is heightened by Richter’s austere platform manner and the black backgrounds that engulf the picture. Fortunately, the BBC crew was able to capture closeups of Richter’s hands on the keyboard, giving us lessons in finger control, dynamic gradations, and legato playing. To see how Richter accomplishes these and other effects is priceless. But whatever idiosyncrasies were part of Richter’s rare concertizing in his last years, the musical performances are extraordinary. Richter’s Mozart was unique in its tempo variations and his infusion of strong Romantic overtones, digging deep into the inner dramas of the scores. His E Flat Major Sonata, K.282, for example, begins slowly but gains depth and gravity via his powerful bass line, while In the C Major, K.545, Richter’s Andante sings soulfully. The A Minor Sonata, K. 310, perhaps Mozart’s greatest, has great cumulative power while the slow movement becomes a tragic operatic aria in all but name. The Chopin works, selected Etudes, take that composer out of the drawing room and into the larger frame of full-blooded Romanticism. In Opus 10, No. 2 we see Richter’s scintillating right hand figures while Op. 10, No. 4 is a pianistic version of shock and awe, especially after the songful No.3, and watching Richter in the finger-breaker of Op. 25, No.8 is riveting. A black-and-white bonus of three short works by Rachmaninov and Chopin show Richter 20 years younger, the playing as extraordinary, the body language and facial expressions far more mobile, making a fitting close to a DVD all admirers of great pianism will want. --Dan Davis

Product Description

SVIATOSLAV RICHTER:CLASSIC ARCHIVE - DVD Movie

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Richter at the Barbican, July 19, 2008

By 

J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mozart /Chopin/Rachmaninov: Richter - Classic Archive (DVD)

This recital was originally broadcast on BBC-TV in 1989. Richter was 74 then but clearly had not lost any of his powers. He had, however, developed some idiosyncrasies that have a bearing on this recording. He was playing this recital, consisting of three Mozart sonatas and a selection from Chopin's Op. 10 and 25 études, before a live audience but insisted on having no lighting on the stage except for a crook-neck lamp shone directly on the keyboard and on the scores from which he was playing. This came as news to the BBC-TV crew and they had to, at the last moment, make do with filming him on a darkened stage. Still, after a few moments one does not mind this at all because the filming is primarily of his hands which, for me at least, was an education in itself.

Needless to say, Richter's playing does not need any describing to those who are his fans, but for those who are new to Richter's playing I'll offer brief descriptions. Before the intermission he plays three Mozart sonatas: No. 4 in E Flat Major, K.282; No. 16 in C Major, K.545; and No. 8 in A Minor, K.310. His Mozart is both pristine and romantic. That is to say that both his ability to bring out with utmost clarity the musical line and his penchant for highly personal rubati is very much in evidence. This makes for somewhat unusual Mozart but it is convincing nonetheless. (I'm reminded of his recording of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier which has these same characteristics. And I confess that his WTC is my favorite piano recording of that masterpiece.)

In the second half he plays twelve of Chopin's Etudes (Op. 10 Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11 and 12; Op. 25 Nos 5, 6, 8 and 11 'The Revolutionary'). His Chopin is masculine, dramatic and exciting. His playing of the C sharp minor étude (Op. 10, No. 4) is one of the most breathtaking I've ever heard. (Interestingly, there is a bonus of three tracks recorded in black and white in 1969, twenty years earlier, where he also plays the C sharp minor and although it is noticeably faster than the 1989 performance, it is not quite as exciting.) The 'Revolutionary' étude is also fantastic. The three bonus tracks include a fabulous performance of Rachmaninov's Étude-Tableau Op. 39, No. 3 in F Sharp Minor that fair makes one gape with admiration.

I have given this DVD five stars even though visually some may be disappointed by the above-described limitations. But as I said, I found myself not even much noticing it after the first few moments. Indeed, I found myself focusing far more on the music and Richter's hands than I did on the setting.

An unqualified recommendation, then, for Richter's legion of fans. Perhaps slightly less so for those newly coming to Richter's artistry.

Running time (with bonus tracks): 90mins; Format: NTSC 4:3; Sound: PCM stereo; Region code: 0 (worldwide)

Scott Morrison

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars memorable recital curiously filmed, January 28, 2010

By 

Ivor E. Zetler (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mozart /Chopin/Rachmaninov: Richter - Classic Archive (DVD)

I was lucky to have seen Sviatoslav Richter in recital in London in the seventies; the experience was definitely the most enthralling solo concert I have experienced. This filmed recital rekindled some of my happy memories of this great musician. To deal with the musical aspects first, all that really needs to be said is that the viewer is obviously in the presence of a master pianist. The 3 Mozart sonatas are beautifully played; refined phrasing and a light, deft touch that is perfect for this music. The Chopin Etudes are equally memorable and demonstrate Richter's sensitivity and sterling technique. The bonus material is also a treat.

The prospective purchaser needs to know the following about the filming. From my reading about this DVD I was under the impression that there was very little to be seen of the pianist given the very poor lighting (a single lamp). In fact, despite the lamp shining in the viewers eye's at the beginning and other minor annoyances (like brief blank visuals between the musical items), one is able to get a quite reasonable impression of the action and of Richter's playing. These small inconveniences are certainly worth tolerating for the sake of the total experience. The sound on this disc is quite acceptable.

P.S. Richter fans should investigate "Richter The Enigma"-a brilliant DVD documentary about this pianist.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Emouvant et parfait, November 2, 2009

By 

E. Darbellay "ED" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mozart /Chopin/Rachmaninov: Richter - Classic Archive (DVD)

Cet enregistrement est absolument parfait dans tous les sens du terme. Malgré les réserves imposées par Richter qui ne s'attendait pas à être filmé à ce concert, il conserve l'une des plus émouvantes images d'un classicisme inspiré par un maître incomparable et qu'a priori on n'attend pas sur ce terrain. Mozart est redécouvert, mis à nu, exploré par celui qui fut l'un des plus grands pianistes de tous les temps. Je ne pense pas avoir entendu Richter lui-même se confier avec une telle perfection et tant de retenue à son instrument. Le son est extraordinaire et toutes les intentions deviennent nécessaires une fois réalisées.
Quant à Chopin, la comparaison offerte entre l'ancien et le nouvel enregistrement de l'étude en do# min de l'op.10 est effarante!