Rachmaninov: Études-Tableaux from Opp. 33 & 39; Preludes from Opp. 23 & 32 (Volume 7)

Sviatoslav Richter (Artist), Rachmaninov (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Rachmaninov
• Audio CD (July 7, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Olympia
• ASIN: B000003W6A
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #445,963 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 33: No. 9 in c sharp minor. Grave

2. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 33: No.5 in D minor. Moderato

3. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 33: No.6 in E flat minor. Non allegro

4. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No.1 in C minor. Allegro agitato

5. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No.2 in A minor. Lento assai

6. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No.3 in F sharp minor. Allegro molto

7. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No.4 in B minor. Allegro assai

8. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No.9 in D major. Allegro moderato. Tempo di marcia

9. Etudes-Tableaux, for piano, Op. 39: No.7 in C minor. Lento

10. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: Prelude No.1 in F sharp minor. Largo

11. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: Prelude No.2 in B flat major. Maestoso

12. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: Prelude No.4 in D major. Andante cantabile

13. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: Prelude No.5 in G minor. Alla marcia

14. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: Prelude No.7 in C minor. Allegro

15. Preludes (10) for piano, Op. 23: Prelude No.8 in A flat major. Allegro vivace

16. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: Prelude No.1 in C major. Allegro vivace

17. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: Prelude No.2 in B flat minor. Allegretto

18. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: Prelude No.6 in F minor. Allegro appassionato

19. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: Prelude No.7 in F major. Moderato

20. Preludes (13) for piano, Op. 32: Prelude No.9 in A major. Allegro moderato

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars perfection, June 30, 2002

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Rachmaninov: Études-Tableaux from Opp. 33 & 39; Preludes from Opp. 23 & 32 (Volume 7) (Audio CD)

Richter gives these Etudes and Preludes a performance that is so impeccable, so luminous, that it fills me with astonishment every time I listen to it. It's as if he has made the music a living thing, one that inspires and fills the soul with beauty.
With dazzling technique, the Ukranian master plays these difficult pieces with effortless fluidity. Anyone interested in Rachmaninov, Russian music, or piano music, should put this CD high on the "must have" list.

Regarded as one of the finest Russian pianists of the 20th century, he had a wide range in his repertoire, from Bach to Bartok. He passed on in '97, and I'm sad to admit that I never heard him in concert...I'm sure it would have been a treasured experience.
The simple booklet insert has short explanations of the music, and a mini-bio of Richter. The Preludes were recorded in '71, the Etudes in '83, and the sound is good. Total time for the CD is 74'30.

There aren't too many words one can use to describe this CD. It's a supreme accomplishment from an artist gifted by the gods...one can fancy the world becoming a better place every time this is played...as Dostoevsky said, "beauty will save the world".

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Richter at his finest, July 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Rachmaninov: Études-Tableaux from Opp. 33 & 39; Preludes from Opp. 23 & 32 (Volume 7) (Audio CD)

If you're a Richter fan (and you should be, since he's the greatest Classical pianist of the 20th century), this CD simply has to be in your collection. It's definitely among the top 5 Richter CDs. The Etudes-Tableaux are so rarely heard, it's a joy to hear them played by the best. Richter has played these pieces on many different albums, but this one has the finest performances overall.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond words..., October 24, 2000

By 

John Grabowski (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rachmaninov: Études-Tableaux from Opp. 33 & 39; Preludes from Opp. 23 & 32 (Volume 7) (Audio CD)

This is as good as it gets. Richter is unequalled in these works. He never recorded the complete preludes, but those he did record and perform are so compelling that I cannot recommend any "complete" sets...I always defer to these, even though they do not represent all of the preludes. The Etudes-Tableaux are equally astounding. The other reviewers on this site are right when they say Richter had no peer here, except perhaps Rachmaninoff himself (who ironically recorded even fewer than Richter). Not Horowitz, not Weisenberg, certainly not Ashkenazy, can touch Richter in this music. This is a must-own for anyone who loves classical piano music, and heck, it's even great "candle-light dinner music" for a nice, moody, romantic evening for two! Or, if you saw the video "Richter the Enigma" and were blown away by some of the virtuoso piano playing, here is much of it on CD!