Schumann: Piano Concerto / Sviatoslav Richter

Robert Schumann (Composer), Stanislaw Wislocki (Conductor), Witold Rowicki (Conductor), Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Sviatoslav Richter (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Sviatoslav Richter
• Orchestra: Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Stanislaw Wislocki, Witold Rowicki
• Composer: Robert Schumann
• Audio CD (April 9, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GQS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,478 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the best, September 20, 2002

By 

Ludwig Bauernfeind (Munich, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Schumann: Piano Concerto / Sviatoslav Richter (Audio CD)

This recording of Schumann's concerto is simply the best: the orchestra is very good (despite reviews to the contrary), the soloist-orchestra interplay is superb, and Richter's playing is divine.

If you listen to this recording repeatedly, and then compare it with other good or very good recordings (Lipatti, Serkin, Moravec, Staier), you'll notice the differences: you will be aware how these latter pianists search for the correct interpretation of certain passages, and often they succeed. You'll be also aware, however, that Richter does not interpret. He simply plays it the way Schumann must have intended the work, i.e. the way it has to be played. It's not a matter of technique - in this respect, many(but not too many) pianists are as good as Richter. It's just like Schumann's spirit has penetrated Richter's nervous system and guides his fingers.

When you're not listening to the concerto for a long time, and then try to "play" it in your head, you will reckognize that it "sounds" like the Richter-Rowicki recording. And you will notice flaws in all other recordings.

Summarized: Best recording of Richter, best recording of Schumann's piano concerto, and my all-time favorite recording.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Flowing Like Oil...", March 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Schumann: Piano Concerto / Sviatoslav Richter (Audio CD)

Mozart, addressing future performers of his Piano Concertos is quoted as saying "...just make it flow like oil!" Schumann, like Mozart, takes a predominantly lyrical approach in this concerto and the music portays itself as one inspired stream of genius. It is. And in the hands of Richter, this stream soon becomes a raging rapid of emotion. Flows like oil? Yes!

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars & I thought Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1 was my favorite!, November 3, 2004

By 

H. Lou "umbdude" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schumann: Piano Concerto / Sviatoslav Richter (Audio CD)

That is...until I heard the first few notes of this Schumann concerto. I was literally in tears the first 50 times I listened to the 1st movement of this concerto. Personally I'm not a big fan of Schumann's work, but this is the absolute best piano concerto, and it is a "must buy" for any piano lover. This recording also substantiated my love for Richter's playing.